Board of DD votes to 'reassign' Biggert to special projects
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
After voting in June not to renew the contract of Superintendent Chuck Biggert, the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities has voted to "reassign" Biggert to "work on projects specifically assigned by the board."
The board held a special meeting Tuesday at Hills and Dales Training Center. The board met in executive session for approximately an hour to discuss "the discipline and/or dismissal of a public employee or official."
Biggert was not in attendance at the meeting, though there were approximately 30 members of the Hills and Dales staff.
After entering back into regular session, board member Megan Schoettle-Filson made the motion that the board adopt the resolution reassigning Biggert. With all seven board members present, the board voted unanimously to pass the resolution. The board then immediately voted to adjourn the meeting.
Following the board meeting, board president Linda Allen asked that all questions from The Highland County Press be directed to the board's attorney, Jim Hughes.
When Hughes was asked to specify what the board's action would mean for Hills and Dales and its students, he said, "(Biggert) will be acting at the direction of the board president."
When asked for an example of what that might be, Hughes said, "An example would be if he were directed to work on special projects, or as directed."
Biggert is current working on some grant proposals, Hughes said, and he will continue to do so.
Hughes said that Biggert would not work out of the Hills and Dales Training Center, and when asked where Biggert would work from, Hughes said, "Wherever he chooses."
It has not yet been determined who will be in charge of the day to day operations at the school, but Hughes said, "It will be business as usual."
Hughes and Allen both said that Tuesday's action did not impact the board June decision to not renew Biggert's contract.
Earlier in the meeting, staff member Brian Miller gave a report to the board on the feasibility study that was being conducted on the possible transition into independent operations for Highco, Inc. The first year of such a transition, he said, there would be a financial loss to the agencies. Allen said that with the changes the board of DD was getting ready to go through, she felt that was something that needed to be put on hold, and the other board members agreed.
"We need to deal with some other things and we're getting a new superintendent, and I just think that's not something I want to push right now," Allen said.
Hughes said that the superintendent's job duties and responsibilities were spelled out in the Ohio Revised Code as acting at the direction of the board of DD, as well as possible other amendments made to the contract.
Hughes was asked how the current action by the board is any different from the previous contract, and he said, "he will be operating at the direction of the board president." Regarding the other amendments to the contract he said, "we are not at liberty to discuss those."
As The Highland County Press questioned Hughes on the typical responsibilities of the superintendent, such as whether or not Biggert would be in charge of hiring, firing or disciplinary actions, Allen shook her head "no."
Several Hills and Dales staff members stayed after the meeting was adjourned, and directed several questions toward Allen. One staff member asked if Biggert had access to the building Tuesday evening, access to his work computer, or if he still had keys. Allen said "that is being taken care of."
Hughes said, "This is a public building and he has access to the building as any member of the public. We have not discussed that with him."
Someone asked who the on-call supervisor would be for after-hours, and Allen said that she could be contacted if any issues arose. Allen also said she would be available after buses started bringing in students Wednesday.
A staff meeting is scheduled for Wednesday morning, and Allen said that she and other board members would be in attendance, and they would answer more questions then.
At the board's June 28 meeting at the Hills and Dales Training Center, the board unanimously voted to not renew the superintendent's contract. Board president Linda Allen and board members Karen Adams, Gary Buchanan, Megan Filson, John Fittro and Deborah Tissot voted in favor of the measure.
Earlier that day, the superintendent had informed Board of DD member Sam Snyder that he (Snyder) was ineligible to serve on the board due to an error in the filing of a declaration of eligibility form. Snyder had been appointed this year by the Highland County commissioners.
As reported in the Aug. 20 Highland County Press, two legal opinions – one by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and one by the Ohio attorney general's office – determined that Snyder was eligible to serve. He was re-appointed to the Board of DD by Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer last week.
Commissioners also sent a letter regarding the superintendent to the Board of DD last week that stated the following:
"Mr. Biggert called our office (on Aug. 10), per our clerk, informed us that he wants an appointment to the DD board made by the Board of Commissioners before your August 16, 2011 meeting. He also stated that (board of DD member) Mr. Sam Snyder does not “fit” on the board, as it was Mr. Biggert’s desire to have someone appointed with a financial background.
"Most troubling, however, is that Mr. Biggert continued to say that he does not want to embarrass anyone with a public disclosure of information regarding a commissioner and Mr. Snyder. The Board of Commissioners views this statement as a threat and we will not tolerate strong-arm tactics.
"Based on this, we respectfully request that any communication with our office be made by the Board President or a board member and not by Mr. Biggert.
"We find this type of behavior to be completely inappropriate and unprofessional. If Mr. Biggert has information to disclose, then he should do so without making threats in a juvenile attempt to further a personal agenda.
"We are aware of the board’s recent unanimous vote not to renew Mr. Biggert's contract; however, we hope that based on the information provided in this letter, your board would take the appropriate action to insure that this type of behavior ceases for the remainder of Mr. Biggert’s term as superintendent."
After voting in June not to renew the contract of Superintendent Chuck Biggert, the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities has voted to "reassign" Biggert to "work on projects specifically assigned by the board."
The board held a special meeting Tuesday at Hills and Dales Training Center. The board met in executive session for approximately an hour to discuss "the discipline and/or dismissal of a public employee or official."
Biggert was not in attendance at the meeting, though there were approximately 30 members of the Hills and Dales staff.
After entering back into regular session, board member Megan Schoettle-Filson made the motion that the board adopt the resolution reassigning Biggert. With all seven board members present, the board voted unanimously to pass the resolution. The board then immediately voted to adjourn the meeting.
Following the board meeting, board president Linda Allen asked that all questions from The Highland County Press be directed to the board's attorney, Jim Hughes.
When Hughes was asked to specify what the board's action would mean for Hills and Dales and its students, he said, "(Biggert) will be acting at the direction of the board president."
When asked for an example of what that might be, Hughes said, "An example would be if he were directed to work on special projects, or as directed."
Biggert is currently working on some grant proposals, Hughes said, and he will continue to do so.
Biggert will continue to receive the full superintendent's pay, Hughes said.
Biggert will continue to receive the full superintendent's pay, Hughes said.
Hughes said that Biggert would not work out of the Hills and Dales Training Center, and when asked where Biggert would work from, Hughes said, "Wherever he chooses."
It has not yet been determined who will be in charge of the day to day operations at the school, but Hughes said, "It will be business as usual."
Hughes and Allen both said that Tuesday's action did not impact the board June decision to not renew Biggert's contract.
Earlier in the meeting, staff member Bryan Miller gave a report to the board on the feasibility study that was being conducted on the possible transition into independent operations for Highco, Inc. The first year of such a transition, he said, there would be a financial loss to the agencies. Allen said that with the changes the board of DD was getting ready to go through, she felt that was something that needed to be put on hold, and the other board members agreed.
"We need to deal with some other things and we're getting a new superintendent, and I just think that's not something I want to push right now," Allen said.
Hughes said that the superintendent's job duties and responsibilities were spelled out in the Ohio Revised Code as acting at the direction of the board of DD, as well as possible other amendments made to the contract.
Hughes was asked how the current action by the board is any different from the previous contract, and he said, "he will be operating at the direction of the board president." Regarding the other amendments to the contract he said, "we are not at liberty to discuss those."
As The Highland County Press questioned Hughes on the typical responsibilities of the superintendent, such as whether or not Biggert would be in charge of hiring, firing or disciplinary actions, Allen shook her head "no."
Several Hills and Dales staff members stayed after the meeting was adjourned, and directed several questions toward Allen. One staff member asked if Biggert had access to the building Tuesday evening, access to his work computer, or if he still had keys. Allen said "that is being taken care of."
Hughes said, "This is a public building and he has access to the building as any member of the public. We have not discussed that with him."
Someone asked who the on-call supervisor would be for after-hours, and Allen said that she could be contacted if any issues arose. Allen also said she would be available after buses started bringing in students Wednesday.
A staff meeting is scheduled for Wednesday morning, and Allen said that she and other board members would be in attendance, and they would answer more questions then.
At the board's June 28 meeting at the Hills and Dales Training Center, the board unanimously voted to not renew the superintendent's contract. Board president Linda Allen and board members Karen Adams, Gary Buchanan, Megan Filson, John Fittro and Deborah Tissot voted in favor of the measure.
Earlier that day, the superintendent had informed Board of DD member Sam Snyder that he (Snyder) was ineligible to serve on the board due to an error in the filing of a declaration of eligibility form. Snyder had been appointed this year by the Highland County commissioners.
As reported in the Aug. 20 Highland County Press, two legal opinions – one by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and one by the Ohio attorney general's office – determined that Snyder was eligible to serve. He was re-appointed to the Board of DD by Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer last week.
Commissioners also sent a letter regarding the superintendent to the Board of DD last week that stated the following:
"Mr. Biggert called our office (on Aug. 10), per our clerk, informed us that he wants an appointment to the DD board made by the Board of Commissioners before your August 16, 2011 meeting. He also stated that (board of DD member) Mr. Sam Snyder does not “fit” on the board, as it was Mr. Biggert’s desire to have someone appointed with a financial background.
"Most troubling, however, is that Mr. Biggert continued to say that he does not want to embarrass anyone with a public disclosure of information regarding a commissioner and Mr. Snyder. The Board of Commissioners views this statement as a threat and we will not tolerate strong-arm tactics.
"Based on this, we respectfully request that any communication with our office be made by the Board President or a board member and not by Mr. Biggert.
"We find this type of behavior to be completely inappropriate and unprofessional. If Mr. Biggert has information to disclose, then he should do so without making threats in a juvenile attempt to further a personal agenda.
"We are aware of the board’s recent unanimous vote not to renew Mr. Biggert's contract; however, we hope that based on the information provided in this letter, your board would take the appropriate action to insure that this type of behavior ceases for the remainder of Mr. Biggert’s term as superintendent."
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