Johnstown Village Manager Jim Lenner said the village would continue its search for a new finance director.

Lenner said the village had narrowed its list of applicants to two, Nicholas Neuerer of Howard and Kenneth Salak of Columbus. He said village officials, however, wanted to keep looking for a replacement for Larry Heiser.

Heiser recently took a finance-director position in the Cleveland suburb of University Heights.

"The staff met with the two candidates that we did have," Lenner said. "Not that they were bad, but we want to make sure we were doing justice to that position and for our residents to make sure we were actually casting the net as wide as we can to get qualified candidates."

Lenner has said village officials wanted the new finance director to start June 4. He said the date has been moved back to July 2.

Lenner said council hasn't decided on a salary for the new finance director. Heiser was paid more than $57,000 plus benefits when he left at the end of April.

The village also is now looking for a planning and zoning inspector. Lenner said Sonny Whalen resigned May 14, and his last day is June 1.

"We'll try to get someone on board as soon as possible because I'm fearing the worst in trying to pick up all of his duties," Lenner said.

In other matters:

* Council on May 15 issued a proclamation to the Johnstown-Monroe High School Big Red Marching Band for its hard work during the 2011-12 school year.

"The dedication, hard work, long hours of practice, mutual support and rapport of one another, and commitment by the band and director, exemplify the pride ... of the Johnstown(-Monroe) High School Big Red Marching Band," Mayor Sean Staneart read from the proclamation.

The band comprises 180 members this year who traveled to Walt Disney World for the first time during spring break to work with a Disney music director.

Fourth-year band director Joe Carver said he was honored to receive the recognition.

"I feel like I can't say thank you enough for the support that this town gives to the band," Carver said. "Everything, from fundraisers to being at all of our performances and making Friday nights in Johnstown the most special place to be so thank you."

Council members said the honor was all theirs.

"I just want to say how terribly proud every person that lives in Johnstown and the surrounding area are of all the students and director," council member Joyce Evans said. "It's just a pleasure to watch your every performance. You just make every event wonderful, and I'm really proud of all of you."

* The signals at the intersection of Oregon and Coshocton streets are working again.

Service director Jack Liggett said lightning had struck the lights two weeks ago, disabling its functions.

Liggett said the delay in part was because of questions regarding who would pay for the repairs, the village or the Ohio Department of Transportation.

ODOT officials told Liggett this week that the village is responsible for the $3,700 for parts to fix the signals.

* It's that time of year again when girls ages 4 to 6 may sign up for the 2012 Little Miss Firecracker pageant.

Parents may register beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 24, in the Johnstown High School performing-arts center. Eligible girls must live in the Johnstown, Northridge or Alexandria area.

The pageant will be held June 27.

For more information, call Joanne Schwab at 740-817-2846 or email her jschwab0813@gmail.com.