DAC ties twice, tables health board member vote
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STEUBENVILLE -- Hopes to elect an individual to the Jefferson County Board of Health were frustrated twice by tied votes Wednesday, causing the District Advisory Council to table the vote until next week.
With the expiration of board member Terry Bell's five-year term, the DAC had convened to consider seven candidates for the seat, Bell included. The DAC itself is comprised of the president of the county commissioners, the mayor of each city and village and the chairperson of each township's board of township trustees.
However, the first vote resulted in a tie between Bell and the Rev. Nate Freeman. A second vote produced the same result, at which point the DAC, as per restrictions imposed by its newly adopted bylaws, was forced to reschedule its vote for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the second-floor community room of the Jefferson County Towers.
Vying for the position and present at Wednesday's meeting were Bell, a 12-year Salem Township trustee; Freeman, pastor of First Christian Church in Steubenville; and Tasha Lipps, executive director of SouthernCare Hospice in Wintersville.
Also in the running but not present Wednesday were Aaron Dickey, a clinical program management adviser for Evernorth Behavioral Health Inc.; the Rev. Buena Smith Dudley, pastor of Quinn Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church; Shannon Monroe, a doctoral candidate at New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World; and Vanessa Palmer, founder of the Diversity Health Initiative.
Wednesday's meeting began on a cheerful note, with members of the DAC constituting a quorum for the first time in more than two decades, according to DAC President Scott Fabian, who has served on the council for about 27 years.
Twenty out of 33 voting constituents were accounted for, including the commissioners, Steubenville, Amsterdam, Bergholz, Bloomingdale, Empire, Mingo Junction, Richmond, Wintersville, Cross Creek Township, Island Creek Township, Knox Township, Ross Township, Salem Township, Saline Township, Smithfield Township, Springfield Township, Steubenville Township, Wayne Township and Wells Township.
Following roll call, the DAC proceeded to approve its revised bylaws, which it had been sitting on without action because of the sustained inability to pass them due to lack of a quorum. Members voted to approve the bylaws. Health Commissioner Andrew Henry said he would e-mail them to members.
The DAC heard brief presentations from each of the three present applicants, after which votes were cast on paper ballots. Votes returned with a 7-7 tie between Bell and Freeman, while Lipps took six votes.
As per the DAC's bylaws, a second vote was taken with only the top two candidates in the running. However, votes came in at another tie, 10-10, putting the DAC in a bind as to what steps should be taken next.
Since the DAC's bylaws contained no direction on how to handle a tie, individuals in the crowd suggested the DAC revert to Robert's Rules of Order. That was deemed impossible, due to the bylaws not containing any stipulation allowing Robert's Rules to be applied.
Instead, the DAC entered executive session to discuss the election. During that time, members consulted with Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Jane Hanlin, who advised them to table the vote, in the hopes that the new date's present members will tip the vote one way or another.
The new date was scheduled due to an Ohio Revised Code requirement that the vote be held the same month. Fabian noted that advance notice of the new date must be given to the public, hence when the meeting would not be rescheduled for immediately after the current meeting concluded.
The DAC also approved a motion to amend the bylaws, allowing any decision-making situations not covered by the bylaws to revert to Robert's Rules.
In other business, the DAC approved the minutes of its last four meetings: March 29, when the council elected Suzanne Brown to the board, with a term expiring in 2028; Sept. 28, the election of Dr. Mark Kissinger to complete the remaining two two years of the late Dr. Patrick Macedonia's term; Jan. 9, the election of Dr. John Figel, who later withdrew his name after the DAC's legal counsel found a conflict of interest; and Jan. 15, when a five-member executive committee elected Mary Mihalyo to complete the remaining year of a term formerly held by Clark Crago, who stepped down after being elected to Toronto City Council.
Also, DAC President Scott Fabian, chairman of the Steubenville Township Board of Trustees, and Secretary Pennie Scarpone, Wintersville council member, were unanimously approved to continue as officers.