Attorney General's opinion sought for Board of DD appointment
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
The Highland County Board of Commissioners are awaiting an opinion from the office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine regarding the next appointment to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Commission President Shane Wilkin informed The Highland County Press this week that commissioners had requested an opinion from Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, and that Collins has requested an opinion from the AG's office in Columbus.
"We have asked Anneka for an opinion and she has given us her opinion," Wilkin said. "But she would like an opinion from the attorney general."
Commissioners have to fill a board vacancy created on June 28 when Board of DD Superintendent Chuck Biggert told board member Sam Snyder that after serving for nearly six months, he is not eligible to be on the board.
Biggert said Snyder failed to submit a state-mandated declaration of eligibility in a timely fashion.
As reported at highlandcountypress.com on June 28, "Today at 4:30 p.m., Chuck (Biggert) called and told me I was not eligible for the board," Snyder said. "He informed me that a board member must provide a written declaration of eligibility (per the Ohio Revised Code)."
Snyder was appointed in January by the Highland County Board of Commissioners and prior to his first board meeting, Snyder said he had had no notification of this paperwork.
"I was not aware of this in January," Snyder said. "I came in, turned it in to Sherry (Morrison), who put it in the file, I guess. I don't know why this hasn't been brought up before now."
"I think there needs to be a formal policy for any new board members on this," Snyder said.
The purpose of the eligibility paperwork is to determine if a potential board member would have a conflict of interest by serving on the board.
Snyder said that he would have filled out the paperwork prior to being sworn in had he known, and that he had no conflicts with being on the board.
After Snyder was declared ineligible, commissioners said they would consider appointing him again, and that they also would accept letters of interest from others potential candidates.
"It appears his (Snyder's) position will be declared void, as if he never were on the board," Wilkin said this week. "If this is correct, Mr. Snyder would be available for appointment.
"It's already been sent to the attorney general and that's what we're waiting on."
Wilkin said anyone interested in serving on the Board of DD should submit a letter of interest to the Highland County Board of Commissioners.[[In-content Ad]]
Commission President Shane Wilkin informed The Highland County Press this week that commissioners had requested an opinion from Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, and that Collins has requested an opinion from the AG's office in Columbus.
"We have asked Anneka for an opinion and she has given us her opinion," Wilkin said. "But she would like an opinion from the attorney general."
Commissioners have to fill a board vacancy created on June 28 when Board of DD Superintendent Chuck Biggert told board member Sam Snyder that after serving for nearly six months, he is not eligible to be on the board.
Biggert said Snyder failed to submit a state-mandated declaration of eligibility in a timely fashion.
As reported at highlandcountypress.com on June 28, "Today at 4:30 p.m., Chuck (Biggert) called and told me I was not eligible for the board," Snyder said. "He informed me that a board member must provide a written declaration of eligibility (per the Ohio Revised Code)."
Snyder was appointed in January by the Highland County Board of Commissioners and prior to his first board meeting, Snyder said he had had no notification of this paperwork.
"I was not aware of this in January," Snyder said. "I came in, turned it in to Sherry (Morrison), who put it in the file, I guess. I don't know why this hasn't been brought up before now."
"I think there needs to be a formal policy for any new board members on this," Snyder said.
The purpose of the eligibility paperwork is to determine if a potential board member would have a conflict of interest by serving on the board.
Snyder said that he would have filled out the paperwork prior to being sworn in had he known, and that he had no conflicts with being on the board.
After Snyder was declared ineligible, commissioners said they would consider appointing him again, and that they also would accept letters of interest from others potential candidates.
"It appears his (Snyder's) position will be declared void, as if he never were on the board," Wilkin said this week. "If this is correct, Mr. Snyder would be available for appointment.
"It's already been sent to the attorney general and that's what we're waiting on."
Wilkin said anyone interested in serving on the Board of DD should submit a letter of interest to the Highland County Board of Commissioners.[[In-content Ad]]