New Bloomfield Mayor resigns amid turmoil in the city

Mayor Greg Rehagen resigned Wednesday night for health concerns, Martha Siegel is taking over as interim mayor until the city finds a new mayor.

Siegel said, “There’s been a lot of controversy going on here in New Bloomfield and whenever you’re trying to work through that, you often think, why did I get into this?”

It’s up to Siegel to set up a special meeting with a minimum number of the board possible, and nominate someone to serve as Mayor. Siegel said she does not know when the meeting will be. This is usually the City Clerk’s job.

Rehagen started as mayor pro tem and stepped up to serve as full time mayor.

“I hate to see him go, but I understand what he needs to do for him and his family,” Siegel said.

“We were very shocked, we really had no idea that he was planning on resigning, he did cite health concerns.” Cheri Wilson, a New Bloomfield citizen said. “When he started telling us about the resignation, he did say that the last three months had been extremely stressful on him, and was kind of hindering some of his healing.”
Siegel does not want to serve as mayor, she said her first priority is to find a city clerk and a mayor for the city. Siegel said she is ready to, “take on the job for a short time, I can unlock the doors and answer the phone, but really and truthfully, I’m looking forward to getting a city clerk.”

The city also does not have a city clerk at this time, causing City Hall to only be open from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
All positions in the city are volunteer, most city hall workers also have full-time jobs or are retired. “We just do the best that we can, and sometimes you feel inadequate about the job, but you’re willing to serve your community,” Siegel said.
Wilson raised over 100 signatures to petition an audit for the city. Wilson believes this may have been a factor in Rehagen’s resignation. However, Wilson said she talked to the mayor after Wednesday night’s meeting. “I told him that I was just feeling like we could start working with him, and then he leaves on me, I’m disappointed.”

“He’s going to have to have another surgery and it’s going to require some pretty intensive therapy.” Siegel said. “With all that going on, he really hasn’t had much time to really do the duties of mayor, and I know that he felt bad about that.”

ABC 17 News reached out to Greg Rehagen but has not heard back.