The city finance director position has been vacant since Tim Russo resigned in January. The city is accepting applications from qualified candidates until March 2nd.
Mayor John Lombardi III said he looks forward to taking the job immediately, adding that Russo is a valued employee.
“When he left, it left a huge hole in my administration,” Lombardi said. “Currently, Councilor John Craig is the finance chair and is looking at the finances, but we need a finance director.”
The City Finance Director is responsible for tasks such as budget preparation. Knowledge of municipal accounting is required.
Mary Pat Philbert, director of human resources, said the position is currently open and interested people are submitting resumes. No interviews have been conducted so far.
During Mr. Russo's tenure, Mr. Philbert said he worked with Mr. Russo to place the Treasury director position in the civil service's noncompetitive ranks. This position applies to positions where there is no examination but the qualifications of the recruit meet the standards for civil servants. Employees become entitled after five years of service. Philbert said that's because the finance director often reports confidential and important material that affects the entire city, and those who do the job should have some level of job security. This post is currently classified as “voluntary.”
Russo, whose resignation was effective Jan. 4, said in his resignation letter that his at-will status was not sufficiently secured. In a follow-up interview with the Union Sun & Journal, Mr. Russo said his family is growing and he needs more “steady” employment.
Russo was appointed finance director by then-Mayor Michelle Roman in April 2020 after serving as a volunteer on the City Audit Commission.
Before leaving, Lombardi said, Russo showed him a binder with a list of actions the finance director should take. Lombardi said this is a very comprehensive list and that Russo's successor should be able to keep up with who settles for the job.
In the meantime, Craig, the 1st Ward councilman and chair of the City Council Finance Committee, said he is providing financial oversight and is “working through the bills.”
Craig added that two independent auditors are currently closing the city's 2023 books and are expected to report to the City Council soon.
