NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - In another example of a bitterly divided council, a nominee for the vacant at-large seat was rejected 3-2 Monday evening with Mayor Kenneth Kline casting the deciding no vote against Catie Karl, a resident of the 4th Ward. The seat has been vacant since the resignation of Tarry Alberini on May 4.

Speaking about his vote against Karl, an active political figure in Newton Falls who has previously run unsuccessfully for council positions, Kline said "it was nothing personal. I'm just looking for someone new to it."  Kline broke a 2-2 tie when he joined John Baryak, 2nd Ward, and Tesa Spletzer, 3rd Ward, in casting votes against Karl.

“It’s time we got some fresh faces,” Baryak said after referring to Karl’s previous election losses. “I’m not demeaning her effort, but it’s time to get somebody fresh.” Spletzer said she had received “10 to 15 calls” from residents of her ward asking her to vote against Karl. “I’ll vote the way they tell me to vote,” she said.

Council members Adam Zimmerman, 1st Ward, and Sandra Breymaier, 4th Ward, supported Karl for filling the term that expires at the end of this year. “We needed someone to help us through the transition,” Zimmermann said,

Karl also weighed in during the public comments portion of the meeting against Kline and the two council members who voted against her, accusing them of “shenanigans.” “I wanted to help you with the transition and hopefully you’ll find someone else to do that,” Carl said. “This ugliness has to stop.”

Another sore spot that bubbled over is the fate of Finance Director Anna Musson, who has been on medical leave since early May. Council voted to hold an executive session after the meeting to discuss Musson’s status and several council members asked if Musson could attend. The director has reportedly hired an attorney for a possible lawsuit against the village, so David Lynch, city manager, warned council members of “significant legal exposure” if either he or Law Director A. Joseph Fritz attempted to question the director without her attorney present.

Spletzer unsuccessfully attempted to introduce a motion to order Musson back to work moments before council adjourned to the executive session.