*Note: both forms must be completed when applying.

CMHA (Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority)

PURPOSE: CMHA provides quality, affordable housing for low to moderate income families. For more than 80 years the agency has provided quality, affordable rental housing opportunities for individuals and families throughout the county. The agency operates or administers three separate programs. Asset Management consists of 5,309 units owned and managed by CMHA. The Housing Choice Voucher can administer Housing Assistance Payments for 11,338 households. The agency also operates 274 units of other affordable rental housing. The Board makes all operational and budgetary decisions regarding the use of federal funds allocated for housing. 

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: Ohio Revised Code, Section 3735

TERMS: One member appointed by the probate court for a five (5) year term. 

COMPENSATION: Board members serve without compensation.

INFORMATION TO CONSIDER BEFORE APPLYING: The general rules on compatibility of public office would apply.*** In this regard, the Attorney General did issue an opinion stating that the position of park commissioner is incompatible with being a member of a metropolitan housing authority.  1963 OAG 130.

Pursuant to R.C. 3735.29, “[n]o member or employee of a metropolitan housing authority shall have any interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract for property, materials, or services to be acquired by said authority.”  In construing this code section, the Ohio Attorney General issued an opinion stating that, “[a] member of a metropolitan housing authority is prohibited by RC 2921.42(A)(4) and 3735.29 from serving on the board of trustees of a nonprofit corporation which contracts with the metropolitan housing authority.”  1983 OHIO OAG No. 83-024

CURRENT APPOINTEE AND TERM EXPIRATION:

  • Edward R. O’Donnell 2/06/2028

DDSB (Developmental Disabilities Services Board)

PURPOSE: Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services is a government social services agency established by state law. Every year, they support more than 8,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout their lives, by providing case management, monitoring service quality, and funding services provided by our community partners. 

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: Ohio Revised Code, Section 5126

TERMS: Two (2) members appointed by the probate court for five (5) year terms. One (1) of the appointments must be an immediate family member of an individual eligible for residential services or supported living.

COMPENSATION: Board members serve without compensation.

INFORMATION TO CONSIDER BEFORE APPLYING: The “senior probate judge” of the county appoints two members of this seven member board.

R.C. 5126.021 The appointees must be citizens of the United States, residents of the county, and be “interested and knowledgeable in the field of intellectual disabilities and other allied fields” One of the probate judge’s appointments must be an immediate family member of an individual eligible for residential services or supported living. The appointees, “to the maximum extent possible”, should have training and experience in business management, finance, law, health care practice, personnel administration, or government service. The statute also states that the appointing authority should provide for the board’s membership to reflect, as nearly as possible, the composition of the county.

R.C. 5126.022 Generally, elected public officials may not be appointed.  The statute does make an exception for a township trustee or township fiscal officer.  Further, family members of the board members may not be appointed.  Employees of any county DDS board may not be appointed. Former Hamilton County DDS employees whose employment ended less than four years prior may not be appointed. Former employees of another county DDS board cannot be appointed until two years after their employment ended. Immediate family members of Hamilton County DDS employees may not be appointed. Individuals who themselves serve or who have an immediate family member that serves on the board or are employed by a service provider may not be appointed.  Any individual with an immediate family member who serves as a county commissioner may not be appointed. R.C. 5126.023  

Any prospective appointee must file a declaration prior to their appointment that none of the above circumstances apply.  The declaration must also provide whether the individual or an immediate family member has an ownership interest in or is under contract with any agency contracting with the board. R.C. 5126.024

Further, the general rules on compatibility of public office would apply.***

CURRENT APPOINTEES AND TERM EXPIRATION:

  • Michael Odioso January 2027
  • Teresa Hoelle January 2027

HCPB (Hamilton County Park Board)

PURPOSE: The Hamilton County Park Board sets the overall policy and management direction of The Hamilton County Great Parks. The Board makes decisions regarding the acquisition and improvement of property and facilities, adopts new programs, approves budget revenues and expenditures, establishes management policy and regulations, passes bond issues, and provides a public venue for community debate and input. The Board may acquire lands either within or without the park district for conversion into forest reserves and for the conservation of the natural resources of the state, including streams, lakes, submerged lands, and swamplands, and to those ends may create parks, parkways, forest reservations, and other reservations and afforest, develop, improve, protect, and promote the use of the same in such manner as the Board deems conducive to the general welfare. The park board was created to help the preservation of good order within and adjacent to parks and reservations of land and for the protection and preservation of the parks, parkways, and other reservations of land under its jurisdiction.  

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: Ohio Revised Code, Section 1545

TERMS: Five (5) members appointed by the probate court for three (3) year terms.

COMPENSATION: Board members serve without compensation, but are permitted reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses.

INFORMATION TO CONSIDER BEFORE APPLYING: The general rules on compatibility of public office would apply.*** With respect to Park Board commissioners, the Ohio Attorney General has issued an opinion that a park board commissioner may not simultaneously serve as member of a board of health of a combined general health district within the same county or as a member of a veteran’s service commission within the same county. 2011 Ohio Op. Atty. Gen. No 2011-029  Further,  Park Board commissioners may not serve as a township trustee 1988 OHIO OAG No. 88-033 nor on the metropolitan housing authority. 1963 OAG 130.

CURRENT APPOINTEES AND TERM EXPIRATION:

  • Marcus Thompson 12/31/24
  • William Burwinkel 12/31/25
  • Melissa Wegman 12/31/25
  • Douglas Abrams 12/31/25
  • Caren Laverty 12/31/23 

STSAB (SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM APPEALS BOARD)

PURPOSE: The Sewage Treatment System Appeals Board provides a forum for land owners to appeal decisions of the Board of Health related to household sewage treatment systems.

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY: Ohio Revised Code, Section 3718

TERMS: One member appointed for a two (2) year term.

COMPENSATION: Board members serve without compensation.

INFORMATION TO CONSIDER BEFORE APPLYING: This is a three-member board that may hear appeals from certain board of health decisions regarding residential sewage treatment systems.  The probate court appoints one member of the board, who serves as the chairperson.  The statute does not provide limitations on who can serve, however, the general rules on compatibility of public office would likely apply.  R.C. 3718.11

In 2012, the Ohio Attorney General issued an opinion stating that a county commissioner may serve on the board as long as the commissioner does not participate in any deliberations, discussions, negotiations, or votes concerning arrangements between the county and the sewage treatment system appeals board relating to the sewage treatment system appeals board's use, rental, or lease of county facilities. Per the OAG, the commissioner should also recuse from any appeals before the sewage treatment system appeals board involving real property owned or leased by the county. 2012 Ohio Op. Atty. Gen. No. 2012-0005 2012 WL 691618, at *1

Further, the general rules on compatibility of public office would apply.***

CURRENT APPOINTEE AND TERM EXPIRATION:

  • Anna Bisher 12/31/2023

***GENERAL RULE ON COMPATIBILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICE

Generally, speaking, if a person is already serving in a public position, then before taking on a second public position, one must analyze whether the positions are compatible or not.  Essentially, two offices are incompatible if one is subordinate to the other or if the individual holding them might be subject to divided loyalties, conflicting duties, or the temptation to act other than in the public’s best interest.  Acceptance of a second office that is incompatible with the first, results in vacation of the first office. See State ex rel. Hover v. Wolven, 191 N.E.2d 723, 725, 175 Ohio St. 114, 116–17 (Oh. 1963), 2011 Ohio Op. Atty. Gen. No 2011-029 (Ohio A.G.) 2011 WL 3562180, at *1