Meet the Mayor of Avon Lake

The citizens of Avon Lake elected our current mayor, Gregory Zilka, to his first term in 2012. He is currently serving his third term.

Prior to being elected, Mayor Zilka was a social studies teacher at Avon Lake High School for 35 years. He was appointed to serve on Avon Lake City Council in 1985, and served for 26 years, 14 years of which he served as President of City Council.

Mayor Zilka has always found volunteering rewarding. In his early 20’s he had the privilege of serving in the Peace Corps, where he met his wife of 45 years. For the past 14 years he has been active with the Lorain County Office on Aging’s Home Delivered Meals program. In addition, he volunteers weekly for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lorain County and has served on the board of trustees for organizations such as the Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ADAS), Cleveland State Leadership Academy, and the Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital Advisory Council, among many others.

The mayor is the municipal’s chief executive officer, as well as safety director. Some of his other duties include:

• Supervises the administration of all municipal departments
• Executes all contracts on the behalf of the municipality
• Servers as a member of the Planning Commission and the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board.
• Regularly attends meetings for the following boards and/or committees:
  • Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Economic Development
  • Public Service
  • Finance
  • Safety
  • Human Resources
  • Sewer
  • Avon Lake Regional Water
  • Walker Road Ad Hoc
• Selects appointees to the following boards/commissions:
  • Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Parks & Recreation Commission
  • Civil Service Commission
  • Digital Media Commission
  • Citizen Tree Commission
  • Income Tax Board of Review
  • Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council
  • Historical Preservation Commission
  • Community Improvement Corporation
• Approves parade permits, sign requests, electronic sign requests, and light pole banner requests
• Conducts yearly ward meetings
• Issues proclamations

• Officiates weddings, subject to availability