Doug Barry- Miami Twp. Newest Trustee

By Breaking News Staff and Nick Blizzard

MIAMI TWP. —

The newest Miami Twp. trustee — the third to join the board since January — was sworn in Tuesday night.

The trustees appointed Doug Barry to replace Charles Lewis, 68, who cited health reasons in resigning last month.

Barry, 42, was chosen from five candidates to succeed Lewis, who stepped down in midterm after serving 10 years. The other candidates were John Barber, Will Bach, Eric Flasher and William Brent Pyle

Barry will fill the unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2015, according to Jan Kelly, Montgomery County Board of Elections director. Compensation is $20,568 annually, according to 2012 records, she said.

Barry was the candidate best suited to meet the board’s needs, said Trustee President Andrew Papanek, who joined Trustee Vice President Robert Matthews in taking office in January.

Barry has been a township or Miamisburg resident since 1998. He owns BarryStaff Inc., a business recruitment service his father started in the 1980s, when it operated as Norrell Services, and now has four offices. Barry’s experience has given him leadership skills the township needs as it continues to attract development while serving its existing businesses, Papanek said.

“He also possesses excellent business practices and brings to the current board an excellent background in marketing, which the board can take advantage of as we move forward with the development of Austin Landing, The Exchange, Dayton Mall revitalization along with the continued upgrading of (Ohio) 741 from Kingsridge to the northern edge of Miami Twp.,” Papanek noted.

Barry sits on the Miami Valley Fire District board, which oversees joint fire operations of Miamisburg and Miami Twp.

Barry said he wants to get past the leadership upheaval in the township. Aside from having three new trustees take office this year, the township in the past 18 months has undergone changes with its administrator, police chief and deputy police chief while abolishing the job of human resources director.

Barry said he is “going to perform and do things the way I think is right. I don’t care who gets the credit for the victories. It’s the same mindset I have with my business.”

Improving the relationship between the township and its existing businesses is another priority. Barry said he sees a disconnect between the two entities that he’s not comfortable with.