ASHTABULA – Former long-time Ashtabula City Council member Kym Foglio remembers a time nine years ago when she was in the Harbor-Topky Library with 15 other candidates being interviewed for the position of Ward 1 Councilor.
The moment came after John Roskovics won the President of Council position, and she and Roskovics were at a church meeting. Roskovics approached Foglio’s husband and asked if he would be interested in the position.
“He politely declined, but I spoke and said, ‘I would love to do that,” she said. “I submitted my résumé, and the rest is history.”
Last month, after many years of service to the City of Ashtabula, including the last nine as a city council member, Foglio, the Ward I councilor, announced her resignation from Ashtabula City Council due to a move out of the city. “My husband and I have had the wonderful opportunity to buy his parents’ home located in Saybrook Township, and our move is now complete,” she said in a June 23 letter. The Democratic Party County Central Committee members who represent Ward 1 were going to meet and appoint a successor who will finish out Foglio’s term.
At the July 6th council meeting, Foglio was honored by council for her service. She received an award of thanks which reads, “in recognition and sincere appreciation of your dedicated years of service to the residents of Ward 1 and the City of Ashtabula 2018-2026.” In addition to her time on council, Foglio was employed from 1979 to 2013 in the Court. She is the retired Chief Clerk of the Ashtabula Municipal Court.
Council member Jodi Mills spoke first about Foglio. She said, “It has been a privilege to serve Ashtabula City alongside Councilor Kym Foglio. When I first became a councilor, I recall that Kym was always so helpful and willing to answer any questions to help me as needed. I respect her work ethics and professionalism and know that she is always guided for what is the best for the residents and the city. Kym is a sounding board, mentor, and advocate for our constituents. Kym has quiet dedication and does not need to toot her own horn. I have thoroughly enjoyed being on many hiring committees with her, the recent being the Master Plan steering committee, and attending ribbon cuttings with her. I will miss her keen eye on finance and budgeting. I will fondly look back on the time we spent collaborating on projects together. Thank you for giving so much of your heart and time to public service. You will be greatly missed in the chambers.” She wished her well on “life’s next chapter.”
Roskovics said he has known Foglio since grade school, and is going to feel a real loss not having her on council. He said she was the perfect fit on council.
“We have been so lucky to have you here. You’ve done such a good job,” he told her. He said she was conscientious, even-keeled and knowledgeable, and it was an honor working with her. He said she will be missed.
Foglio made a speech, recalling her fellow council members.
“As I joined council, I was seated among some of the icons, the late Richard Quarranta, Augie Pugliese, and Chris McClure, all of whom were so kind, and so helpful to me, and I learned from them how to be a good councilor,” she said. “I was joined then by Michael Speelman to my right and Calvin Crawford to my left, and they were so much fun. I couldn’t wait to get there. Council at that time was really fun. I really felt like I was doing something for the City of Ashtabula.”
While they didn’t always agree as a council, which resulted in some heated arguments, they always left and were very respectful of each other’s opinions and of each other, Foglio said.
“This is something I don’t see in council right now,” she continued. “I see some councilors who are trying to keep things going in a positive manner. However, I see other councilors who are here for their own personal agenda. May I remind you there is no ‘I’ in ‘We.’ No one person can do anything without the help of the others. I’ve seen so much of what I call the ‘I, I, me, me syndrome.’”
She said the “I” is for “I have done this, I’ve done that, pat yourself on the back.”
“That’s not why we’re here,” she commented.
She spoke of social-media’s impact.
“Social media and AI are dangerous places, and heaven knows I’ve taken more punishment on social media than anyone,” she said. She added that this was true, perhaps except for a few others, who she said “got it pretty good.”
“But you know why that is, it’s because I’m not telling you or AI generating any answers,” Foglio continued. “I’m telling you what is the right thing. I’m not telling you what you want to hear. I’m not going to lie to my residents, or pacify what they want to hear, and most of the time that’s not the popular thing to do, but it’s the right thing to do. The councilors who do the most work are the silent ones, who serve their residents and don’t ask to be patted on the back. That is what we’re here for and that’s why you elected us.”
Foglio then directed her comments to some specific individuals, though she didn’t name anyone.
“I’d like to speak to the group of people who have come to our council meetings and have made a mockery of what these meetings are all about,” she said.
Folgio said for five months, they have continued to disrespect and be rude and immature. She said they have bullied and threatened, and “have no idea of what serving the public really means.”
“You have lot to learn,” she said.
She said spoke about the process of choosing a new council person.
“In a few weeks, the Democratic Party will begin to interview for my position,” she said. “Let me be clear: this is not a race, nobody is running. The Democratic Party will be interviewing and then selecting the best person.”
She asked interested people to please submit their letter of intent to the Democratic Party.
“Don’t think you can’t do it,’ think you can do it,” she said.
Foglio then said thank-yous to council members and city staff. She began with City Solicitor Cecilia Cooper and assistant City Solicitor Catherine Colgan.
“Cecilia, you and Catherine are absolutely the dynamic duo,” she said. “In all my years here, there has never been a truly full-time solicitor. The others before either had private practice or ran a business. You and Catherine are (the) first full-timers. I appreciate everything you did for me for this council.” She said although Cooper’s answers weren’t always what she wanted to hear, she knew that Cooper was protecting the City.
“And someday I hope to call you Judge Cooper,” Foglio told her.
Next, she spoke to City Manager Jim Timonere.
“You are the most hard-working city manager this city has seen, and I know because I’ve been here through nine city managers – nine,” she said.
Referencing the restaurant on Bridge Street called “Nights and Weekends,” Foglio came up with a name for Timonere in a nod to the establishment’s name.
“This is ‘Nights and Weekends Jim,’” she said. “The job is never 8 to 4:30. It’s being out on the snow plows with the drivers in a horrible winter storm or being ankle deep in sewage after a back rain. This man in nine years I have been on council has never taken a vacation. That’s what running a city is all about, and although we don’t always agree on everything you do, you do a great job and what you have to do it with. I also have another name for Jim. It’s ‘Penny-pincher Jim,’ because no one stretches a penny like Jim. Jim, it’s been a pleasure.”
Foglio told city Finance Director Vladimir Kan that one of her “most shining moments” was being on the committee to hire him.
“You have been such a pleasant breath of fresh air to the city,” she said. “Your reports are impeccable.”
She said his office is so organized, it’s unbelievable.
“Mr. Kan, I wish you many good years here,” she said. She told him to keep doing a great job.
She also praised Clerk of Council Stacy L. Millberg.
Foglio said Millberg is “a home town girl, raising her family and truly invested in our City.”
“You are kind, you have always done everything I’ve asked of you, and I look forward to you making the best of your career here with the city,” she told her.
Foglio then addressed council Vice President Russell Simeone, council President John Roskovics, and council members Terence P. Guerriero and Jodi Mills.
She stated the following comments:
• On Simeone: “Most people don’t know that Russ and I worked together for many years at Our Lady of Peace Parish. He was the business manager and, of course, I’m the jack-of-all-trades there. Russ, you are such a fair person. You look at the situation on all sides before making a decision. Please continue to be that person who thinks outside the box as well as inside of the box, and it’s been a pleasure.”
• On Roskovics: “This is a hard one, my dear friend from the first grade through all 68 years of our life. You have been the most fair, honest person I know. You are always so giving of your time and talents and never ask for anything in return. I will so miss seeing you and talking to you and you saying, ‘Hey, Kym, what do you know?’ You are a selfless servant, and that is so hard to find these days. John, keep the faith.”
• On Guerriero: “Terry, I have to confess I lied to you. Several years ago, I got a call from Mr. Guerriero. He told me he was interested in running for Ward 2, since Calvin Crawford was not seeking re-election. He said, ‘Hey, Kym, about how many hours a week would you say you have to put in?’ And I told him, ‘Oh, Terry, it’s easy, just two meetings and whatever phone calls you get.’ Now I lied to Mr. Guerriero because it’s for a reason, because I knew what a wonderful councilor he would be. He cares about our city, he cared about his residents, and Terry, I am so proud of the councilor you have become, and I’m so sorry I lied. Not really, but I am.”
• On Mills: “You and I have served on every hiring committee. We have had so much fun, and you’re such a friend, especially to my mom. And I have to say I taught Jodi how to Google information on the internet, and I’ll leave that as a private joke. Jodi is by far the hardest working councilor. If you call her, she’s there, not on the phone, but in person, and she’ll get the job done. She attends so many meetings above and beyond her council obligations. As I said at the beginning of this speech, many councilors work tirelessly under the line of sight, and those truly are the councilors of great worth. And that is Jodi.”
“I want to thank everyone again, and leave with a quote from Timothy, Chapter 2: ‘As for me, I am being poured out like a libation and the time for my departure is here. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith,’” Foglio said in closing. “I can leave this room now with my head held high, for I have served my residents and my city well. Thank you for your closure to my 43-year career here! Thank you all.”
