Village of Alexandria needs new fiscal officer

ALEXANDRIA – No explanation has been provided for the firing of Laura Vanscoy, the former fiscal officer for the village of Alexandria.

Vanscoy was voted out of office in a 5-1 vote taken at a council meeting Monday night, according to village solicitor Mike Moran. Councilman Michael Moran was the only member to vote “no.”

“There’s a multiplicity of reasons,” Moran said. “I couldn’t presume to speak for all of those people.”

Moran said he was the chosen spokesman for the media regarding the removal of Vanscoy from office. The vote Monday came after an executive session, and nothing regarding her removal was discussed publicly at the meeting.

“The village is looking forward and that is past us,” Moran said.

Applications are now being accepted for a new fiscal officer, he said.

The former mayor of Alexandria, Stan Robinson, said when he contacted Moran about the termination of Vanscoy, he was told the village would not be making any comment about the decision.

Robinson, however, said he thinks the real reason has to do with the newsletter he publishes called “The First Amendment in Alexandria Ohio.”

Robinson said he stopped being able to get comments from council members several months ago. Vanscoy was still answering his public records requests, and he believes that is the reason she was voted out of office.

“(Council members) don’t want me to know what goes on in the government,” Robinson said.

He said Vanscoy has only ever given him information that he requested through the Freedom of Information Act.

“My goal is to (dissolve) the government in that town,” Robinson said.

He added that his motivations stem from what he believes is mismanagement of funds by elected officials.

According to Ohio Revised Code Section 733.272: “The village fiscal officer may be removed without cause either by the mayor with the consent of a majority of the members of the village legislative authority or by a three-fourths vote of the village legislative authority with or without the consent of the mayor.”

Vanscoy did not return calls for comment.

abisaro@gannett.com

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To apply

Anyone interested in applying for the fiscal officer position can send a cover letter, resume, and three references to the Village Administrator: att. Village Administrator, Village of Alexandria, 4 W. Main St., Alexandria, OH 43001.