WestChesterBuzz.com

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

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

Liberty Township Finance Director Kristen Bitonte was named township administrator. File photo.

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.

Junior Eric Eichler helped Lakota East earns its first-ever trip to the postseason when he ran for a touchdown and threw for another in a 33-21 win at Lakota West Oct. 26, 2012. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II.

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.

The Speedway at Cincinnati-Dayton Road near I-75 was selling unleaded gas for $2.97 a gallon last week. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber Oct. 26, 2012.

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.

Democratic candidate Jodi Billerman is running for the open Butler County commission seat. The Enquirer/ Joseph Fuqua II.

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.

Dina Minneci. Photo provided.

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

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

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Sue Kiesewetter reports:

From the opening of 24 new businesses to crafting regulations for Internet Cafes that have become the model for Ohio, Liberty Township had a lot to be proud of in 2011, officials say.

And even bigger and better things are planned for 2012.

Township administrator Dina Minneci outlined 30 accomplishments to trustees this week before presenting a list of 58 priorities, organized into six different categories.

At the top of both lists was economic development. Despite a weak national economy, Liberty Township has continued to grow.

“Liberty Township is still attractive (for) economic development,” Minneci said.

As evidence, she pointed to the new businesses, an extension to Steiner & Associates’ approval for a $500 million development plan at Liberty Way, and the grand opening of the 400-acre Carriage Hill development that eventually will include residences, shopping, community center and related amenities.

Those projects will continue to be priorities this year along with marketing business corridors along Ohio 4 and Ohio 747. Plans also call for the township to collaborate with community partners and county development officials to highlight development projects throughout the county.

The planning and zoning department will also spend 2012 preparing the Township Vision Plan 2030 – an update to the 2006 Liberty Township Comprehensive Plan.

On the quirky side, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources certified in 2011 that the township was a co-champion for having the tallest hackberry tree in Ohio. It is located just outside of Dudley Woods.

Other highlights of 2011 included:

• Park improvements: adding handicap accessible restrooms to Dudley Park which also had its parking lot and driveway paved; constructed a gazebo at Reserves Park; replaced shelter roof at Liberty Park; acquired final Cherokee Park parcel from developer
• Hired six part-time firefighters and promoted three firefighter paramedics to lieutenants
• Paved or improved nearly three miles of roadwaces and replaced 150 feet of curb

Priorities for this year include:

• Implement a communications plan which includes an update to the website, electronically distribute the newsletter
• Gage community interest in contract recycling through a formal survey
• Work with other public safety departments to create a collaborative purchasing group
• Seek grants for park projects including restrooms at Wetlands Park, upgrading playground equipment at Reserves Park, improving the Wilhelmina trail and build a new shelter at Dudley Park.

The full list of 2011 accomplishments is posted on the Liberty Township website.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Liberty Township trustees

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Expenses in Liberty Township’s 2012 approved budget could exceed revenues by as much as $518,000.

But township officials say they expect that number to decrease.

“Because it’s in the budget doesn’t mean we’ll spend it,’’ said Trustee Pat Hiltman. “We’re going to be real tight for the next 18 months.”

The approved budget includes projected revenues of $19,641,505 and expenses of $20,159,778. Included in that figure is $10.6 million for operations, which is lower than 2011’s estimated operating revenue.

The shortfall between revenue and expenses will come from carryover and reserve funds, said Kristen Bitonte, finance director.

“There’s no guarantee everything in there will be approved,” Bitonte said. “It could be less and that’s the goal.”

Although items are included in the budget trustees approve most large expenditures on a case by case basis after reviewing bids.

No employee layoffs or service reductions are planned for 2012. Instead it will be a year of maintaining existing services and programs. (more…)

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Christine Matacic, Liberty Township Administrator, Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Liberty Township trustee, Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, Liberty Township Trustee David Kern, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman

Below is the full article written by Sue Kiesewetter for the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Trustee Pat Hiltman has one word to describe Liberty Township’s proposed 2012 budget: austere.

“That’s the theme for 2012 – and (it will) carry forward,” Hiltman said.

Total revenues in the 2012 budget are estimated at $19.6 million, which includes $10.6 million for operations – lower than 2011’s estimated operating revenue.

Administrator Dina Minneci said she expects local government dollars from the state to decline in 2012 and be gone by 2013. Those dollars had averaged $650,000 over the past five years.

Projected expenses for 2012 are $20.4 million, about $1 million higher than the 2011 estimated expenses. Contributing to that increase include health insurance increases, a newly established $14,000 payment to the Butler County Emergency Management Agency, contract provisions and large capital expenses including some postponed from this year.

Despite the dismal outlook for 2012, no layoffs or service reductions are planned for the year, said Caroline McKinney, township spokeswoman and economic development director.

“We absolutely have to squeeze every nickel and dime,’’ said trustee David Kern.

Carryover and reserve funds will make up the difference between revenues and expenses.
Trustees are expected to approve a final budget at a special meeting called for 8 a.m. Dec. 30 at administrative offices.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Emergency Management Agency, Caroline McKinney, Liberty Township Administrator, Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Liberty Township spokesperson Caroline McKinney, Liberty Township trustee, Liberty Township Trustee David Kern, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman