Tom Shay resigned his seat on Bradford City Council on Tuesday, taking a full-time position in the city parks department instead.

Former councilman Ross Neidich – who had been appointed in January of 2005 to fill a vacancy on the board from the resignation of Bob Kelly – was appointed to replace Shay.

Shay explained after the meeting that his decision was made for the benefit of his family.

“Working the hours I did, I never saw my family,” Shay said. He had worked a second shift at Graham Packaging, and with a child in school, he was spending too much time away from home, he explained.

“This came up and I decided to take it,” Shay said of the parks job. He will work for Parks Director Chip Comilla.

Shay had served on council for nearly 10 years. He began his third term on Jan. 1.

“I’ve worked with Councilman Shay for 10 years,” said Mayor Michele Corignani during the meeting, before voting to accept Shay’s resignation.

“I was part of the council that voted him on,” she said. Shay was appointed to take over the remainder of the term of Mark Austin. “That was one of the best decisions we ever made.”

Corignani said Shay is very dedicated to the city and added, “I’m glad we’re not losing him very far away.”

Shay, who has served as director of public safety overseeing the fire department during his tenure on council, also thanked former fire chief, City Clerk John Peterson, and Fire Chief Bill McCormack for the hard work of the fire department.

All the council members expressed regret at Shay’s decision to leave the board.

Meanwhile, Corignani said Neidich was the logical choice to fill the vacancy. She explained that Neidich had fought a “very close election campaign” in which four men ran for three vacant seats.

“Ross’s battle became six votes short of retaining that seat,” she said. “I believe the (voters) will have a comfort level” with Neidich.

“He’s someone the community has shown they wanted through the election process,” Corignani said.

Neidich is retired from the Bradford Area School District, having served most recently as principal of School Street Elementary School.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Neidich was appointed as director of public safety, ambulance, building and health, planning and zoning departments.