LAST-MINUTE REPLACEMENT … Daphne Demaline is sworn in as a member of the Delta Village Council by Mayor Frank Wilton during the council’s final meeting of the year immediately after being nominated and approved by sitting council members.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
During its final meeting of the year, the Delta Village Council voted to nominate and seat Daphne Demaline as a new council member after the sudden resignation of Arthur Thomas.
According to Village Administrator Andy Glenn, Thomas resigned with no notice earlier this month, effective immediately. His term was not set to expire until Jan. 1, 2026, and he reportedly provided no reason for his departure.
GRANT APPLICATION
The council voted to authorize Glenn to apply for Ohio Department of Development’s Downtown Revitalization Flexible Grant Program, itself part of the state-administered and federally funded Community Development Block Grant Program.
The application, for an amount of $250,000, was initially to be submitted by the county, which decided at the last minute that it was more appropriate for the village to submit as it is to be used for site cleanup at the Bunting Bearing site after the business ceases operations there.
The money will offset the same amount already planned to be used from the village’s general fund. The county and Land Bank will be applying for other funds through a federal brownfield grant program. Bunting Bearing itself has promised up to $500,000 for the cleanup.
As part of the grant application, the council also passed a resolution adopting a “residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan” in order to aid in the relocation of any individuals affected by the grant-funded work.
Law Director Kevin Heban confirmed that the measure was only created due to a requirement of the grant, and that there were no actual people who would be displaced as a result of the work.
NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR
Glenn reported that Jenna Flores, a current water plant employee, will be appointed as interim finance director after the resignation of Stephanie Mossing. Marlena Allwood is currently serving as interim finance director/clerk
“The idea we’re trying is Jenna would actually act in the finance director role because she has 10 years of experience in finance before she worked here, and then Marlena would work more of a support role taking more of the day-to-day responsibilities,” Glenn said.
According to Glenn, Flores will continue working at the water plant the first two hours of each day, then work her remaining six hours in the new role.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council approved its holiday schedule for 2024. The council ended the meeting by going into executive session “to consider the appointment or employment, of a public employee or official, and the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee.”
No action was expected as a result of the executive session. The next council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2024.