Bainbridge Township Fiscal Officer Kathleen Staudenbaur submitted a letter of resignation to township trustees Tuesday afternoon, following a contentious public meeting Dec. 12.
The letter, dated Dec. 13, was written on township stationery. It read:
“Dear Trustees,
I am writing to inform you of my intention to resign my position as Bainbridge Township fiscal officer effective Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016.
May I take this opportunity to thank all the employees for the invaluable help, advice and encouragement that you have given me during my eight months in office. In particular, to my wonderful staff Mrs. Terry Rose, Mrs. Karoline Eustey and Mrs. Carolyn Diczhazy.
I would also like to thank the citizens for their confidence in me by voting me into office and allowing me the opportunity to serve you these last eight months.
Respectfully yours,
Kathleen C. Staudenbaur
Fiscal Officer”
Trustee Lorrie Sass Benza said Staudenbaur’s letter was received electronically at 2:39 p.m. Tuesday. She said the announcement took her by surprise.
“I can honestly say I did not see this coming,” Benza said. “I’m very saddened.”
She described her feelings as “happy/sad.”
“Several times in meeting with her, I expressed to her my empathy to be in an elected position with this many obligations and to be struggling to understand them all,” Benza said. “I can only imagine that it must have been like drowning and suffocating at the same time. My heart breaks for her.”
Benza said trustees will hold a special meeting Saturday morning to discuss another unrelated issue in executive session, and to discuss their options to select a new fiscal officer.
“We will likely accept her resignation at that point,” Benza said. “We will confer with professionals for the next step.”
Benza said that, under Ohio law, trustees have 30 days from the time the resignation takes effect to come to a consensus on a replacement.
She said she doesn’t have anyone in mind for the position. If trustees cannot reach a consensus on a replacement, Geauga County Probate Court Judge Tim Grendell will have the authority to name a new fiscal officer.