LEBANON — The honchos brought in to rehabilitate Warren County's Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities agency are staying for six months beyond their scheduled departure this month.

        Interim Superintendent John Lazares — also superintendent of Warren County Educational Service Center — and interim Deputy Superintendent Paul Davis are remaining to finish implementing changes.

Chris Jones (seated) prepares to activate a paper shredder that employee Jodi Davidson (left) is feeding at the Warren County MRDD offices. Behind them (from left) are John Lazares, interim superintendent, Janice Thoman, adult services director, and Paul Davis, interim deputy superintendent. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        They came aboard in March after former Superintendent Charlotte Marinacci was pressured into retiring. County commissioners and residents lambasted her and MRDD's board members — who later resigned — for buy ing two houses at tens of thousands of dollars above their appraised value. Adult MRDD clients were to live in the houses.

        The extension likely will be Mr. Davis' last. A retiree of Hamilton County MRDD, he has seen a four-month stint turn into a 15-month stay.

        Mr. Lazares, however, has previously expressed an interest in wearing both superintendents' hats permanently, although he's being more coy now.

        “I'll work at the board's pleasure,” he said.

        Mr. Davis and Mr. Lazares say they want to make sure MRDD is stabilized before they leave. Several top staffers were replaced after Mrs. Marinacci left, and the agency is now looking at pro gramming changes.

        While the two top officials are staying for now, there will likely be some changes on the MRDD board next month. The terms of three board members the commissioners appointed in May are expiring, and only one wishes to remain.

        County Administrator Bob Price agreed to serve only temporarily, and Ann Jaster of Lebanon, a former special-education teacher, is headed south for the winter.

        Sonya Staffan, an MRDD volunteer with a young child in the program, is the lone holdover on the seven-member board, serving only briefly before the controversy arose. She would like to be reappointed, she said.
       

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