Search to Fill North Canton Finance Director Position Is Over

Canton’s budget director could make the move to North Canton director of finance, city officials announced at Monday night’s city council meeting.

Council Vice President Jon Snyder said Karen Alger of Jackson Township was chosen out of about 45 applicants. He said Alger has 24 years of experience, including an internship with the city of North Canton working under current Finance Director V. Margaret Loretto.

“It was her wish then to at some point return and become the finance director for the city of North Canton,” Snyder said.

The city offered Alger a salary of $71,000, which would be bumped up to $73,500 after 90 days. She’s expressed a strong desire for the position but has not formally accepted, Snyder said.

She would bring with her a willingness to adapt with changing technology and a youthful approach to the job, he said.

Alger, who is Loretto's niece*, could start as early as April 5.

Alex Zumbar left the position of finance director in November to become Stark County treasurer, and Loretto, former finance director, has filled in since.

Council also discussed changing the current zoning laws that permit multifamily housing, or apartment buildings, in the city’s business district. David Hartt, president of D.B. Hartt Planning and Development Consultants in Cleveland, addressed council about a conversation he had with City Law Director Hans Nilges Friday.

Council discussed this at its meeting this past week.

City officials are looking into changing permitted use to conditional use, meaning they want an ordinance that would allow them to decide whether multifamily housing can take place in the business district on a case-by-case basis.

Snyder said they want to take into account the health and welfare of the residents when deciding whether to permit that type of housing.

Hartt said that type of decision-making on council’s part — in his words, “an unbridled license to say no when the community doesn’t like something” — could lead to trouble because the conditions aren’t clear.

“You need something to say, ‘Here are the reasons it’s conditional. If it meets these conditions, it’s OK. If it doesn’t, we can deny it,’” Hartt said.

He added the blending of commercial and residential housing in a city’s business district could be to a city’s advantage.

“Because it provides support. Because it provides people walking down those streets,” Hartt said. “(Residential use) can reinforce the character of Main Street as much as commercial (properties) can.”

He also urged council to heavily weigh their options because adding more building restrictions might make it more difficult to develop commercial property in the future.

Resident Chuck Osborne also addressed council, bringing up his concern with the appointment of Eric Bowles, the city’s economic development director, to the position of zoning inspector. Bowles now will fill both roles.

Osborne said Bowles is “overburdened” with tasks and can’t effectively do two jobs at once, among other concerns.

Mayor David Held said he wasn’t pleased about Bowles taking on more responsibilities with no more pay, but it’s something that’s happened in other departments and it’s proved to be cost-effective for the city.

“It’s just something we have to do,” Held said. “We have to tighten our belts.”

Editor's note: This information was added at 5:20 p.m. March 15.