Payton asked to withdraw application

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By Wayne Allen

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Earlier this week the Scioto County Commissioners reaffirmed Mike Payton, President of New Boston Village Council as an appointed member of the school board for the Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Board of DD). On Thursday the commissioners said they were wrong in making the appointment.

On Wednesday it was discovered that Julie Monroe, Superintendent of the Board of DD expressed concerns about Payton being appointed by the commissioners. Monroe addressed those concerns to the commissioners in a letter.

On November 3, New Boston Village Council passed a resolution allowing council members to serve as appointed members of board or committees. The resolution was passed as an emergency measure.

The ending paragraph of the resolution reads, “Two-thirds (2/3) of all members elected or appointed to council have found this to be an emergency measure to provide for the public peace, health, safety and therefore this resolution shall go into immediate effect upon its passage.”

“The DD appointment has been a topic of discussion for a long time. I guess there’s been a lot of back and forth between us and the prosecutor’s office. There has been some communications between unnamed individuals to the state DD department, the AG’s (Attorney General) office as well as the County Commissioners Association,” said Chairman of the Scioto County Commissioners Mike Crabtree. “On numerous occasions we’ve been advised by the prosecutor’s office that the appointment was okay and a resolution had been put together by the city (village) council. Unfortunately the AG’s office, the state DD department and the County Commissioners Association is in disagreement with that (prosecutor).”

Crabtree said he had a conversation Tuesday morning with a member of the County Commissioners Association, who said unless the prosecutor’s office has something that he’s overlooked, the Ohio Revised Code was very clear about who could be appointed.

He said the commissioners will readvertise the position.

“The way it stands right now, the people at the state level are adamant this is not going to be, he can’t serve,” Crabtree said. “I would advise Mr. Payton to withdraw his application and we will readvertise to see if anybody is interested.”

Calls to Payton were unreturned Thursday afternoon.

Those interested in being appointed a member of the Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities can call the district at 740-353-0636 and talk with the Superintendent’s Office.

Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT

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