Wednesday, April 19, 2000
Just 1 remains on MRDD board
Alexander ends holdout, leaves post
BY David Eck
Enquirer Contributor
LEBANON — The Warren County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board is down to one member, and county commissioners are pushing that one to resign as well.
Fayetta Alexander left word early Tuesday that she will resign from the board because she expects to be moving. Her notice came one day after she told The Cincinnati Enquirer she wouldn't go without a fight.
“It's effective as of today,” Mrs. Alexander said Tuesday. “Our house has been up for sale long before any of this stuff started.”
Kathy Morin remains on the board, but commission ers Pat South and Larry Crisenbery said they will ask for her resignation. Mrs. South said she would call Mrs. Morin before commissioners take any action on removing her. Mrs. Morin could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Lillian Bevins and Vice President Judy Koontz resigned from the board Monday. The other board members who have quit are former President Darrell Hunt, Sonya Staffan and Dennis Blakeley.
“I commend the members who have done this soul-searching over the last 30 days,” Mrs. South said.
The board has been under fire from commissioners and the public. Critics say it didn't adequately monitor its former superintendent, who bought two houses for the agency last year at tens of thousands of dollars above market value.
“The board was put in an awkward situation,” Mrs. South said. “I think their intentions were honorable. They had no cause to question” former Superintendent Charlotte Marinacci's actions.
Commissioners, who appoint five of the seven board members, said they have received 25 applications to fill the empty seats, and expect to have new members in place by May.
Mr. Crisenbery said the board members were perceived as part of the problem, and he opposes reappointing any of them. But Mrs. South said she would consider some reappointments, particularly those who were on the old board only a short time.
“I wish them luck with their new volunteers, their new board,” Mrs. Alexander said. “There's no hard feelings.”
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