JEFFERSON – After 30 years of service to the Village of Jefferson and its residents, retiring Clerk/Treasurer Patty Fisher took part in her final Jefferson Village Council meeting as an elected official on Monday, July 20, ahead of her retirement on July 31.
Fisher has served the Village since April 1, 1996. She was last elected to a four-year term in office in November 2023.
Her term is to be the last time the clerk/treasurer position is an elected office for Jefferson.
Last year, Jefferson Village Council passed an ordinance to combine the duties of the elected village clerk and treasurer position into one appointed office, to be known as village fiscal officer.
Jamie Arcaro, who has been working alongside Fisher since June 1 as fiscal analyst, has been appointed the new fiscal officer, effective Aug. 1.
At the meeting on Monday, Mayor Steve Sekanina presented Fisher with a plaque in recognition of her 30 years of service.
“Tonight marks a significant moment in the history of Jefferson Village. After 30 years and more than 350 meetings, Patty Fisher is attending tonight’s council meeting as the Village clerk/treasurer for the last time.”
As clerk-treasurer, Fisher wore many different hats, from sending out meeting notifications and preparing council agendas, to participating in state audits, just to name a few, Sekanina said.
“Patty has seen many council members, mayors and employees come and go throughout her time here, while she has been our consistent and steady clerk-treasurer,” he said.
Her departure “is truly the end of an era,” Sekanina said.
“She, along with her position, officially end at the end of July, as the Village moves to the fiscal officer position like the overwhelming majority of Ohio’s villages have already done,” he said.
Sekanina said he appreciates all that Fisher has done to serve the Village, including her time spent over the last six weeks helping to ensure a smooth transition.
“While we will not promise that we will never give her a phone call asking where an employee can find something or how she did something, we can promise her that her service to this community is recognized and commended,” Sekanina said.
After Sekanina presented Fisher with a plaque, she also read a letter.
“It is with mixed emotions that I stand before you this evening,” an emotional Fisher read. “After nearly 30 years of serving the Village of Jefferson as your elected clerk/treasurer, the time has come for me to retire from public service.”
Fisher said when she first took this office, she never imagined that she would have the privilege of serving the community for three decades.
“Throughout those years, I have done my very best to perform the duties entrusted to me with honesty, integrity, fairness and respect for every resident,” Fisher said. “Serving the people of Jefferson has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I have witnessed our community grow, overcome challenges, celebrate successes and continue to move forward through many changes. I have had the opportunity to work alongside dedicated mayors, council members, administrators, department heads, employees and volunteers, all of whom have contributed to making Jefferson the community we are proud to call home.”
Fisher thanked the residents and voters of Jefferson.
“Time and time again, you placed your trust and confidence in me by electing me to serve as your clerk/treasurer. That trust was never something I took for granted. I understood that every decision I made involved the public’s confidence, and I always tried to conduct myself in a manner worthy of that responsibility,” Fisher said.
Fisher said she respects the Village’s decision to move to a new administrative structure.
“[I] sincerely hope this new chapter continues to serve our community well. My greatest wish is that Jefferson continues to prosper for many years to come,” Fisher said.
She said that as she closes this chapter of her life, she leaves with a heart full of gratitude.
“I have been blessed to build friendships, work with wonderful people and be part of so many important moments in our Village’s history. Those memories will stay with me forever,” Fisher said.
To the people she has worked with over the years, she thanked them for their professionalism, friendship and dedication to serving the community.
“To the residents of Jefferson, thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving you for nearly thirty years. It has truly been an honor,” Fisher said. “I wish each of you, and our Village, nothing but continued success, good health and a bright future.”
