YOUNGSTOWN — Among the candidates who applied to be the next Youngstown deputy finance director are a pair of former city of Canfield officials who resigned rather than face discipline for violating that city’s code of conduct.

Overall, 10 candidates applied for the job with one withdrawing and two not meeting the eligibility requirements, according to Jonathan Huff, the city’s civil service commission administrator.

That leaves seven candidates for Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and Finance Director Kyle Miasek to consider.

Among them are Wade Calhoun, the former Canfield city manager, and Kristen Ansevin, that city’s ex-assistant deputy director of finance.

Calhoun and Ansevin “resigned in lieu of discipline,” said Chuck Colucci, Canfield’s police chief and acting city manager.

The investigation into their conduct is ongoing, Colucci said, adding: “It was nothing criminal. It was purely administrative.”

Calhoun resigned his job, that paid about $119,000 annually, on Aug. 27, but was on paid administrative leave until Oct. 31, Colucci said.

“That was done purely for transitional purposes,” he said. Calhoun “is no longer on leave. He is no longer employed.”

Ansevin resigned her position Sept. 7, Colucci said. The job paid $74,200 annually.

The other candidates include two city employees: Thaddeus “Ted” Szmaj, the water department’s controller and office manager, and Richard Harvey, financial assistant for the city’s community development agency.

The other three are: Christine Vinion, fiscal officer at the McKinley Memorial Library in Niles; John Klimko, who previously worked for the city; and Joseph Sfara.

The deputy finance director position pays $86,423 annually.

Brown has said he will take the time needed to fill the spot.

The job officially has been vacant since March 2021. But the position could be considered unfilled since January 2018 when Miasek was promoted to interim finance director from deputy director. Miasek served on an interim basis for more than three years without a deputy.

One of the focuses of the deputy finance director’s job will be to establish a central purchasing policy for the city.

In addition, the job description calls for the person hired to assist with preparing and monitoring the city budget, analyze and review financial reports, monitor and assist with grants, create and maintain special projects and serve as a liaison between the city and the Regional Income Tax Agency, which collects the city’s 2.75 percent income tax.

The city required eligible candidates for the job to have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, financing or related field and five years of work experience in public finance, accounting or related field, preferably with government accounting and budgeting experience.

Certified public accountants or those with a master’s degree in finance, accounting or related field were “desired,” according to the job description.

dskolnick@vindy.com