Training opportunities covering a variety of topics important to Ohio townships.
OTA Educational Workshops
The OTA is committed to providing resources and training opportunities that cover topics of general importance and broad interest to Ohio townships. In March 2022, the OTA began hosting monthly workshops to further educate township officials and employees on pertinent subjects.
Please be sure to frequent this page for dates for upcoming trainings.
Click on the buttons inside the tabbed menu to view:
March Trainings
Trustees, March 21, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price: FREE Topic: Engaging with Your Legislators Speaker: Kyle Brooks, Director of Governmental Affairs, OTA Description: Has your legislator visited your township? Have you spoken to your representatives about the issues concerning the area? This presentation will look at general strategies to help build a relationship with your elected officials and to help familiarize them with the issues concerning your township. Learn ways to get elected officials to visit your township and make lasting impressions.
Zoning Inspectors Group, March 22, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price: $20 member / $30 non-member Topic: Enacting Zoning for Un-Zoned Townships: How and Why? Speaker: Jacob Barnes, Planning Director, Springfield Township, Lucas County Description: Nearly 40% of Ohio’s 1308 townships are un-zoned or partially zoned. In recent years, more and more un-zoned townships are interested in enacting zoning. What is zoning? Why is it important? How can township officials convince the public of the benefits of zoning? This unique, first-ever session presented by the OTA will focus on townships in this situation, will explain why zoning is attractive, and will effectively answer these important questions.
Price: FREE Topic: Township Safety Sign Grant Program Speaker: Victoria Beale, Director, Ohio LTAP Center Description: ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) provides $2 million dollars annually in funding to upgrade existing and install new safety signage on Ohio’s township roads. The grant cycle opened in mid-December for calendar year 2022, and applications are due no later than Friday, June 17th, 2022. This training will cover a township’s criteria for applying and what is included in the grant.
Price: $20 member / $30 non-member Topic: Is Your Township in Compliance with IRS Requirements? Speaker: TBD Description: Attendees will be given an update on IRS matters that pertain to local governments and will learn the various types of fringe benefits such as travel, meals, cell phones, uniforms and autos. Attendees will be provided sample procedures needed in order to have an accountable plan for fringe benefits and when the fringe benefits should be included in the employee's wages.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: Working with Unions in an Uncertain Economy Speaker: Dave Riepenhoff, Attorney, Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLP Description: This session will explore trends in collective bargaining between Ohio local governments and unions, both for economic and noneconomic issues.
Price: $50 member/$75 non-member Topic: Public Records Case Law Update Speaker: Brian Zets, Attorney, Isaac Wiles Description: We will review the latest Ohio cases that impact Ohio townships. From public record request responses to the rules governing open meetings, this case law update will help township attorneys better understand best practices and the do’s and don’ts under the Ohio Sunshine Laws.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: Becoming the Employer of Choice Speaker: Brian Butcher, Clemans Nelson & Associates, Inc. Description: Currently it is an employees' labor market forcing employers to adapt and become an employer of choice. An employer of choice is an employer that offers a work culture and workplace environment that attracts and retains the quality and quantity of employees necessary to making it successful. The features of the environment available at an employer of choice favor the well-being, safety, and happiness of employees holistically, not just from a wage and benefit standpoint. This session will analyze how employers get there.
Zoning Inspectors Group, April 19, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: Benefits & Process for Overlay Districts in Townships Speaker: Jennifer Huber, Attorney, Brosius, Johnson & Griggs Description: This webinar will focus on overlay zoning districts in townships. We will discuss why and how they are used in townships and the processes that can be used to develop and administer the overlay districts.
Price: FREE Topic: OPERS Update Speaker: Ruth Morrison, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System Description: This training discusses important reporting information for 2023, as well as who to report, required forms, and review reemployment after retirement.
Price: FREE Topic: Lunch 'N Learn Roundtable Speaker: Moderated by Michael Zaky & Amy Richards Description: This roundtable will offer an opportunity to openly discuss common issues that come up within your townships and how you handle them. We will also discuss what webinar topics you would like to be offered during the 2023 education calendar.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: Policies Every Township Board Needs Speaker: Dr. Patrick Haney Description: Every township should have a basic policy manual, not just for personnel issues. The policy manual should include such things as a cell phone policy, travel policy, credit card policy, investment policy, gun policy, and records retention policy to name a few. This session will cover these policies and others.
Zoning Inspectors Group, May 24, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: Rehabbing Zoning Ordinances: Does Yours Need an Intervention? Speaker: Jacob Barnes Description: This workshop will discuss how to make dated, difficult-to-access, and confusing zoning regulations easier to access, understand, and administer. The session will explore the evolution of expectations for development and transparency, how new technologies and user-centered design principles can redefine standard zoning practice, and how local land use regulations serve the community-at-large best when the township prioritizes improving access, format, and alignment of codes.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: New Tools for Green Projects: PACE and IRA Speaker: Caleb Bell Description: Recent developments in property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provide unique opportunities for Ohio townships and their resident businesses and non-profits to implement energy efficiency and alternative energy improvements. This session will explore the powers and benefits available to townships for financing their own or facilitating the private sector in financing a wide variety of energy savings and energy generating projects.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: Accounting Basics Speaker: Justin Sloan Description: As a core function for fiscal officers, this session covers the basics of keeping your accounts in order and how to appropriately manage your township’s funds.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: Managing Injured Workers Speaker: Dave Riepenhoff, Attorney, Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLP Description: This session will explore best practices for investigating and handling workplace injuries, preparing for workers' compensation hearings and managing injured worker absences and light duty.
Law Directors Group, June 15, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price, Topic, & Speaker: TBD
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Trustees, June 16, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price, Topic, & Speaker: TBD
Zoning Inspectors Group, June 20, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price, Topic, & Speaker: TBD
General Township, June 21, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price: $20 member/$30 non-member Topic: Records: Knowing What to Throw Away and Knowing What to Keep Speaker: Catherine Burgett Description: Never before has this much media attention been focused on public documents, how they are created, where they are stored, and whether they are destroyed. This presentation will cover all the basics of what public entities and employees can and can't do with documents and discuss some best practices to help entities know what to throw away and what to keep.
Fiscal Officers, June 22, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Price, Topic, & Speaker: TBD
Dates are subject to change. Please check this page closer to the event for the most updated information. For any questions, please contact Michael Zaky at zaky@ohiotownships.org.
Webinar Archive
Click below to view a catalogue of past webinars available to view in our Resource Center.
