Fulton County Ohio Media

At the beginning of tonight’s Swanton Village Council meeting, Mayor Neil Toeppe made the following statement:

I want to make my position regarding Administrator Shannon Shulters very clear. I have the utmost confidence in Shannon’s ability to lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the Village. For more than four years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with her and have seen firsthand her commitment to this community, her professionalism, and her willingness to devote significant personal time to the advancement of the Village.

During that time, Shannon has strengthened our administrative team, improved the operation of our departments, taken on difficult and complex projects, and helped build an organization that I believe is second to none for a community our size. Her knowledge, experience, work ethic, and commitment are valuable assets to the Village.

After discussions regarding her decision to resign, Shannon and I have reached an understanding that she will remain as Village Administrator.

Her decision to stay does not mean that we simply return to business as usual. She has appropriately identified several areas that need attention if we are going to make this position sustainable for the long term. Those include maintaining a clear administrative chain of command, establishing appropriate expectations for Council and committee meetings, supporting the transition of our new Fiscal Officer, improving communication, and establishing reasonable boundaries around the Administrator’s workload and personal time.
Over the next six months, Shannon and I will work with Council to reassess and evaluate how our administrative structure and working relationships are functioning. This is an opportunity to establish greater clarity, better communication, and a stronger understanding of the respective roles of Council, the Mayor, the Administrator, and our department heads.

Council has an important role in establishing policy and providing legislative oversight. The Administrator has an important role in managing the day-to-day operations of the Village. Those roles are complementary, and the Village is best served when they work together with mutual respect, clear communication, and a common understanding of their responsibilities.

My expectation—and my hope—is that this next six-month period will result in a stronger, healthier, and more productive working relationship between Council and the administration. Most importantly, I believe Shannon wants to continue serving this community, and I believe the Village is better because she has chosen to stay. She has made it clear that she is willing to continue giving the Village her leadership, experience, work ethic, and commitment. Our responsibility now is to create an environment in which she can do that effectively and sustainably.

I believe we have an opportunity here—not simply to resolve a personnel issue, but to strengthen the way our Village government works for the benefit of the entire community.

Following the Council meeting and the subsequent Executive Session, Ms. Shulters issued the following statement:

“After careful consideration, I have formally withdrawn my resignation as Village Administrator for the Village of Swanton. My decision to withdraw my resignation is rooted largely in my loyalty and commitment to the leadership team we have built and to the Village as a whole. We have a strong team in place that works well together, and there are important responsibilities and initiatives currently underway that I believe deserve continuity in leadership. I am committed to seeing our team through the upcoming budgeting process, supporting the transition within our fiscal operations, and ensuring that other outstanding projects and priorities are brought to completion. As Fiscal Officer Elmore continues to grow and become established within her new role, I will remain actively involved in providing the support, institutional knowledge, and leadership necessary to ensure a smooth transition. Establishing stability within the fiscal office and successfully navigating the budgeting process are priorities for both the administration and the Village.

The concerns and time constraints I previously expressed remain important. Mayor Toeppe and I have had productive conversations regarding those concerns and will continue working together to ensure those boundaries are respected while maintaining the needs and responsibilities of the Village. A majority of those considerations will naturally evolve as Fiscal Officer Elmore becomes more established and independent within her position. I have a great deal of respect and loyalty toward the employees and leadership team who continue to show up and serve this community every day. Ultimately, I believe withdrawing my resignation is the right decision for the continuity of our team and for the Village of Swanton at this time. My focus remains on supporting our employees, completing the work currently before us, strengthening the transition within the fiscal office, and continuing to move the Village forward.’’

Photo: Village Administrator Shannon Shulters