North Canton mayor: Patrick DeOrio leaves city hall as part of voluntary retirement

NORTH CANTON − Mayor Stephan Wilder said Monday that the city's longtime director of administration Patrick DeOrio will voluntarily retire and be paid through April 1.

Wilder and council President Matthew Stroia, at-large, met with DeOrio on Wednesday. The mayor told DeOrio that he no longer wanted DeOrio to serve as city administrator.

Stroia confirmed that the meeting occurred and that it was the mayor's decision to remove DeOrio from his role as city administrator. By Thursday, DeOrio's name had been taken off of the city's website and his city-issued cellphone was disconnected.

Wilder in the meantime has named deputy administrator Catherine Farina as the acting administrator.

Wilder and Stroia repeatedly declined to reveal the reason for Wilder's decision or to share specifics on what Wilder said to DeOrio on Wednesday.

"Pat is voluntarily retiring from public service," the mayor repeated Monday after he was asked if he had given DeOrio a choice between resigning and being dismissed.

'That was 100% a mayoral decision.'

"That was 100% a mayoral decision," said Stroia, who added that Wilder did not present DeOrio with a choice by the mayor to resign or be dismissed. "I'm not going to talk about that part. When you're talking about somebody's employment services, that's up to them. That's not for me to come in and butt into that."

The council president said he contacted the other six council members and informed them that DeOrio was no longer the city administrator within two hours after the meeting.

When asked why DeOrio was being paid until April 1 but not working, Wilder said, "He's staying home to care for his family. ... He's under a paid administrative leave."

The mayor said DeOrio was being paid through March 31 and taking a paid vacation day for April 1, which is on a Monday. Wilder said the city has not extended any severance agreement, pay or benefits to DeOrio beyond any unused sick time and unused vacation time.

Nor would Wilder explain the timing of his decision, which came at the same time the city is negotiating a tax agreement on the Hoover Co. redevelopment and the city is asking voters for a 0.5% increase in the city income tax.

"You'll have to ask Patrick on that, OK. That's a third-party answer and I'm not going to answer for him," the mayor said.

Who will be the next North Canton administrator?

When asked about his plans to appoint a permanent director of administration, Wilder said, "We will go through a transition plan. And when the time comes (after DeOrio's official last day on April 1) the (position) will be posted and of course council will have the final approval on my nomination as I recall by the charter."

Wilder would not say if he would appoint Farina for the position, and he said he couldn't answer whether he had other candidates for the job in mind.

Council member David Metheney, Ward 2, said he got a call from Stroia telling him about the meeting but he didn't hear what "the outcome was going to be and then the mayor made his decision in talking to Patrick. And Patrick decided he's retiring from public service. "

Wilder said DeOrio will be on paid leave until the end of April 1.

DeOrio has not responded to a request for comment left at his home Thursday.

The mayor met Monday evening with council, Farina and other city officials in executive session for about 50 minutes to discuss the employment of a public employee.

Metheney said that the mayor did not explain in the executive session his reason for removing DeOrio as the city administrator "but that is his decision."

After the executive session, the mayor read a brief statement announcing DeOrio's voluntary retirement.

"We thank him for his extensive service to the community the last seven years. And together much has been achieved. We wish him and his family the very best," Wilder said. "That's all I have. Thank you."

Wilder said he did not have the salary figures for DeOrio and Farina.

Council members during the meeting rallied behind the mayor.

"Change happens," said Metheney. "We work collectively to have the best people. Mayor Wilder is leading this city. And we follow his leadership. Rest assured, everyone is working for the best that North Canton can be."

Council member Melissa Owens, Ward 3, said, "I am proud to be part of that team (at City Hall) now and support the leadership of our mayor."

Council member John Orr, Ward 4, said, "Thank you mayor for your fine leadership. Appreciate it. We have a strong team."

Council member Stephanie Werren, at-large, said, "Choices are sometimes hard. And I respect what the mayor has done. Just regarding change and really do appreciate you looking forward and I know we're all behind your decisions."

Council member Christine Weyrick, at-large, said, "I have absolute confidence in the team in place at City Hall. ... They're doing incredible work. And I also really fully support the mayor and appreciate his bravery."

Stroia was the only council member who mentioned DeOrio by name during the meeting.

"I want to thank the mayor for his comments. I want to thank Patrick for the work that he and the mayor and the rest of the administration and finance has done over the years," said Stroia, who praised City Hall staff for cross training employees to fill in for a role should it become vacant. "There's a No. 1 and a No. 2. And the structure is there for contingencies to happen. And so that happens. We're going to move forward. And it's going to be fairly seamless. You're not going to see interruptions. You're not going to see the chaos that some people have brought up. It's just not happening. Our structure is there. Our team is there. So I have full confidence in the mayor. And Cathy. And everyone."

Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Patrick DeOrio voluntarily retired, North Canton mayor says