North Canton hires new city administrator. Meet Catherine Farina
NORTH CANTON – Catherine Farina is the city's first female director of administration.
Mayor Stephan Wilder appointed her to the position running the city's municipal government, and City Council confirmed the appointment this week. She replaces Patrick DeOrio who was fired earlier this year.
“I felt she was the best choice based on what I have seen," said Wilder, who cited her roughly seven years working for the city. ”She brings energy to the position and I believe she has that servant leadership attitude for public service and I think, too, she has the support of the personnel we have in our city and that means a lot."
A three-member screening committee recommended Farina, who had been the deputy director of administration, for the city's top non-elected position over two other finalists: the city's public policy analyst Benjamin Young and Plain Township Trustee Scott Haws.
At-large council member Stephanie Werren praised Farina for working well with other people, her human-resources experience, her experience with the city's finances and her experience negotiating with the city's unions.
Council President Matthew Stroia called Farina a "phenomenal communicator."
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Who is Catherine Farina?
Farina, after being sworn in, told council that the city had come a long way since her mother, now 90, in the 1960s was dismissed from a job because she was pregnant.
“Thank you, mayor, for giving that trust to me. Thank you, council, for confirming that trust," Farina said. "We’re all in this together for the betterment for the community.”
Wilder said with the city facing a budget gap this year, Farina volunteered to stay at her salary of about $122,000 a year. He said she got a merit raise from about $118,000 earlier this year. DeOrio got a raise to $140,715 from $136,352 in December.
Wilder said he and Farina will look within the city staff to promote someone to fill her former position as deputy director of administration.
Farina previously worked as a human resources professional for FedEx and other private companies over 23 years. She then became North Canton's administration project manager in 2017. The next year, DeOrio promoted her to deputy director of administration.
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Who served on the screening committee?
Three people volunteered to serve as members of a screening committee for applications for the position. They were Michael Kimble, the director of human resources for the Stark County commissioners; Jami Swain, the director of human resources and culture at Walsh University; and Ward 3 council member Melissa Owens.
The three interviewers endorsed Farina for the job. They said she had the most management experience of the finalists, had relationships with officials for the city's unions, and had experience with handling grievances and contract negotiations.
Wilder interviewed Farina on May 10. After he confirmed that she and he were on the same page on city projects such as the construction of a new fire station, he offered her the position, and she accepted.
"She has the skills," said Wilder. "She has earned this position.“
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Catherine Farina hired as North Canton administrator
