12/04/2025

Applicants sought for DCBDD vacancy

Glenn Battishill

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants to be appointed to the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities to fill an unexpired term through 2028.

Chase Waits, the director of communications & community engagement at the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities, explained Wednesday the Ohio Revised Code states that each county shall have a board of developmental disabilities consisting of seven members. Five board members are appointed by the board of county commissioners and two are appointed by the senior probate judge.

Waits said there is an emphasis on appointing:

• Individuals with developmental disabilities and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities;

• Individuals who have professional training and experience in business management, finance, law, health care practice, personnel administration, or government service;

• Individuals who reflect, as nearly as possible, the composition of the county that the county board serves.

Waits said that in the previous state budget, language was added to require county commissioners to appoint at least one individual with developmental disabilities for their next initial appointment after July 1. To be qualified, the person must be a resident of Delaware County, a U.S, citizen, and have developmental disabilities, reported Waits.

More information about the application can be found on the Delaware County website at https://co.delaware.oh.us/2025/11/25/applications-sought-for-developmental-disabilities-board/, and the county reports that individuals with any questions can contact Matt Brown at Delaware County Human Resources at 740-833-2125 or mbrown@co.delaware.oh.us.

“We can’t speak for the commissioners, but the ideal board member for this vacancy is passionate about improving services and opportunities for people with disabilities, comfortable sharing their experiences and perspectives to inform decision-making, and willing to represent the needs and perspectives of the broader community of people served,” Waits said.

Completed board-appointment applications must be received through the online application portal no later than 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 9.

Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903.