CCAO Reintroduction

CORSA Reintroduction

County Government Functions and Officeholders

Roles and responsibilities of the different row offices and gain an understanding of the importance of the state-county partnership.

Larry Long, Former CCAO Executive Director

County Human Resources

Your county employees are an integral part of determining the success of your county programs and services to taxpayers. Managing public employees requires understanding the basics of Ohio’s Civil Service Laws and Collective Bargaining Law. This session will include civil service topics such as classified and unclassified positions, termination, layoff procedures, and an employee’s appellate rights to the Personnel Board of Review. Collective bargaining topics will include unit determination, role of the commissioners in negotiations, management rights, unfair labor practices, approval of labor contracts, dispute resolution procedures, the right to strike, and how a bargaining agreement relates to provisions of state law and the county budgets.

Marc Fishel, Partner, Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLP
Presentation
Additional Information

County Budgeting Basics

One of the primary responsibilities of a county commissioner is to determine the budget priorities for the county. Our experienced panel will explore the major revenue sources and areas of mandated expenses and then examine the appropriation process and discuss how some counties manage their budget process. Other areas will include the role of the county budget commission, legal level of control, budgeting for special revenue funds, how to work with departments and elected officials in preparing the budget, and how to monitor the budget and procedures for line-item transfers and supplemental appropriations.

Janet Discher, Ashtabula County Administrator

Erica Preston, Auglaize County Administrator

County Auditing

With a statewide staff of more than 800 auditors and other professionals, the Auditor of State’s office is responsible for auditing all public offices in Ohio — more than 5,900 entities. The Auditor’s office also offers performance auditing for state and local public offices, identifies and investigates fraud in public agencies, provides financial services to local governments and promotes transparency in government. Learn more about how the Auditor of State ensures your tax dollars are being used wisely and how to report any fraud you might notice in this session.

Dorinda Byers, Business Development Consultant, Auditor of State's Office
Presentation

Procurement and Purchasing

County government must be transparent and use specific processes when purchasing goods with taxpayer dollars. Topics to be discussed will include competitive bidding requirements and exemptions, notice and publication requirements, bid bonds, performance bonds, purchase contracts, certificate of availability of funds by the county auditor, purchase orders, and the authorized use of credit and procurement cards for making purchases.

Megan Perry-Balonier, Director, Purchasing Department, Franklin County

Kyle Kolopanios, Director of Purchasing & Central Services, Montgomery County
Presentation

What to Do When You Get Sued

What to do when you get sued. For elected officials it is “when” you get sued not “if.” This session provides an overview of the risk pool/insurance claims and legal process of lawsuits as well as preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of getting sued and increase the chances of a successful defense.

Frank Hatfield, Esq., CORSA Risk Manager
Presentation

Ethics

This session will teach you the provisions of Ohio’s ethics laws, conflicts of interest, and illegal interests in public contracts. We will also explore situations that most often get elected officials into trouble and how to avoid them.

Susan Willeke, Education and Communications Administrator, Ohio Ethics Commission
Presentation

Conducting Public Meetings

Transparency is an essential component of conducting business as a public official. Some aspects are obvious, others are not. Learn the essentials about Ohio’s open meeting requirements and how other counties organize and conduct regular and special sessions of the board of county commissioners. This session will also discuss such issues as the limited reasons allowed to enter into executive sessions, conducting regular and special sessions, meeting agenda and procedures, and maintaining the Commissioner’s Journal and minutes. We will also touch upon Roberts’ Rules of Order, notifications of news media, and citizen participation. This session provides a framework for future training that is required by law for all county elected officials during their term of office, but it does not count as the official training.

Mark Landes, Esq., Managing Partner Emeritus, Isaac Whiles Attorneys at Law
Presentation

Economic Development & Workforce

Many county commissioners, county executives and county council members make economic development and job creation a top priority during campaigns. What are the tools at your disposal to make this happen? What are the barriers? What are the various local economic development structures, state, and local incentive programs? We will explore these and other topics, such as working with JobsOhio and the role of elected officials and economic development professionals.

Rocky Rockhold, Policy Director, Greater Ohio Workforce Board, Inc.

Ryan Scribner, Director of Economic Development, The Montrose Group
Presentation

Drew Cooper, Director, Government Affairs and Engagement, JobsOhio
Presentation

Human Services

Ohio has delegated responsibility for the administration of many critical social service programs to counties. Whether it is the protection of vulnerable populations, the establishment of child support, helping families with food assistance or helping find a path to employment or reemployment, counties are on the front lines and touch the lives of many citizens with these programs. Each program and funding stream comes with distinct regulations, acronyms and community impacts that will be important to understand.

Jon Honeck, Executive Director, Ohio Job and Family Services Directors' Association (OJFSDA)

Laura Abu-Absi, Assistant Director, OJFSDA

Angela Sausser, Executive Director, Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO)

Amy Roehrenbeck, Executive Director, Ohio Child Support Professionals Association (OCSPA)
Combined Presentation

Justice & Public Safety

Ohio has delegated responsibility for the administration of many critical social service programs to counties. Whether it is the protection of vulnerable populations, the establishment of child support, helping families with food assistance or helping find a path to employment or reemployment, counties are on the front lines and touch the lives of many citizens with these programs. Each program and funding stream comes with distinct regulations, acronyms and community impacts that will be important to understand.

Laura Austen, Assistant Director, Ohio Public Defender Commission

Jason Landers, Paulding County Sheriff

Thomas Riggenbach, Van Wert County Sheriff
Combined Sheriff Presentation

Setting a Vision & Strategic Plan for Your County

Developing a mission and strategic plan for your county helps your team and stakeholders understand the importance of a team vision and articulate the core values, purpose, strategy, and goals. Outlining how you will get there, and regularly and clearly communicating with staff and stakeholders is vital. Telling your county’s story is an important part of an elected official’s job.

Melanie Flax Wilt, Clark County Commissioner
Presentation