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Township fiscal officer abruptly resigns

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XENIA TOWNSHIP — Xenia Township’s fiscal officer Barbara Miller resigned from her elected position Sept. 30, the same day she was found guilty of misdemeanor obstructing official business in Xenia Municipal Court.

The resignation came four months after the state auditor’s office determined Miller and her predecessor withheld a number of federal, state and local income taxes and retirement contributions but failed to submit funds to the appropriate entity, agency, system or fund.

The auditor’s office in June issued a finding for recovery against Miller for $51,302.

A special prosecutor from Madison County chose to file the charges after an investigation, according to the auditor’s office. Miller received a suspended sentence of 90 days and paid $310 in fines and court costs. Miller’s jail sentence was suspended provided she completes probation and has no further violations, according to court records.

Miller could not be reached for comment as of press time Tuesday, but her one-paragraph resignation letter said, “Due to the inadequate training that I was given in 2012 when I was ask to take office earlier than my elected term, I was not trained on the IRS rules and regulation that subsequently lead to mistakes. I received no training on Ohio tax or city tax filing rules and regulations. I am now being asked to resign from this elected position. So as of Sept. 30, 2015 I will no longer hold the Xenia Township fiscal officer position.”

Xenia Township Administrator Alan Stock said training is not provided by the township, but rather by the state auditor’s office. He also said Miller resigned on her own.

“No one at the township asked or requested her resignation, nor would they [Trustees] have any authority to do so,” Stock said.

Trustees appointed Sheila J. Seiter to fulfill the remainder of the term, which expires March 31, 2016. Seiter previously served as township fiscal officer from November 1999 to February 2011, according to Stock.

Seiter and Miller will appear on the November ballot as candidates for the position. According to the Greene County Board of Elections, Miller had not withdrawn her candidacy as of Tuesday. The deadline to be removed from the ballot has passed, according to board of elections director Llyn McCoy. If Miller decides not to run, notices will be posted at polling locations.

Seiter
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/10/web1_sheila3.jpgSeiter

Miller
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/10/web1_pic_BarbaraMiller.jpgMiller

By Scott Halasz

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Contact Scott Halasz at 937-502-4507.