FSIO Meeting Minutes 2017
Meeting Minues for the Forensic Science Institute of Ohio
The meeting was called to order at 10:00am on March 9, 2017 at the Ohio Fire Academy, on 8895 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. President Jeff Lynn presided over the meeting.
The following members and guests were present: Jeff Lynn (Center for Future of Forensic Science, BGSU), Nasir Butt (Cuyahoga County), Mike Trimpe (Hamilton County), Linda Erdei (Lake County), LeAnne Suchanek (Lake County), Tony Tambasco (Mansfield), Larry Rentz (retired), David Cogan (Toledo Police), Erin Reed (Board of Pharmacy), Karen Kwek (BCI lab), Michele Foster (Canton-Stark), Tammy Bonner (OSHP), Heather Sheskey (OSHP), Jen Duvall (BCl&I), Jim Smith (BCl&I), Denise Rankin (Miami Valley), Anthony Stender (Ohio University), Rebecca Barlag (Ohio University), Chad Wissinger (State Fire Marshall). A quorum was achieved. Eleven of the sixteen eligible voters were present.
President Jeff Lynn motioned to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2016. All Members voted in the affirmative to approve the meeting minutes.
Chad Wissinger reviewed treasurer's report. He explained that debit card used to pay for expenses incurred came out of savings account instead of checking account. The same amount of money was then put back into savings from checking to bring the savings account balance back to its original balance.
Mike Trimpe said that plans for the MAFS meeting in September were moving along well. The workshop agenda of 34 workshops has been emailed to the FSIO members. He is trying to see if he can get Jodie Foster as a plenary speaker.
Brandon Werry was not present at the meeting. In his place, Heather Sheskey passed on his idea that the 2017 Ohio Drug Chemists meeting could be held at the MAFS meeting to allow more people to attend. Mike Trimpe said a room could be made available. It would not be necessary for Ohio Drug Chemists attendees to pay MAFS registration just to attend the Ohio meeting. To avoid conflicting with other workshops earlier in the week, the Ohio Drug Chemists meeting is tentatively scheduled on Friday of the MAFS conference. It was suggested, to find topics for the Drug Chemists meeting, to email drug chemists around the state for ideas/ concerns worth discussing. A motion was made, and voted upon, that FSIO will sponsor 1000$ towards a break session (food and beverage) at the 2017 MAFS conference.
In regards to the feasibility of a digital evidence analyst meeting, Chad Wissinger had no updates.
In regards to analyst meetings for other disciplines, Mike Trimpe said that he thought that Columbus PD was interested in another firearms meeting. Mike was interested in doing another trace workshop in the future but is too busy right now. Karen Kwek said that nobody has asked for a latent print workshop.
Dr. Anthony Stender, a new assistant professor at Ohio University submitted application to FSIO and was recommended for membership by Dr. Rebecca Barlag. Dr. Stender was unanimously voted in and accepted as a member of FSIO.
June 8th• 10:00 AM will be the next FSIO meeting. Jeff Lynn volunteered to host the June meeting at Bowling Green in the BCl&I conference room. The FSIO meeting closed at 10:30AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Heather B. Sheskey
Meeting Minutes for the Forensic Science Institute of Ohio
A Meeting of the FSIO was called to order at 10:05 am, on September 14, 2017 at the Ohio Fire Academy, Room 2305, 8895 East Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. President Jeff Lynn (BGSU) presided over the meeting.
The following Members and guests were present: Bob Budgake (Canton-Stark Retired), Nasir Butt (Cuyahoga Co.), David Cogan (Toledo)via telephone, Jennifer Duvall (BCI London), Angela Farrington (Columbus), Michele Foster (Canton-Stark), Steve Greene (BCI Retired), Karen Kwek (BCI London), Adam Pasternak (USFDA), Douglas Rohde (Lake Co.), Duane Satzger (USFDA), Heather Sheskey (OSHP), Jim Smith (BCI London), Anthony Stender (Ohio U.), Tony Tambasco (Mansfield), Michael Trimpe (Hamilton Co.), and Chad Wissinger (State Fire Marshal). A quorum was present. Fourteen of the sixteen eligible voters were represented. Angela Farrington represented Denise Rankin (Miami Valley) by proxy.
Secretary Budgake presented the minutes of the June 8, 2017 meeting. The minutes were reviewed and approved. Motion, Bob Budgake; Second, Chad Wissinger. All Members voted in the affirmative.
Chad Wissinger presented the Treasurer’s report. He disclosed that the FSIO has a checking account balance of $13,531, a savings account balance of $5,000 and a Tong Award’s Fund balance of $44,352. Chad recommended that we keep the Award’s Fund, in its current investment instrument, since it has been doing so well.
Old Business:
Heather Sheskey stated that the 2017 meeting of Ohio’s drug analysts is NOT scheduled for the September MAFS meeting. Brandon Werry is tentatively planning this meeting for the 2nd week of April, 2018. He will contact each lab and ask for discussion topics.
Michael Trimpe stated that they have over 500 registrants for the Cincinnati MAFS meeting, being held September 17-22, 2017. Additionally, over 800 are registered for the workshops.
President Jeff Lynn discussed the Ohio Attorney General’s $1.5 million allocation in its 2018 fiscal budget, to assist local drug analysis labs, in an effort to help defray the cost/impact of the opioid epidemic. The State directed the FSIO to recommend how this funding shall be distributed, with a minimum distribution of $100,000 per lab. Also, the State declared that the benefactors of this funding must be accredited. Jeff detailed that the AG’s office provided guidance that Ohio’s toxicology labs and the USFDA lab are not eligible to receive this funding. Jeff also shared that the local labs met in August and came up with an allocation recommendation. In addition, the FSIO Board of Directors met and concurred that Ohio’s two unaccredited drug labs, Lorain and Toledo, should be considered by the membership to receive this funding, if they can become accredited prior to June 2018. The Board instructed Lorain and Toledo to forward a letter of intent, if they choose to do so. On August 29th Dave Cogan (Toledo) submitted such a letter.
Motion to include Toledo in the funding recommendation, Bob Budgake; Second, David Cogan. President Lynn asked for a roll call vote. Note: only one vote is allowed per Member organization or Founding Member. The motion passed, seven to four, with two abstentions. The votes were recorded as follows:
Yes: Bob Budgake (Founding Member), Chad Wissinger (State Fire Marshal), Anthony Stender (Ohio U.), Douglas Rohde (Lake Co.), Michael Trimpe (Hamilton Co.), Heather Sheskey (OSHP) and David Cogan (Toledo).
No: Nasir Butt (Cuyahoga Co.), Tony Tambasco (Mansfield), Angela Farrington (Columbus) and Denise Rankin (Miami Valley) by proxy.
Abstained: Karen Kwek (BCI) and Duane Satzger (USFDA).
Since Toledo is now included in our funding recommendation, the membership had to revisit the recommendation offered by the affected labs. Numerous funding proposals were proffered. The final version that passed was by motion of Douglas Rohde; Second, Michael Trimpe. All members voted in the affirmative. The agreed funding formula is as follows:
Hamilton Co. $325,000 Columbus $235,000 Cuyahoga Co. $235,000 Miami Valley $235,000 Canton-Stark $130,000 Lake Co. $130,000 Mansfield $110,000 Toledo $100,000 (To be held pending accreditation)
In addition, the members recommended that if Toledo fails to achieve accreditation, their $100K allotment will be distributed as follows:
Hamilton Co. $0 Columbus $15,000 Cuyahoga Co. $15,000 Miami Valley $15,000 Canton-Stark $20,000 Lake Co. $20,000 Mansfield $15,000
President Lynn advised that the Attorney General’s office requests a written report regarding how this funding was utilized. Also, Christina Frass is the AG’s point of contact regarding this funding.
New Business:
Bob Budgake advised the membership that Ken Betz (Miami Valley) has retired. Since Ken is one of the original founding members, he automatically assumes Founding
Member status. Therefore to maintain this membership level, annual dues payments will be required and attendance at a minimum of one meeting per year. Also, Bob presented the Membership application of Michele Foster, who is the Quality Manager/Director of the Canton-Stark Co. Lab. Motion to accept, Bob Budgake; Second, Tony Tambasco. All Members voted in the affirmative.
Angela Farrington revealed that Jami StClair (Columbus) plans to retire on November 30th. Bob Budgake specified that Jami will also become a Founding Member.
Michael Trimpe queried the group regarding interest in a gunshot residue distance determination course. Mike received a few positive responses from the group and indicated that he will explore this matter further.
The next meeting of the FSIO, which will be our annual meeting, is scheduled for 10 am, Thursday, December 14, 2017, at the Ohio Fire Academy, 8895 East Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Motion, Chad Wissinger; Second, Bob Budgake. All Members voted in the affirmative.
The meeting adjourned at 11:20am. Motion, Bob Budgake; Second, Chad Wissinger. All Members voted in the affirmative.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert E. Budgake, Secretary, FSIO
Meeting Minutes for the Forensic Science Institute of Ohio
The Annual Meeting of the FSIO was called to order at 10:04 am, on December 14, 2017 at the Ohio Fire Academy, Room 2303, 8895 East Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
President Jeff Lynn (BGSU) presided over the meeting.
The following Members and guests were present: Becky Barlag (Ohio U.), Tammy Bonner (OSHP), Bob Budgake (Canton-Stark Retired), , David Cogan (Toledo), Bill Dean (Hamilton Co. Retired), Angela Farrington (Columbus), Michele Foster (Canton- Stark) via telephone, Karen Kwek (BCI London), Kaitlyn Porter (Toledo), Denise Rankin (Miami Valley), Heather Sheskey (OSHP), Jim Smith (BCI London), Anthony Stender (Ohio U.), Brandon Werry (OSHP) and Chad Wissinger (State Fire Marshal). A quorum was present. Eleven of the eighteen eligible voters were represented. Linda Erdei (Lake Co.) was represented by proxy.
Secretary Budgake presented the minutes of the September 14, 2017 meeting. The minutes were reviewed and approved. Motion, Chad Wissinger; Second, Angela Farrington. All Members voted in the affirmative.
Chad Wissinger presented the Treasurer’s report. He disclosed that the FSIO has a checking account balance of $13,531, a savings account balance of $5,000 and a Tong Award’s Fund balance of $44,679. Chad indicated that he prefers moving the Award’s fund to an investment firm located closer to the Fire Academy, for convenience sake. He advised he will research this further and report back to the membership.
Old Business:
Brandon Werry asked that the proposed 2018 meeting of Ohio’s drug analysts be tabled. He contacted each lab for discussion topics and received no replies.
The membership indicated that the Cincinnati MAFS meeting and workshops, held September 17-22, 2017 went very well. Several stated that they received some negative feedback regarding the testimony workshop. Apparently the scheduled instructor, Ron Smith, was hospitalized shortly before this presentation and the substitute had very little time to prepare.
President Jeff Lynn revealed that the Ohio Attorney General’s grant, to assist local drug analysis labs defray the cost/impact of the opioid epidemic, has been distributed to the labs. The only exception is Toledo, which will have $100K released pending timely accreditation. Jeff mentioned he performed a pre-accreditation inspection of the Toledo operation and that they were well on pace to complete this goal.
Dave Cogan revealed that their accreditation onsite assessment is scheduled for February 26, 2018.
Michael Trimpe (Hamilton Co.) was not present to report on the proposed gunshot residue distance determination course.
New Business:
Brandon Werry, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, presented the following slate of officers for year 2018: President-Elect – Heather Sheskey (will become President in 2019), Secretary – Bob Budgake and Treasurer – Chad Wissinger. Motion to close the nominations and approve the presented slate of candidates, Brandon Werry; Second, Jim Smith. All Members voted in the affirmative. Nasir Butt (Cuyahoga Co.) will become President on January 1, 2018. Current President Jeff Lynn will remain on the Board and serve as Advisor.
Bob Budgake advised the membership that Jami StClair (Columbus) has retired. Since Jami is one of the original founding members, she automatically assumes Founding Member status. To maintain this membership level, annual dues payments and attendance at a minimum of one meeting per year are required. Also, Bob presented the Associate Membership application of Michelle Ball, who is Forensic Scientist II at the Columbus Police Lab. Motion to accept, Bob Budgake; Second, Chad Wissinger. All Members voted in the affirmative.
Bob Budgake reviewed the FSIO voting procedure for the newer members of the organization. He stated that there is only one vote recorded per member organization and Founding Member. Even if a member organization has more than one member, only one vote is allowed. It is up to that organization to determine how that vote will be cast. Emeritus and Associate Members do not vote.
The next meeting of the FSIO is scheduled for 10 am, Thursday, March 8, 2018, at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Lab, 1583 Alum Creek Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43209. Motion, Brandon Werry; Second, Chad Wissinger. All Members voted in the affirmative.
The meeting adjourned at 10:32am. Motion, Bob Budgake; Second, Chad Wissinger. All Members voted in the affirmative.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert E. Budgake, Secretary, FSIO
Updated: 11/14/2025 04:38PM