Tuesday, May 18, 1999
Two resign at Children Services
Agency hit by critics, levy failure
BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — Two top officials from Butler County's embattled children services agency have resigned, citing controversy about its governing board.
During an emergency weekend session, Dr. John McAninch, executive director of the Butler County Children Services Board, and Assistant Director Shawn Zaczek turned in their resignations.
“It has become evident that our continued tenure at this agency is not in our best interest, the board's best interest, or the interests of children of this county,” Dr. McAninch said in his resignation letter.
“The continuing controversy over children services needs to be laid to rest so that the issues of services to families and children in Butler County can again take precedence,” he wrote.
The board has been the target of public criticism, law suits and increasingly harsh assessments from at least one Butler County commissioner.
Consecutive property tax levy failures in November and earlier this month have brought financial strain to the $19 million-a-year agency that cares for the county's neglected, abused and dependent children.
Also, while the three county commissioners said they support a new levy for the children's agency, Commissioner Mike Fox has tempered his endorsement with criticism that the agency has been unresponsive to public accountability.
Dr. McAninch praised the 12-member board, and said he and Ms. Zaczek were “hopeful that this action will permit the board and the county commissioners to move forward in providing services to Butler County's children and families.”
Board Chair Bob Cottrell accepted the resignations.
Board spokeswoman Linda Lee Smith said the resignations were “totally voluntary” but declined to discuss what prompted them. Mr. Cottrell also declined to comment.
Recently appointed board member Madge Burton said she was surprised by the resignations. “I don't know that much about their reasons,” she said. She declined to comment further.
An interim management team, composed of three veteran children services officials, will be created to continue the agency's supervision, Ms. Smith said. The board, which meets once a month, holds its next meeting Thursday.
“The goal wasn't to get him to leave. John has done a lot of good for the agency,” Mr. Fox said. “But it was no secret” that the agency was unwilling to “involve the public more in their activities ... especially family members, affected by their decisions.”
Mr. Fox had previously criticized children services and Butler County Juvenile Court for denying people access to information.
Dr. McAninch had countered that state privacy laws restrict information he can disclose about juveniles.
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