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Council Told of Ridges New Community Authority Board Changes; State Controlling Board Delay Cited
Summary
Committee of the Whole reviewed proposed appointments and a resignation for the Ridges New Community Authority board and discussed delays by the State of Ohio's Controlling Board on the plan transfer.
Athens City Council’s Committee of the Whole discussed appointments to the Board of Trustees of the Ridges New Community Authority after a citizen member submitted a resignation.
The committee was informed that Dominic Brook had resigned as a citizen member and the board proposed appointing James Kaufman to fill the unexpired term ending June 14, 2026. The board also sought reappointment of Chris Nisely (citizen member) and Andy Stone (local government member) to two-year terms. The committee was told the council will need to approve the appointment and reappointments with a first-reading resolution at the next regular session, and that an emergency clause would be requested so members could be seated for a possible June or early July board meeting.
Committee members asked about the status of the transfer that requires the State of Ohio’s Controlling Board approval. Administration replied that the city was scheduled to be placed on the controlling board’s agenda in late June or July, but the controlling board’s agenda had not yet been released; staff characterized the remaining steps as red tape once the item appears on the controlling board’s agenda. Members expressed concern about schedule slippage; one member said the project had been discussed for months and that shovel-ready timelines had already been pushed back.
No formal vote was taken in committee; the committee chair said legislation would be prepared for council’s next session for the appointments and reappointments.
