BELLVILLE, Ohio — Larry Rose announced his resignation from the Bellville Village Council last week. He cited recent “changes in the OPERS retirement system” as the reason he is stepping down.
The Ohio Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS) announced changes in their retirement plans earlier this year. Rose says the new guidelines would penalize him financially if he continues to work for the village.
“This is the best decision for my family,” Rose said. “It is not a decision that I made lightly,” he added explaining that he didn’t want to step down. He said he felt sorry to let down those who elected him.
His resignation was effective November 21.
The announcement appeared to take board members and village officials by surprise. David Griffon and Joann Palmer thanked Rose for his six years of service saying they were sorry to see him leave.
In an interview, Mayor Darrell Banks said he understands why Rose is stepping down but added that he is sorry to lose someone with his financial experience. “Larry has worked for Bellville for many years with dedicated service,” Banks said.
Rose has two years remaining on his term. Banks explained that the council has 30 days to appoint someone to take Rose’s place. Otherwise, it becomes the responsibility of the mayor to appoint someone to the position.
Council members also received a letter from Police Chief Ron Willey expressing concerns for the Bellville Police Department. In the letter, read by Bruce Snyder, the chief said personnel shortages could affect “safety, court cases, and investigation” in the village.
He noted that two officers were currently interviewing with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
The chief’s letter described struggles the village has with officer retention.
The council agreed that it is hard for Bellville to be competitive with the pay larger departments can offer. Victor Swisher suggested Bellville may seek an agreement with the Sheriff’s Department for help providing police coverage. The safety committee, headed by Snyder, is expected to keep tabs on the situation.
