By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – The city’s highest ranking appointee has tendered his resignation for the second time this year.
The city council Tuesday accepted City Administrator John Zech’s resignation in a 5-2 vote with Councilman Angelo DeGiulio and Councilwoman Tina Gaworecki dissenting.
Zech’s resignation is effective May 31. It is the second time he has resigned his post since he took it in August. Zech, who came out of retirement from the City of Wayne for the job, tendered his resignation in February, but rescinded it a week later.
Zech said he resigned on his own accord, contrary to other published reports stating that Councilman Harry Sisko asked for his resignation, after a May 15 special meeting in which the council voted against applying for a $2 million emergency loan from the state, saying he wasn’t right for the job.
Sisko did not respond to request for comment for this story by press time.
“That was the item that I just felt ‘It’s not working out for me to be here,’” Zech said. “What needs to happen here is they need to have someone that they can work with and I need a council that I can work with. It’s just not a good fit. I’m appreciative of being asked to serve the public, but in the best interest of Allen Park and myself, we need to part ways.”
At the meeting, councilors commended Zech for his dedication to the office.
“I feel Mr. Zech has served us well,” DeGiulio said. “I hate to see that he’s leaving us at this time. The community, I feel will be at a loss without (him).”
“He knows as a city administrator that he serves the council,” Mayor William Matakas said. “And those are the people to whom he tries to provide advice, counsel and stewardship, plus carrying out their directions. I think he’s done an admirable job at that and I’m going to genuinely miss him.”
During the meeting, Zech commended the council and city staff for their work during difficult financial times and asked them to reconsider applying for the emergency loan.
“The hill only seems to be getting steeper and tougher,” he said.