In a surprise announcement, Judy Augsburger resigned her position as Bluffton mayor at the conclusion of Monday’s council meeting (Dec. 18).
Her resignation was not on the agenda distributed on Friday. However, it must not have been a total surprise to the council because at the end of the meeting she was presented a plaque for her years as mayor by Richard Johnson.
Upon the resignation of a mayor, the council president assumes the mayoral position. Johnson, council president, was immediately sworn in as mayor upon Augsburger resignation.
Bluffton school board will consider on some year-end actions at its Monday night school board meeting.
Among action to be consider is approval of:
• a bus bid from Cardinal Bus Sales
• Nancy Yeager to a 7-year term on the Bluffton Public Library board
• several board policies ranging from non-discrimination on the basis of sexual harassment to truancy
• 2018-19 open enrollment policy
The board will also act on approval of a high school biology field trip to Florida Keys June 4 to June 12, 2018.
Bluffton council taking a cue from the federal government and, rather than passing a 2018 appropriations, will act on Monday for legislation covering three months of 2018.
Council held a special meeting on Dec. 4 for the purpose of finalizing the 2018 appropriations. The special meeting started at 7 p.m. Council entered executive session at 8:45 p.m. to discuss personnel wages. Roger Warren moved and Ralph Miller seconded the motion.
At 9:15 p.m., council exited the closed-door session and returned to regular session.
Employees of the Village of Bluffton will each receive a $500 bonus this month. On top of that each employee will receive a $20 Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce gift certificate.
Bluffton council approved the bonus plan on Nov. 27. The $500 bonuses cost the village $11,000.
According to Judy Augsburger, mayor, “Payroll is down, it’s been a rough year for the staff and it’s a nice gesture.”
She said that an approximate $40,000 surplus is in the payroll account due to the fact that the village went without a paid village administrator for several months.
Bluffton council will hear a report from its safety services committee on Monday.
The committee held two meeting earlier this month. On Nov. 14 the committee’s focus was the 2018 police department budget. On Nov. 20 the committee’s focus was on the 2018 fire department and EMS budget.
Don Croy of the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership is on the agenda. The village is a member of the partnership.
