GREEN: Two of the city’s top officials are leaving the administration of new Mayor Gerard Neugebauer.
Fiscal Officer Larry Rush has opted for retirement after 10 years with the city, while Law Director Stephen Pruneski tendered his resignation effective March 15, Neugebauer said Monday afternoon.
Pruneski is in his 17th year as Green’s law director. Both he and Rush served under former Mayors Dan Croghan and Dick Norton.
Pruneski said his departure “wasn’t voluntary and it wasn’t based on cause.”
“The outgoing of support for me has been overwhelming from the many, many people who have expressed their outrage to me over this situation,” he said.
Neugebauer said the city will search for a new law director immediately, adding, “we wish him well in all his other endeavors.”
Neugebauer wouldn’t comment further on Pruneski’s departure, other than to say that Pruneski “was kind enough to give us time to conduct the search, and I feel that we will be able to find a candidate within the next six weeks.
“There are a number of potential candidates, who, I’m sure, are interested and [I am] confident we will find a highly qualified person for our law director position,” the mayor said.
Speaking of his decision to retire, Rush, a boating enthusiast, said: “It was a scary thought at first, but it is working out fine. I am grateful for my time in Green, and I learned a great deal more about finance and life after career.”
Neugebauer said Rush “has had a long, successful career in finance and certainly deserves to enjoy retirement.
“I wish him the best as I know there are things he would like to do,” the mayor said.
Neugebauer said David Hartsook, Green’s income tax administrator, has accepted the mayor’s offer to serve as finance director while the city searches for Rush’s successor.
“I feel very good about the city’s four-member finance department … And I feel very comfortable with our finances in this transition time,” Neugebauer said.
George W. Davis can be reached at: mediaman@sssnet.com