Fulton County MRDD to re-interview 1 for superintendent

4/22/2005

WAUSEON - The Fulton County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities will give a second interview to one of its six superintendent candidates and discuss its November levy request during a special meeting Monday.

But the organization, which has been in upheaval for months, lost another key employee Monday night.

The board unanimously accepted the resignation of the agency's business manager, Brian Horst.

Mr. Horst, who is in charge of all financial details regarding the organization's $4 million annual budget, said his resignation was unrelated to conflict at the disabilities agency. He said he wanted to pursue a different type of work after being at the agency for a year.

His resignation is effective May 31, at the end of his one-year contract, which pays him $41,000.

In a special meeting Monday, which was announced yesterday, the board is to interview Brenda Oyer, of Archbold, Ohio.

Ms. Oyer, who is adult services director and assistant superintendent of the Williams County disabilities board, is the first superintendent candidate the board itself has asked to interview.

She is one of two candidates - the other is James Huntington, of north central Ohio. Mr. Huntington is director of residential and community services for the Ashland County disabilities board.

Both were interviewed last week by a committee of board members, parents, and agency employees.

The board is expected to interview Ms. Oyer behind closed doors.

But before that, it is to discuss the amount of the levy that it will request from voters in November.

The board appears likely to ask for a levy that would raise taxes by between $11 and $41 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

The largest of those possibilities should help the board reduce its waiting list for disabled adults to move out of their family homes and into government-funded apartments with roommates.

The smallest of the proposed levy increases might only keep the agency on an even footing because of expected state cuts.