WestChesterBuzz.com

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Finance director Kristen Bitonte is Liberty Township’s new administrator.

She was unanimously selected by trustees Tuesday – just two weeks after Dina Minneci announced she was leaving to become Indian Hill’s city manager.

Bitonte will earn $90,500 annually in her new role, compared to Minneci’s $117,459.

Trustee President Christine Matacic said trustees only looked at internal candidates to replace Minneci.

“It was a very difficult decision. We’re very blessed to have such talent,” Matacic said. “Dina put together a great team – she has taught them and worked with them and groomed them. We are confident that Kristen will pick up where Dina left off and continue to move Liberty Township forward. We’re not going to skip a beat.”

Bitonte has worked for the township seven years, the last four as its finance director. She had been earning $63,912 annually as finance director.

“Kristen’s strong financial background was an important part of our decision and we are excited about the future of Liberty Township under her leadership,’’ said Trustee vice president David Kern.

“We believe Kristen brings a lot of energy and expertise to the position…she has been an integral part of the township and involved in all projects from her seat as finance director.”

Bitonte holds a bachelor’s degree in business communications from Otterbein College. Before coming to Liberty Township, she worked for JP Morgan Chase.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve this great community as township administrator and excited about the challenges ahead for me personally as I take on this new role,” Bitonte said in a statement.

“We have a fantastic team in place and I look forward to continuing to lead Team Liberty and this community in a positive direction.”

Bitonte’s appointment takes effect immediately. Trustees will decide early next year whether to replace Bitonte in the finance department.

She lives in Liberty Township with her husband, Jim, and sons Nathan and Jacob.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Administrator Dina Minneci, Administrator Kristen Bitonte, Dina Minneci, Kristen Bitonte, Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Liberty Township Administrator Kristen Bitonte

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

Student not seriously injured after being struck by car - As many parents were on their way to pick up their children from Cherokee Elementary School last Wednesday, a car struck a student just a half-mile from the school at around 4 p.m. The female student was on her bicycle crossing from the south side of Kyles Station Road to Aspen Trails Boulevard when an Acura SUV hit her, according to Ohio Highway Patrol Sgt. Brian Bost.

Lakota East spoils Lakota West’s season with upset -Lakota East spoiled Lakota West’s season with a 33-21 upset win at Lakota West High School Friday night. The win knocked rival Lakota West out of the postseason and qualified Lakota East for the postseason for the first time in school history.

Lakota West wins second straight district title in soccer - For the second straight season, the Lakota West boys’ soccer team is making a postseason run. Last Thursday, the Firebirds won their second straight district title with a 2-0 win against Xenia at Lebanon High School. The Firebirds (16-1-2 overall) will now face Wayne (13-4-2 overall) in a regional semifinal matchup scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. at Sycamore Junior High.

Lakota East and Lakota West win district titles in volleyball - Lakota East and Lakota West clinched Division I district girls’ volleyball championships Saturday at Lebanon and punched their tickets to respective regional semifinals. Shannon Russell was there for The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Community wins in clash of the Lakotas - Michael D. Clark of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on the real impact of Lakota East/Lakota West football week.

Time to fill up? Gas prices fall under $3 – Gas prices in West Chester fell under $3 last Wednesday and remained there through the weekend, causing long lines at the pump. For more gas prices or to search for the cheapest gas near you, visit Cincygasprices.com.

Liberty Township coat drive begins - All three Liberty Township fire stations started to serve as collection sites for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s annual coat drive last week. The goal, organizers say, is to collect 4,000 new or gently used coats by Dec. 1. Coats are need for all age groups from infants through adults. Coats can also be dropped off at 11 Gold Star Chili locations in Butler County.

Liberty Township administrator named Indian Hill manager – Administrator Dina Minneci is poised to leave Liberty Township in November to become the city manager of Indian Hill, Sue Kiesewetter reported last week for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Minneci was selected from a field of 45 applicants.

Butler County race features fresh faces, strong ideas – Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week on the Butler County commissioners race: Three political newbies are vying for a seat on the board of commissioners in Butler County, where spending is the resounding theme in a community that is steeped in debt and faces $900,000 in cuts to get through the end of the year.

Lakota Local Schools still faces financial hole - Michael D. Clark of The Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota Schools have slowed but not stopped its financial bleeding, officials said during Monday evening’s school board meeting. The school system – impacted by three tax levy defeats in the last two years all resulting in historically deep personnel and program cuts – still faces insolvency in 2014, officials said.

Homearama 2013 in Liberty Twp. to break ground Nov. 8 – The Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati (HBA) recently announced that it would hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its Homearama 2013 location, Carriage Hill in Liberty Township, on Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m. The homes featured in the showcase will be priced between $700,000 to $1.2 million. Of the eight homes in the show, two have already been sold.

West Chester taking submissions for annual holiday parade - West Chester Township is now taking submissions from local individuals, businesses and organizations interested in participating in the annual holiday parade on Saturday, Nov. 17. The parade, and the tree lighting to follow, is held in conjunction with the Olde West Chester Christmas Walk, sponsored by the Merchants of Olde West Chester.

Posted in: Events, News, Schools, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Administrator Dina Minneci, Butler County Commissioners, Butler County Election 2012, Cherokee Elementary, Dina Minneci, gas prices, Homearama, Homearama 2013, Homearama Cincinnati, Homearama Cincinnati 2013, Homearama Liberty Township, Homearama Liberty Township 2013, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West soccer, Lakota West sports, Lakota West volleyball, Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Ohio gas prices, student struck by car Cherokee Elementary, West Chester Ohio gas prices

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Administrator Dina Minneci is poised to leave Liberty Township in November to become the city manager of Indian Hill.

Minneci was selected from a field of 45 applicants after a national search to find a replacement for Michael Burns, who is retiring Jan. 18 after 23 years as city manager.

Council members will vote on a three-year contract for Minneci at Monday’s meeting.

“This move is a tremendous opportunity for me personally and professionally,” Minneci said Friday.

“Working in public administration, becoming the township administrator or city manager of any community is a true honor, but to have the opportunity to hold these positions in Liberty Township and a community like Indian Hill is humbling.”

Minneci’s last day in Liberty Township (population 37,300) will be Nov. 6. She begins work with Burns in Indian Hill (population 6,000) on Nov. 12.

There, she will oversee a staff of 75 full-time and 13-part-time employees along with a general fund budget of $10 million, a capital improvements budget of $2 million and a $4 million waterworks budget, Burns said.

“Everybody on council is extremely excited about Dina. All seven of us agreed that Dina would be the perfect fit,’’ said Mayor Mark Tullis, who headed council’s search committee that worked with consultants Management Partners.

“She has a personality that truly suited Indian Hill. We felt she would mesh immediately with our employees, council, and most importantly, our residents. The warmth she exuded, the passion she had was really, really strong.”

Liberty Township trustee Christine Matacic said Minneci would be missed.

“We are very grateful to Dina for her leadership and dedication to our community. She’s been the catalyst for some major projects during her tenure with the township,” Matacic said.

“This community is a better place as a result of Dina’s leadership, passion and drive to succeed. While we are sad to see her go, we wish her the very best in her new endeavor.”

Before being named Liberty Township’s administrator eight years ago, Minneci served as finance director of Wyoming for five years and tax administrator in Fairfield for three years.

A Liberty Township resident, Minneci holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Dayton.

Her Liberty Township salary is $117,450. Compensation details for her new position will be worked out Monday.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Administrator Dina Minneci, Dina Minneci, Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Michael Burns

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

A slate of officers and new board member for 2013 has been selected by the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance’s board of directors.

Members will vote on the slate during the chamber’s Nov. 13 luncheon meeting at the Wingate by Wynham, 7500 Tyles Place in West Chester Township.

Officers who are being recommended for a term that begins Jan. 1 are:

• Karen Mueller, of HORAN, chairman
• Ron Rohlfing, West Chester Hospital,vice-chairman
• Deborah Brenneman, Thompson Hine LLP, secretary

Dina Minneci, Liberty Township’s administrator is being recommended for a three-year term on the board that also begins Jan. 1.

The luncheon runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guest speaker is Col. Dean Smittle, a military analyst for FOX19 Morning News, is the guest speaker. His topic is U.S. Military Risk in the Middle East and Update on the Regional Population/Tribal Communities.

Smittle has served in key leadership positions in both the army and air force and now teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.  Before enlisting, he earned a master of art education degree from the University of Cincinnati and graduated from the Air War College at Air University in Alabama.

The emcee for the luncheon is Rich Sears of Ameriprise Financial.

Information/tickets: 513-777-3600

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: board of directors, business, col. dean smittle, Deborah Brenneman, Dina Minneci, Karen Mueller, luncheon, rich sears, Ron Rohlfing, vote, West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance

Sue Kiesewetter reports

Non-union employees in Liberty Township will see a slightly fatter paycheck beginning Aug. 17.

An average pay increase of three percent, based on performance, was granted to the township’s non-union employees, said Dina Minneci, township administrator.

“Some were higher depending on promotional testing that would put people into a different pay classification,” Minneci said.

Every May employees are evaluated with 80 percent centered on performance and 20 percent on how well employees met their goals. Together, those factors averaged together determined pay increases, Minneci said.

The township has 55 fulltime, 66 part-time and one seasonal employee, said Melanie Brokaw, assistant township administrator and human resources director.

Firefighters covered by the union are under a separate contract that outlines pay adjustments.

Altogether, the pay increases are expected to add about $25,000 to payroll costs through the end of the year, said Kristen Bitonte, finance director. That figure includes raises stipulated for the part-time firefighters and workers and could vary slightly, depending on number of hours worked.

Bitonte said the increases represent less than a one percent change in the township’s 2012 operating budget.

Under the new schedule the pay of the department heads will be: Minneci, $117,459; Bitonte, $63,912; Brokaw, $63,912; Caroline McKinney, economic development director, $73,132; Paul Stumpf, fire chief, $83,878; Rick Plummer, services director, $76,469; and Jonathan West, director of planning and zoning, $82,719.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Dina Minneci, Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township pay increase