HINCKLEY – Although somewhat expected, the announcement by township Fiscal Officer, Colleen Swedyk, who also serves as Medina County Recorder, that she is retiring as the township’s fiscal officer, still came as a shock to trustees. Last month, Swedyk was re-elected for a third term as Medina County Recorder, a position she will continue with. Swedyk, whose husband has recently retired said, “It’s time to do just one job but I will miss Hinckley greatly, I love the township with all my heart.”
Swedyk will officially retire Jan. 31, 2017 but said she will help train her replacement. Swedyk was appointed Hinckley Township fiscal officer in January 2007, her first political post. The position back then, and still is, a part-time position. In addition to serving as fiscal officer at that time, she was also an adjunct professor at Cuyahoga Community College and taught Geography.
In 2007, the Medina County Recorder Nancy Abbot ran for a county court position and won the post leaving a vacancy. Swedyk was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Abbot. She then ran, and won, three additional terms for Medina County Recorder in 2008, 2012 and most recently this fall.
“I’ve been doing two jobs for 10 years,” said Swedyk, who lives in Hinckley. “I have loved my work as Hinckley’s fiscal officer and it has been an honor to work for the people of Hinckley. “While it is hard to walk away, at the end of my work day as County Recorder, I would like to have time to go to yoga or tennis class rather than a second job.”
Trustee chairperson Martha Catherwood commented, “We knew this was coming, we were just trying to keep her for as long as we could and hoped she would change her mind. However, we all understand. Now we have to decide how to go forward.”
Trustee Ray Schulte emphasized that the trustee work session on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 9 a.m. will be an important one as trustees discuss “how to go forward with the position of township fiscal officer.” Trustee Dave Sambor, as well as Catherwood, said the Dec. 6 work session will be “an important meeting since we will discuss what direction the township should go in to fill the vacancy.” Catherwood said the fiscal officer’s post has been an elected position but that could be changed. Trustees would not specify but indicated a number of options would be discussed.
“Swedyk has been so committed to the township,” said Sambor. “She deserves to cut back on her work schedule to having just one job. As township fiscal officer, there is no back up and thus the job is demanding. We joked about not accepting her retirement but we know it was going to come.”
Trustee Ray Schulte added that “Swedyk has been an excellent steward of the township’s money.”
“She has always done an outstanding job and her love for Hinckley was evident,” he added.
In other business at the Nov. 28 township meeting:
• Trustees announced once again, that there is one opening for the alternate position on both the Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. The deadline for filing an application is Dec. 5 and can be obtained at the township administration building.
• Trustees approved language changes to the zoning code which removes the words “master policy plan” throughout the code. Schulte explained trustees made the change on advice from the Medina County Prosecutor who said that the master policy plan was a directive for zoning regulations but did not actually address zoning laws. The master policy plan will remain in the code’s preface as a “directional guide for zoning in the township,” Schulte said.
• Trustees approved a change regarding applications for conditional zoning permits. Applicants will now go to the township’s zoning inspector, who will come before the Zoning Commission and explain the need for the conditional zoning permit. The applicant will then go before the Zoning Board of Appeals. Prior to the new change, applicants had to appear before the Zoning Commission.
• A letter of thanks was sent to Dean Holman for his service to the township. Holman was not re-elected for the position of county prosecutor in the November election.
• Trustees issued a letter of recognition to Mrs. Mary Oklessen who will celebrate her 100th birthday on Dec. 4. Oklessen’s daughter was present at the meeting to represent her mom, who previously lived in Euclid, and who moved into her Hinckley home two years ago.
• A resident expressed concern to trustees about response to a recent 911 call he made regarding a motorist passing a school bus in the township. The resident said he thought it took a long time for law enforcement to respond. Police Chief Tim Kalavsky will speak to dispatch regarding the call.
• A quick claim deed to a .19 strip of land in Estates of Stone Ridge was approved by trustees. The strip of land will now always remain with the Stone Ridge Homeowners’ Association.