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Commissioners authorize juvenile court to apply for behavioral health grant as public commenter alleges staff misconduct
Summary
Greene County commissioners authorized the juvenile court to apply May 1 for a Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice Initiative grant intended to support diversion and treatment programs for justice‑involved youth.
The Greene County Board of Commissioners voted May 1 to authorize the Greene County Juvenile Court to apply for a Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice Initiative grant that, according to county staff, requires no local match and funds evidence‑based programs to identify and divert justice‑involved youth with mental health and substance‑use disorders.
During the public‑comment period, Anthony Williams of Xenia alleged that a juvenile court employee was using county work time and equipment for private legal practice. “There’s an employee out there that’s participating in fraud, waste, and abuse,” Williams said. He alleged the employee had sought continuances in small‑claims matters while on county time, that voicemail messages indicated the employee was supposed to be in juvenile court on certain days, and that the employee was practicing law in the same county where she serves as a magistrate.
A commissioner responded during public comment that judges and magistrates are employed by the juvenile court and not by the board of commissioners, and directed Williams to take employment or ethics concerns to the juvenile court or other appropriate bodies. The commissioner also noted that payroll is handled by the county auditor.
The board then moved, seconded and approved a motion to allow the Greene County Juvenile Court to apply for the Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice Initiative grant. The motion passed with the commissioners voting in the affirmative.
The transcript contains the public commenter’s allegations but does not record evidence supporting them, nor any county investigation or finding. The claims are those of a public speaker and were not corroborated during the meeting. County staff described the grant as aimed at community‑based treatment and diversion for youth with behavioral health needs; the board approved the court’s application to seek the funding.
Next steps noted in the meeting: Juvenile Court staff may submit the application for the grant; any award or acceptance of funds and associated contract or program implementation would require separate approvals as required by county policy.
