by Andre Clayton
Reporter
Twinsburg -- The city named a part-time official to watch over its finances, and Council approved pay raises for its full-time workers last week.
Council on March 11 unanimously approved Mayor Katherine Procop's appointment of Thomas Zammikiel as the new interim finance director.
"I am honored to have been asked by the mayor," Zammikiel said. "Twinsburg is a nice city."
Zammikiel, who is the full-time finance director for Maple Heights, said he will work one eight-hour day in Twinsburg per week and be on call for the city during other hours.
Zammikiel said he will make $45 per hour with Twinsburg and will not receive benefits, such as insurance or state retirement pay.
"I want to stop using our consultant agency," Procop said, referring to Cleveland-based Productive Portfolio, which has been working with the city since former Finance Director Joanne Terry retired Jan. 31.
"And Zammikiel has a wealth of background in investment," Procop added.
According to Human Resources Director Clay Morris, Zammikiel, who is a Berea resident, has been the executive director of the Regional Income Tax Agency and the finance director for Berea, Strongsville and Fairview Park.
"I think we went ... in the right direction," Councilor Gary Sorace said.
Zammikiel said he is uncertain of how long he will be needed in Twinsburg, but added he does not have aspirations of becoming the full-time director.
"With being an interim [director], you know the start date, but you don't know the end date," Zammikiel said.
Procop said she expects Zammikiel to be the city interim finance director for at least one year, and hopes that he can groom a deputy finance director -- a newly proposed position that has yet to be filled -- into a future director.
The deputy director would be paid $68,000 to $75,000, with money set aside for the position in the city's 2008 salary ordinance.
That ordinance also grants 3.5 percent pay raises for 2008 for 35 full-time employees.
Council approved the legislation 4-2, but it fell one vote short of passing on an emergency basis, so it will take effect April 11, said Deputy Clerk of Council Marie Weaver. It is retroactive to Jan. 1.
Councilor Bill Hon said he voted against passing the legislation because he does not agree with the hiring of a deputy finance director, for which the ordinance provides.
Hon said his vote "does not reflect on Mr. Zammikiel."
"I think every community should have a deputy finance director, along with a finance director," Zammikiel said.
Zammikiel's Twinsburg office number is 330-963-6237.
Editor's note: Reporter Tim Troglen contributed to this story.
E-mail: aclayton@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3172