Western-Star.com

HAMILTON — The governing board of Butler County Children Services is no more.

Commissioners voted Monday to make the Department of Job and Family Services the county's child protection agency instead.

The move is a result of the fallout from the August death of Middletown foster child Marcus Fiesel, whose foster parents Liz and David Carroll Jr. both were convicted of murder in the case. At the time of his death, the developmentally disabled 3-year-old was in the legal custody of Children Services, which approved his placement in the Carroll's Clermont County home.

Children Services' six-member volunteer board didn't provide aggressive oversight, and new leadership is needed to restore the public's confidence in the agency, Commission President Gregory Jolivette said. Fired Executive Director Jann Heffner left the agency May 5.

"It was a circle-the-wagons type mentality with the board and we don't need that," he said.

The reorganization merges Children Services' 200-plus employees, $25 million annual budget and services to more than 600 children in foster and kinship care under Job and Family Services. However, Children Services' administration — including Interim Executive Director Jeff Centers — will report directly to the commissioners and County Administrator Derek Conklin "to have a clearer line of communication," Jolivette said. All hires, fires, contracts of more than $25,000, and other actions will be subject to the commissioners' approval.

Bruce Jewett, county JFS director, said he expects to play a role in some fiscal decisions, contracts, and in finding efficiencies.

Centers, who doesn't plan to apply for the permanent directorship, said his short-term focus is on "getting back to business" and bringing stability to the reorganized agency. Centers earned $74,000 annually as finance director and will double his duty as interim director for a $97,000 salary.

Sixty-two of Ohio's 88 counties also have child protective services joined with Job and Family Services, but the Public Children Services Association of Ohio has said structure has no sole impact on outcomes for children.

Twenty years ago, JFS lost control of children services and an independent board was formed after 3-year-old Tiffany Hubbard was placed with her father, who later raped and beat her to death. Now, the agency is returning to JFS, but with more direct oversight from the commissioner's office. Former County Commissioner Michael Fox plans to seek the $125,000-a-year executive director position since his resignation took effect before Monday's meeting. Applications for the post will be accepted for about three weeks. A new director should be in place in six to eight weeks, Jolivette said. The county Republican Party's Central Committee plans to appoint a replacement June 5 to fill Fox's term, which expires in 2009.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or chiggins@coxohio.com.