Barb Lewis, president of the Delaware County Board of Commissioners, presided over the Nov. 20 meeting in which commissioners unanimously approved a series of routine resolutions including contracts for psychological services and a library board appointment before adjourning into executive session.

The board appointed Stacy Neff to the Delaware County District Library Board of Trustees after Jane Hawes, the county’s director of communications, presented Resolution 25‑981 and described the candidate pool. "We had some, what I thought were really good candidates," one commissioner said during the discussion, and Lewis noted that "she has very, very strong, financial credentials." The motion to appoint Neff passed unanimously.

Job and Family Services presented several contracts and related amendments. Jennifer Wattenshade, business administrator for Delaware County Job and Family Services, described a memorandum of understanding to coordinate child abuse and neglect responses, emphasizing that the MOU carries no financial obligation: "This is just a regular memorandum of understanding. It's not attached to any financials. No compensation, no money in or out." Commissioners approved the MOU (Res. 25‑983) unanimously.

Wattenshade also presented contracts for psychological evaluations for youth in custody. For Cara Predmore PSYD doing business as Converge Psychological Services (Res. 25‑984), Wattenshade said the county had spent $7,987.50 so far this year and noted the provider is used frequently; she told commissioners, "I know last year, it was $2.25 per hour. And we did spend a total of $7,987.50." Commissioners asked staff to include a maximum annual dollar amount in future agreements to limit financial exposure.

A separate contract with "Lisonbee Hole, PHD" doing business as Advanced Forensic and Psychological Services LLC (Res. 25‑985) was approved; Wattenshade said the county’s expenditures to date with that provider are about $13,125 and commissioners again asked for clearer hourly and total cost figures in contract documentation. The board also approved contract amendments with Noble Vision Behavioral Health to cover a placed youth and to allow for future placements (Res. 25‑986), and a contract with Mid Ohio Psychological Services Inc. that included negotiated language to avoid testifying fees if county staff requires provider testimony (Res. 25‑987).

On finance matters, McElroy, finance director for the sheriff’s office, presented a request to transfer remaining 2025 appropriations for sheriff purchases (Res. 25‑982), which the board approved. The commission also approved batch payment items (Res. 25‑977) and several liquor‑license actions — transfers and a new license — that will be forwarded to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control with no county objections (Res. 25‑978, 25‑979, 25‑980).

Deputy administrator Dawn Houston presented an updated travel‑expense reimbursement policy (Res. 25‑988) that reflects recent guidance from the Ohio Ethics Commission and the State Auditor. Houston summarized the policy changes: "Earning the rewards, and points through county travel is not prohibited as long as the discount programs and rewards are provided to members of the general public, that they do not create additional costs for the county and that the employee doesn't seek or use a specific company in order to earn the rewards or points." The policy adds a reimbursement form field asking employees to indicate whether they earned rewards and includes a professional conduct section. During discussion one commissioner raised concerns about whether the county should spend travel dollars in certain jurisdictions described as "sanctuary cities," but no policy change on that point was taken at the meeting.

The board approved a plat for Evans Farm Arrowhead Section 1 (Res. 25‑989), described in the discussion as 63 lots and roughly 2.21 acres, and commissioners offered routine administrative reports and schedule notes before moving to executive session. The meeting recessed into an executive session to consider employment matters, purchase of property for public purposes and pending or imminent litigation (Res. 25‑990).

Votes at a glance

- Res. 25‑976 (approve electronic record of Nov. 17, 2025 proceedings): approved (Barb Lewis, Jeff Benton, Gary Merrill — all aye).
- Res. 25‑977 (approve purchase orders/payments batches CMAPR119/MTAPR119/PCAPR1119): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑978 (liquor license transfer, Sunrise Market LLC → NYRA Nile LLC): forwarded to state with no objections (approved).
- Res. 25‑979 (liquor license transfer, G and S Orange RD LLC → In N Out Spirits LLC): forwarded to state with no objections (approved).
- Res. 25‑980 (new liquor license for EZ at Evans Farm): forwarded to state with no objections (approved).
- Res. 25‑981 (appoint Stacy Neff to Delaware County District Library Board): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑982 (transfer of appropriation for sheriff’s office purchases): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑983 (MOU re: child abuse/neglect coordination): approved (unanimous). No financial terms.
- Res. 25‑984 (contract with Converge Psychological Services / Cara Predmore PSYD): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑985 (contract with Advanced Forensic and Psychological Services LLC): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑986 (child placement contract amendments with Noble Vision Behavioral Health): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑987 (contract with Mid Ohio Psychological Services Inc.): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑988 (updated travel expense reimbursement policy): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑989 (plat/subdivision: Evans Farm Arrowhead Section 1): approved (unanimous).
- Res. 25‑990 (enter executive session on personnel, property, litigation): approved and entered executive session.

What to know next

Commissioners signaled that the county budget will be finalized imminently (budget approval was scheduled for the following Monday) and staff was asked to provide clearer hourly and annual maximums in vendor contracts in future packets. The meeting recessed into executive session; no final action from that session was recorded in the public proceedings.