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Treasurer sought after Rudibaugh takes new position

EAST LIVERPOOL — Before he assumes his seat, recently elected city Treasurer Rick Rudibaugh plans to relinquish the position after having begun his new duties this week as deputy service safety director alongside Director Brian Allen.

Rudibaugh ran unopposed for the treasurer’s seat, with incumbent Kathy Buzzard having chosen not to seek re-election.

He said, “The Friday before the election, this job came open. It came up after I filed or I never would have filed. I didn’t accept the job until the Wednesday after the election.”

The position opened up after former Deputy SSD Perry Rummell stepped down when he failed to meet the residency requirement that goes with the post.

According to Allen, Rummell, who lives in Pennsylvania, was required to reside inside city limits within six months after being hired, but had served in the position a year and 10 months without relocating.

“He just kept putting it off. He was from here. He wanted to move here,” Allen said, noting that Rummell’s last day was Nov. 17 and offering his thanks for the good job he did while here.

Rudibaugh served as a city police dispatcher many years as well as a city housing inspector but resigned in May to accept a position as administrative assistant for the St. Clair Township Police Department.

He said Thursday that, although it would not be illegal for him to serve as treasurer while working in the deputy SSD position, he has decided to resign from the elected position.

“Legally, I’m allowed to do both, but ethically, it’s not right,” he said, giving as an example, “If I needed equipment (as the deputy SSD), I could sign the purchase order but then (as treasurer) I could sign the same check I signed the purchase order for.”

Rudibaugh said, had he known the position was going to be offered, he would not have run for the treasurer’s spot, saying the deputy SSD post “is too much of an opportunity for me to turn down. I thank the administration for even thinking of me for a position like this.”

He will be supervising on a day-to-day basis the street and incinerator departments, and in Allen’s absence, be in charge of those departments as well as the safety forces.

Rudibaugh said he considers the street and incinerator departments “two families down there and I’m an outsider coming in,” but added, “These are a great group of guys. They have taken me in with open arms. They are all hard workers. That’s half the battle right there.”

Although finances are always a concern with the city’s departments, Rudibaugh said, “With the street levy renewal passing, that speaks volumes.”

Rudibaugh’s position at St. Clair Township has been filled by Herman Potts, another of the city’s dispatchers, and hiring is also taking place in the police department to fill that spot.

According to Kim Fusco, deputy director at the county board of elections, it will be up to Mayor Ryan Stovall to choose a replacement for Rudibaugh as treasurer.

Rudibaugh said he will probably be in discussion with Stovall and Allen regarding his replacement in the treasurer’s position, once he actually resigns.

Fusco was uncertain of the time frame in which a replacement must be named since Rudibaugh ran as an Independent. In partisan races, she said such vacancies are filled by the precinct committee, which has between five and 45 days in which to make the appointment following the resignation.

A call to city Law Director Charles Payne for clarification was not returned.

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