*Note: both forms must be completed when applying.

PURPOSE: For more than 80 years, CMHA has provided rental housing opportunities to low and moderate income individuals and families throughout Hamilton 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 11,600 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:

General rules on compatibility of offices apply.  See 1963 Ohio Atty. Gen. Ops. No. 1963-130 (the position of park commissioner is incompatible with serving as a member of a metropolitan housing authority board member).

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 addition, “[a] member of a metropolitan housing authority is prohibited by R.C. 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 Atty. Gen. Ops. No. 1983-024.

CURRENT APPOINTEE AND TERM EXPIRATION:

• Edward R. O’Donnell 2/06/2028
  

Developmental Disabilities Services Board (DDSB)

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: DDSB 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.

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.” R.C. 5126.022.  One of the probate judge’s appointments must be an immediate family member of an individual eligible for residential services or supported living. Emphasis is placed on appointees, with training and experience in “business management, finance, law, health care practice, personnel administration, or government service.” R.C. 5126.021(B)(3).  The statute also provides that the appointing authority should "[p]lace emphasis on appointing individuals who reflect, as nearly as possible, the composition of the county that the county board serves.” R.C. 5126.021(B)(4).

• Family members of the board members;
• Employees of any county DDS board;
• Former Hamilton County DDS employees whose employment ended less than four years prior;
• 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;
• Individuals who themselves serve or who have an immediate family member that serve on the board or are employed by a service provider;
• Any individual with an immediate family member who serves as a county commissioner 

CURRENT APPOINTEES AND TERM EXPIRATION:

• Michael Odioso January 2027
• Teresa Hoelle January 2027
  

Hamilton County Park Board (HCPB)

PURPOSE: The Hamilton County Park Board (the Park Board) sets the overall policy and management direction of The Hamilton County Great Parks. The Park 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 Park 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 Park 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: General rules on compatibility of public office apply. 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 Atty. Gen. Ops. No 2011-029.  Further, park board commissioners may not serve as a township trustee 1988 Ohio Atty. Gen. Ops. No. 1988-033 or on a metropolitan housing authority board. 1963 Ohio Atty. Gen. Ops. No. 1963-130.

CURRENT APPOINTEES AND TERM EXPIRATION:

• Marcus Thompson 12/31/24
• William Burwinkel 12/31/25
• Melissa Wegman 12/31/25
• Scott Schuster 12/31/26
• Caren Laverty 12/31/26 
  

SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM APPEALS BOARD (STSAB)

PURPOSE: The Sewage Treatment System Appeals Board provides a forum for landowners 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: STSAB 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 apply.  R.C. 3718.11

A county commissioner may serve on a residential sewage treatment systems 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.  2012 Ohio Atty. Gen. Ops. No. 2012-0005. Such a commissioner should also recuse from any appeals before the sewage treatment system appeals board involving real property owned or leased by the county. Id. 

Further, general rules on compatibility of public office apply.

CURRENT APPOINTEE AND TERM EXPIRATION:

• Craig Abercrombie 12/31/2025

***GENERAL RULE ON COMPATIBILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICE