LISBON — While some will be rehired by the private provider, the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities laid off nearly 30 people as they transition EDI-Central to a private direct care facility.

The CCBDD board members voted on three resolutions on Tuesday in order to complete the transition. The first marked the date of Aug. 23 as the final day the board will operate EDI-Central and entered an agreement with Employment Development Inc. to begin offering the day programming and transportation on Aug. 24.

The second resolution leased the property on County Home Road to Employment Development Inc. beginning Sept. 1 and continuing for at least 18 months.

The final resolution marked the layoff of 29 employees, which will also begin at the close of business on Aug. 23.

Employment Development’s executive director, Jacob Lawton, told board members he is grateful the board has been so willing to work with them through the transition and they are ready to move forward this month with the last of the new buses scheduled to arrive next week.

Additionally, Lawton said parents and caregivers were concerned about there being familiar faces at EDI-Central when the transition takes place and 50 percent of the people he had hired are current employees there. Others he has hired have worked for the CCBDD in the past or have other experience working with those with developmental disabilities.

Lawton noted he interviewed 60 people for 30 positions and there are plenty of good quality candidates.

Following the meeting, Lawton said in some cases it has been difficult hiring for the positions because the private non-profit Employment Development Inc. pays about half of what some employees were making working for the CCBDD, even though he said Employment Development does pay more than other providers in the county.

Superintendent Bill Devon said over the next few weeks the board will continue to talk to parents and guardians to ensure there is a smooth transition, as well as affected employees and the bargaining unit. The laid -off employees were 15 workshop employees, four vehicle operator II positions, four patient support assistants, two vehicle operator aides, one custodian vehicle operator, one workshop nurse, one workshop specialist II/nurse substitute and one habitation specialist II.

Although the EDI-Central location houses the Beaver Creek Candle Company, Devon said the details have not been worked out yet on how the candle company will continue to operate. However, during Tuesday’s meeting, the board authorized Devon to spend $41,000 for equipment, which will be used to help put clients into employment positions. After the meeting Devon indicated it was something different than the candle business and could mean positions for about eight clients.

The CCBDD continues to operate the Adult Senior Center on state Route 45, Help Me Grow and the programs for clients ages 0 to 22, including the Robert Bycroft School.

In other matters:

— The board sold one of the four buses they had for sale to South Range schools. Devon said even though they had several bidders, all of them bid on the same bus.

— The board approved revising the job description of the school nurse manager and renewing the employment contract of Ashley Vasiliades for the position.

— The board approved new bus schedules for the start of the school year, which will begin Aug. 28 for students at Robert Bycroft.