MASSILLON – One of Mayor Jamie Slutz’s primary administration hires has been forced to resign.
Safety-Service Director Renee Baker worked her final day with the city last week, a few weeks after Slutz said he asked her to resign for a “change in direction” at the position. Baker was one of the mayor’s initial hires when he took office in January 2024.
“I felt like we needed to go another way,” Slutz told The Independent on Aug. 20. “I want to thank Renee for her (nearly three years of service) to the city and all the work she did.”
Baker’s official resignation is effective Sept. 8. However, her last day on the job was Aug. 13, according to Slutz.
Baker told The Independent Aug. 21 that she was surprised to hear from the mayor about his decision to replace her. However, she was appreciative to work for Massillon in a supervisory role.
“Serving Massillon has been an honor, and something I have never taken for granted,” she said. “I am especially grateful for the opportunity to work alongside some of the finest employees in our city. The relationships and friendships I have built during my time are things I will value.”
In Baker’s Aug. 8 resignation letter to the mayor, she stated that Slutz told her July 24 that he intended to replace her as director. She also wrote that Slutz said he would allow her time to “seek other employment” and maintain health insurance through the transition.
“I leave knowing that I gave my best effort to the citizens of Massillon,” Baker said. … “I wish the city and its employees nothing but the best moving forward.”
Massillon mayor taps interim safety director, to name permanent in October
Slutz said he has tapped Lori Kotagides-Boron, Massillon’s income tax and budget director, as the interim safety-service director until Oct. 2.
Kotagides-Boron has been with the city since 2018, serving first as community development director under former Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry. She was later named by Catazaro-Perry as the budget and income tax director.
Slutz said he plans to name former Massillon police Det. David McConnell as the permanent safety director. McConnell, who left the city a few years ago, recently retired as a Canal Fulton law enforcement officer.
Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon mayor seeks ‘change in direction’ for safety-service director position
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent | USA TODAY Network
