FAIRFIELD TWP. — Trustee Joe McAbee says he will stop working for a community youth sports organization next month when his contract expires.

        Mr. McAbee said he already had planned before this week to quit keeping grounds for the Fairfield Youth Baseball Association, a community youth baseball and softball organization that serves 1,600 children in Fairfield Township and Fairfield.

        His announcement comes on the heels of his decision to abstain from a township vote Monday night to advertise for construction bids for a 1,400-square-foot building that would house restrooms, a concession stand and maintenance equipment at the township's Millikin Road Park. It is estimated to cost between $90,000 and $110,000.

        He held off voting and the matter was tabled until an attorney could give a legal opinion after a resident and The Cincinnati Enquirer raised questions about conflict of interest.

        Mr. McAbee has worked for the baseball and softball association for two years, earning $6,000 to $8,000 each year, and has volunteered the past 12 years.

        Jennifer Hardin, the chief advisory attorney with the Ohio Ethics Commission, said state law prohibits public officials with outside employment from taking any official action, including voting and deliberating, on matters that have “definite” and “direct” impact on his or her employer.

        “Anytime a matter comes up affecting a public official's outside employer, that official should abstain on any action in the matter,” Ms. Hardin said.

        Proceeds from the planned concession stand would be a key association fund-raiser, its president, Rod Lashley, has said.

        Mr. McAbee would be the deciding vote; the other two trustees are split.

        It isn't certain now who will take care of the fields at Millikin Road Park — or at theassociation's other fields at a Fairfield park.

        The association has an agreement with the township to maintain the park March through October.

        The township built restrooms in 1998 for $65,000, and a concession stand — a mobile, temporary one — was built and paid for in 2001 by the association.

        But a permanent, larger concession stand and and bathrooms closer to playing fields are needed, Mr. Lashley and Mr. McAbee said.

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