Member Updates

At OCMA’s Annual Business Meeting held in Columbus on April 7, 2023, Jeff Weckbach was named to the Ohio City/County Management Association Board. Jeff has served as the Township Administrator in Colerain Township near Cincinnati since September 2022.

Prior to his role as Township Administrator, Jeff served as the Assistant Administrator in Colerain from 2018 to 2022. He also worked for Hamilton County from 2014 to 2018 as a Budget Analyst and a Senior Policy Manager.

Jeff has a Masters in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and a B.A. from Northern Kentucky University.

OCMA members approved bylaw changes at the annual business meeting held at the OCMA Conference on April 7th. Changes clarify membership definitions, and introduce a new category of membership for persons retired from service in local government. Additional changes include aligning the requirements to become OCMA President and Secretary-Treasurer with current practices, and introducing changes intended to allow Members in Transition to continue serving as Officers with OCMA.

A full marked-up version of the proposed bylaw changes can be downloaded here.

The changes include:

1. Definitions of Full and Affiliate Membership. OCMA currently permits all persons who are eligible to hold full or associate membership in ICMA to be full members in OCMA. However, at some point ICMA updated their membership definitions to allow almost anyone working in local government, including elected officials, to join ICMA. Additionally, because both OCMA and ICMA utilize both full and affiliate membership categories, but with different definitions, the opportunity for confusion about which OCMA membership category a person should join existed. The proposed changes are intended to separate the OCMA and ICMA membership definitions by removing the reference within the current OCMA Full Member category to ICMA’s definitions for eligibility.
2. The proposed bylaws clarify that Members in Transition be treated as Full Members of OCMA. This change would allow officers within OCMA who become MITs to continue in their service on the OCMA Board so long as they maintain eligibility to be full members in OCMA.
3. Affiliate membership is proposed to be reserved for persons working for non-commercial entities, include academia, who have an interest in local government in Ohio, or at other levels of government in Ohio.
4. A new membership category for retired members is proposed to allow individuals who are no longer employed on a full-time basis in local government, but who have not been approved for lifetime membership in OCMA, to join the association. Unlike Lifetime members, retired members are not exempt from paying dues in the bylaws.
5. The name of the Student Member category is proposed to change to Emerging Leader and to be broadened to allow interns working in local government to join. Student members are currently able to join OCMA at no annual cost, and this change would, in combination with language in Art III Section 8, extend this membership benefit to persons working as interns in local government.
6. Changing language about eligibility to become President of OCMA to clarify that all Full Members of OCMA are eligible to hold this office. This formally would allow assistants and and non-CAOs to hold the office of President, and aligns language within the bylaws with recent past practices that have seen assistants serve as President.
7. Removing language that limited the Secretary-Treasurer to serving two terms. The Treasurer is appointed by the OCMA Board, serving two year terms designed to provide stability within this position as positions on the board change. Amending this language will align the bylaws with current practices.
8. Updating language that stipulates how frequently meetings of the general membership are held to comport with OCMA now only having one annual conference. This language change would further allow a business meeting to happen virtually by removing the requirement that it occur as part of the annual conference.

Mark Schwieterman’s employment with the city of Kettering spans five different decades, during which he’s become what one fellow city manager called “a pillar” for municipal leaders statewide.

The end of Schwieterman’s 34 years with the city — more than 16 as its top administrator — ends Saturday. His departure closes a chapter that those who have worked closely with him say has been marked by successes that far outweigh failures.

The redevelopment of what is now Kettering Business Park, the modernization of Kettering’s fire and police facilities, and job growth at the Miami Valley Research Park all came under Schwieterman’s leadership, several officials have said.

Kettering “acknowledges the work, the foresight and the unwavering grit” Schwieterman has displayed to improve the city and “the entire region without hesitation or complaint,” according to a city council proclamation approved recently.

“Mark has been a pillar within the local government management profession, within the Dayton region and throughout Ohio,” longtime Oakwood City Manager Norbert Klopsch said in an email.

Schwieterman has served as treasurer for the Ohio City/County Managers Association since 2012, according to its website.

PAINESVILLE, Ohio— At Monday, October 3’s Painesville City Council meeting, City Manager Doug Lewis announced his appointment of Tony Zampedro to the position of Assistant City Manager of Painesville. City Council approved the appointment in a 4-2 vote, with one member excused on leave from the meeting.

“I’m looking forward to having Tony be part of the City of Painesville’s management team,” said Lewis. “His wealth of experience and knowledge are extremely impressive and will benefit the City greatly. I look forward to working together to move the community, and our many exciting projects, forward.”

Zampedro comes from Painesville Township, where he recently was appointed Administrator. Prior to the position, Zampedro served as the Assistant City Manager for 16 years at the City of Mentor. He also served as Law Director for the City of Parma and City of Conneaut throughout his career. He is a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law and holds a Masters of Public Administration from Cleveland State University.

“Painesville is a community that I have had a long-time desire to become a part of their professional city management team. From its historic downtown, county seat status, hometown to a four-year college, multiple municipal utilities and exciting community and economic development opportunities, Painesville is an ideal place for me to apply my experience and education to best serve its residents,” said Zampedro. “I am very enthused to be joining City Manager Lewis’ administration.”

The role opened after former Painesville Assistant City Manager, Derek Feuerstein, announced his departure in mid-September. Zampedro is expected to start his new position by early December.

About the City of Painesville
Settled in 1800, Painesville is the county seat of Lake County, Ohio and is located along the beautiful Grand River, roughly 30 miles northeast of Cleveland and 2.5 miles from the shores of Lake Erie. Painesville is home to Lake Erie College, Morley Library and a dynamic historical downtown district. The city is named after General Edward Paine who served in the Revolutionary War and settled in the area shortly after. Painesville has a population of over 20,300 per the 2020 census. For more information visit www.painesville.com or call 440-352-9301.

From the Dayton Daily News

Washington Twp. Administrator Jesse Lightle will resign from that position effective Jan. 15, and will take on a vice president role at Sinclair Community College..

Lightle has served as administrator of Montgomery County’s largest township since July 2006 and has helped Washington Twp. experience the largest residential growth in the county over the past decade, township officials said.

Lightle told this news outlet the thing she is most proud of in her 16 years on the job is the township’s staff and the team that has been built.

“Our staff truly care about our residents and the services they provide,” she said. “I feel honored to work alongside such a phenomenal group of dedicated public servants and it is certainly what I will miss most about the position.”

Sharon Lowry, president of the Washington Twp. Board of Trustees, said the trustees will meet in the coming weeks to determine the process and timeline for hiring a new administrator.

“Our initial plans are to hire a search firm to assist us with the recruitment efforts,” she said.

Lightle recently facilitated the land purchase, construction and funding of the new Washington Twp. Fire Station 41 on Franklin Street, and navigated three successful cycles of accreditation of the fire department. In 2015, she oversaw the creation of the Enrichment Center, now the Joyce C. Young Center, and in 2020, finalized the township’s rebranding, including the streetscape enhancement plan, township officials said.

Lightle said when she first started with the township, it was seeing the beginning of increased residential and economic growth.

“It slowed down during 2008 and then, over the past 10 years, we have experienced some of the most robust and healthy growth in the township’s history,” she said. “Thanks to the leadership of our elected officials and staff, this growth has been controlled and measured. Washington Twp. has so much to offer, and it’s been exciting to share that with our regional partners and watch more families and businesses call the township home.”

Lightle will assume the position of senior vice president and chief of staff for Sinclair Community College starting Jan. 16. Adam Murka, who has worked in that role for more than a decade, is leaving to start his own business, said Cathy Petersen, Sinclair’s chief of public information.

”I strongly believe that the students who attend Sinclair will shape the workforce and economy of Ohio for years to come, and I’m eager to be part of that,” Lightle said.

Lightle said she and her family plan to continue residing in the township.

Lowry said township officials are “so grateful” for Lightle’s many contributions to the community.

“Washington Twp. has never been in a stronger position than it is now and much of that is owed to Jesse’s foresight and leadership,” Lowry said. “There are a lot of projects and initiatives that simply would not have been accomplished if it weren’t for her.”