“The purpose of this meeting is to formally accept the resignation of former Fiscal Officer, Linda Oda, and to consider other personnel reassignments,” according to a release issued along with the meeting agenda.
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Oda ran last year against two incumbent trustees, one of whom she sparked an ethic investigation against.
“It was good time for me to leave,” Oda said. “It’s been a bumpy road.”
Oda said the trustee-fiscal officer relationship was naturally adversarial and they clashed recently over privatizing payroll services.
In 2009, a special prosecutor declined to pursue charges after an Ohio Ethics Commission investigation over Wade’s office’s administration of township insurance, triggered by a state audit aided by Oda. Wade’s office ended the relationship.
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“I’m tired of fighting,” Oda added. “I wish them well.”
On Friday, she said she retired, effective Friday, but notified the trustees on Feb. 12 that she was leaving.
Oda has served as fiscal officer since 2007 and planned to leave during this term.
She said she was unaware a release had been issued and urged the trustees to find a qualified replacement to handle the township’s $15 million budget.
Last year, she ran against trustees Ed Wade and Steve Muterspaw, and lost. On Friday, she said this had nothing to do with her decision.
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Instead Oda said she wanted to focus on the county office and other countywide opportunities.
“That’s where my heart is,” she said.
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Township Administrator Matt Clark acknowledged Oda was retiring.
The meeting agenda also said the trustees would reassign Assistant Fiscal Officer Michael Dean under the direction of the township administrator, and assign Dean the new job title, Finance Coordinator.
Clark said he was unaware if there was anyone identified to replace Oda. He said the special meeting was called to get a jump on the statutory 30-day period for filling the fiscasl officer office.
Wade, Muterspaw and Trustee Jason Gabbard could not be reached for comment.
The meeting is to be in the government center, 7593 Bunnell Hill Road, at the intersection of Ohio 73 and Bunnell Hill, east of Springboro.
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