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The Trumbull County Children Services Board approved a motion on Dec. 19 to begin contract negotiations with Marilyn Pape to become the new executive director upon Tim Schaffner's retirement.
The contract is still "in the discussion phase," according to Schaffner.
"There's already a contract on the table," he said. "It just hasn't been signed yet. It's still being finalized between the parties."
Schaffner said he and the board wanted to "make a decision at the December meeting" but can't move forward until the contract is signed.
Pape is the deputy director for Trumbull County Children Services, he said.
"She's been (here) 38 years," Schaffner said. "She's really worked her way up to supervisor positions. She's always been excellent in each of the positions she's held."
Schaffner said her past positions include being a caseworker, a supervisor and a senior supervisor.
In her current position as deputy director, he said Pape "has full authority to act in decisions and approvals."
"She supervises all out-of-home services, from foster care to residential," Schaffner said. "She supervises the senior supervisor and all the department supervisors. She has full authority in my absence."
Schaffner said he and the human resources department are the ones who prepared the contract.
"She's been deputy (director), she knows everything about the executive director position," he said. "While we interviewed several people for the job, she was the natural choice because she's been my succession plan in case I had to resign due to illness or something like that. She has prepared to take over the agency in case of an emergency."
He also said he is "confident that she will continue to effectively lead this outstanding team of professionals who assure the safety of children in our county."
The exact date of the job transition has not been set, but Schaffner is set to retire in February.