League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2005 Election
	Merrie Lynn (Stewart) Stillpass Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; Village of Amberley

Questions & Answers

1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

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.

2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)

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.

3. What steps would you take to ensure that all public facilities are accessible to people with disabilities? (100 words limit)

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.

4. What specific steps will you take to expand recycling services in your community? (100 words limit)

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.

5. What steps would you take to provide affordable housing for all residents of your community? (100 words limit)

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.