The Village of DeGraff is growing its search for a replacement village administrator.
Council members in a regular meeting Tuesday approved expanding into Shelby County its advertisements for a new village administrator to replace Shane Long, who resigned Sept. 6 for the purpose of new employment in the city of Marysville.
Council voted to approve advertising in Sidney and the surrounding area for potential applicants. That action followed an executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel.
That executive session included council members and the village solicitor. Outgoing, interim mayor Beth Neeley was not invited into a back meeting room with the council.
Council also expressed a willingness to consider a part-time applicant for the position. There is a pressing need to fill that position with a qualified applicant, as complicated projects begin to stack up that cannot be handled as easily by the existing two full-time employees. Village officials would like to see some of those tasks completed ahead of leaf collection and winter weather.
Village of Lakeview administrator has also been contacted and referred for questions on more complicated repairs, according to discussion Tuesday.
Another discussion was had of staggering maintenance employees’ hours to help improve efficiency.
Currently, both full-time employees work 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., but council will soon be altering those work hours to stagger one shift from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., respectively.
Council expressed some concern over the accountability of the employees in the month-plus since Long’s departure.
Council has altered the date of its next meeting, in observance of election day. The next regular meeting is 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6.