Akron Reporter

City of Fairlawn Mayor William J. Roth, Jr. announced today that he will retire from office effective 12:01 AM December 1st, 2022. His last day in office will be November 30th, 2022.

“I have, after much careful consideration, decided that now is a good time to step down as Mayor.  I believe you should go out when you are still effective, on top of your game, and on your own terms. It has been a great privilege and honor to serve the residents and businesses of Fairlawn for these last 27 years.  And I could not have done it without the support of my wife, Jolene.  The journey has been very interesting and rewarding,” Mayor Roth said. 

Since Mayor Roth took office in 1996, there have been many milestones and accomplishments during his long tenure, such as: 

• Negotiating a JEDD agreement with the City of Akron and Bath Township.
• Creation of the Fairlawn Corporate Park (office/research opportunity district).
• Construction of a new Service Center and Police Department building and renovation of City Hall.
• Weathering the events of September 11th, 2001.
• Helping the City survive the 2008 stock market crash and the Great Recession.
• The formation of the FairlawnGig municipal broadband utility.
• Managing the City through the COVID-19 pandemic,
• Collaborating with Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro in constructing the Criminal Justice Fiber Ring to serve the courts and criminal justice system.
• Creation of the Fairlawn Soccer Park and Community Garden.
• Participating in the creation of a Council of Governments to build and operate a joint emergency dispatch center with Summit County, and the cities of Stow, Tallmadge, and Cuyahoga Falls.
• Establishing a Planned Unit Development for the former Rosemont Country Club (golf course) property, including a 62-acre nature preserve owned by the City.   
• The formation of a Council of Governments with Summit County for constructing a Tier 4 Data Center and a fiber ring connecting all 31 communities in Summit County.

Mayor Roth indicated that Fairlawn’s advancement and success have been due to teamwork and cooperation. “I have had the privilege of directing great department heads and employees throughout the years.  And I was blessed to work with City Council members that worked with me to advance and improve the City.”

 President of City Council Russell T. Sharnsky will automatically become mayor upon Mayor Roth’s retirement.  “The transition will be seamless.  Russ’ many years of experience on City Council has prepared him to take over as Mayor.  I have every confidence in his abilities, and if I did not think he could handle the job, I would not be voluntarily stepping down at this time,” said Mayor Roth.  

Original source can be found here.