In surprise action, Bluffton council voted 4-2 on Monday evening to terminate Jamie Mehaffie as village administrator. He has held the position for the past 13 years.
The vote came following two executive sessions, which followed the regularly scheduled council meeting.
The first executive session was to discuss contracts, which involved discussion with two Ottawa officials involving water.
The second session discussed personnel performance.
Following that session, at approximately 11 p.m. council went back into open session.
In attendance were council members, the mayor, village solicitor, Nancy Kindle, village fiscal office, Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, Jesse Blackburn, village employee, Ryan Burkholder, police chief and Matt Oglesbee, police lieutenant.
In open session, Judy Augsburger, mayor, recommended to council the termination of Jamie Mehaffie as village administrator. No motion was made as Steve Chamberlin, village solicitor, reading from the Ohio Revised Code, stated that the mayor can made a recommendation without a motion or second.
Following that, council voted 4-2 to terminate Mehaffie. Voting for termination were Roger Warren, Richard Johnson, Ralph Miller and Sean Burrell. Voting against termination were Phil Talavinia and Joe Sehlhorst.
The Icon asked the mayor for a statement concerning Mehaffie’s termination and she declined comment. She said that the village anticipates a search to be made for a new administrator. For the time being, she added that she will handle village administrator duties.
