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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Qualification,
Priorities,
Accessiblity,
Recycling,
Housing
Click on a name for other candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)
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Answer from Mitzi Miller:
Lifelong Amberley Village resident who has attended council meetings regularly for 30 years and understands how this government works. Served on committees for the 50th Anniversary; Amberley Day; Stargazing; Ice Cream Social and Long-range Planning. Created and maintain Amberley Village History Room. Background in Quality; genuine desire to help.
Answer from Merrie Lynn (Stewart) Stillpass:
Volunteer history in Amberley Village includes: Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals; the Amberley Village Beautification Committee; and Long Range Planning Committee. Urban Planning and Design education - professional career in urban planning. Co-chaired the Community Revitalization Initiative Strategic Plan prepared for the Hamilton County Planning Partnership.
Answer from William D. "Bill" Lennard:
Council experience: Four years on Amberley Council.
Member or leader of the following council committees: Development, Finance, Police/Fire, Public Buildings and Land.
Effective Organizational Leadership Skills - 26 Years as an engineering manager at a large corporation.
Strong collaborator- Effective working relationships within Amberley and across neighboring communities.
Answer from Marianne Pressman:
Served on Amberley Council for 14 years(1987-2001), the last 4 years as Mayor (1997-2001). Was Mayor when the new Village Hall was built, on time and on budget.Presided over Mayor's Court for 4 years.
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2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)
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Answer from William D. "Bill" Lennard:
Quality of Life:
1. Maintain rural feel of the village through effective zoning, and expansion of the Village beautification efforts.
2. Minimize home flooding and road safety issues through implementation of the stormwater improvement program.
Address Financial Challenges
1. Actively pursue commercial development of the 'North Site" property and the former Gibson property.
2. Continued evaluation of village budgets.
Regional Partnerships
1. Complete collaboration with Pleasant Ridge and Kennedy Heights to offer outstanding local public school options for village residents
2. Continue to meet quarterly with area leaders to identify opportunities to address common needs.
Answer from Merrie Lynn (Stewart) Stillpass:
The Village is confronted with these challenges: Fiscal, infrastructure, growth and services. Ongoing, responsible, "big picture" governance is required. Development opportunities on the North Site, Gibson site and Losantiville School provide opportunities for sustainable means of revenue enhancement.
The Beautification Committee enhances the "view from the road" through proper maintenance and planting, community education and Tree City USA recognition, adding to the overall "curb appeal" people look for when buying houses, translating to property values.
The new JCC and Pleasant Ridge School enhance the Village amenities, creating places for all Amberley residents to attend age-appropriate programs.
Answer from Mitzi Miller:
As a member of council, I will work towards replacing the million dollars/year in earnings tax revenue that we enjoyed from Gibson Greetings by recruiting hi-tech industry entities that employ scientists and others who command big salaries.
I will coordinate with the Hamilton County Development Company to establish enterprise zones for businesses [in areas on Amberley's periphery already zoned for office/industrial use].
I will partner with the First Suburbs group to lobby for increased state funding for public works and roads projects and with county agencies to find additional funding for EPA-mandated stormwater management projects.
Answer from Marianne Pressman:
Look at recent spending. Explore resources for storm water management assistance. Work with residents to reach a solution for developing the Crest Hills property, including ample green space.
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3. What steps would you take to ensure that all public facilities are accessible to people with disabilities? (100 words limit)
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Answer from Marianne Pressman:
This was included in the building of village hall.
Answer from Mitzi Miller:
The Amberley Village Municipal Building, which was dedicated in September 2001, meets the current regulations set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide public access. The North site facility, flag plaza and even the playground area afford all residents and visitors the opportunity to use each area with easy access so there is no need to retrofit any public structure in the village.
Answer from Merrie Lynn (Stewart) Stillpass:
Construction of our new Village Hall was completed in 2000 to be ADA compliant. If public meetings are held off-site, the facilities used meet accessibility requirements. I believe the lower Village walking track is also accessible.
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4. What specific steps will you take to expand recycling services in your community? (100 words limit)
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Answer from Merrie Lynn (Stewart) Stillpass:
The Village, by contract with Rumpke, already provides curb-side recycling service, which I would continue to promote through community education.
I would like to work on creating a hazardous or toxic recycling drop-off at Village Hall for paint cans, garden chemical containers and possibly special drop-off dates for computers and other "hard-to-dispose of" items.
Answer from Mitzi Miller:
Work with our waste collection provider to add larger sized recycling receptacles throughout the village - in common areas [mailbox clusters; near community bulletin boards and next to salt barrels on the roads]
I would post or publish a list of guidelines for recycling including which materials are accepted and which aren't.
Provide drop-off for hazardous materials [tvs, electronics, batteries, paint, chemicals] which people need to dispose of safely. Run a warning on the village website about the dangers of illegal dumping into sewers.
Answer from Marianne Pressman:
Recycling is available to all residents at their homes.
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5. What steps would you take to provide affordable housing for all residents of your community? (100 words limit)
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Answer from Merrie Lynn (Stewart) Stillpass:
Amberley's zoning is primarily one acre lots with some half-acre lots around the periphery. There are many housing options for residents of all family sizes and age groups to live in the Village, from smaller, Cape Cod style homes and one floor ranch houses, to stately multi-level homes. My goal would be to maintain the high level of Village services within the Village atmosphere that will enhance the property values for the current housing stock.
Answer from Mitzi Miller:
Amberley Village is an affluent community of luxurious homes and well-manicured lawns. Our current zoning does not allow for anything less than 1 house per one acre, so apartments, condos or smaller lots are not permitted.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.
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League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
