Board of County Commissioners - May 7, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. The meetings are in-person only, and there are no recordings for the public. An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners’ Clerk and at the meeting.
Public Comment Policy: Observer Comment: Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri announced at the end of the April 4, 2023 meeting that public comment would be permitted and that a more formal policy would be forthcoming. There was no formal policy introduced today, but public comment was permitted.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Spidalieri, James Dvorak and Timothy Lennon. Also present were County Administrator Gerald Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, Engineer’s Department; Matt Sieracki, Maintenance; Jessica Boalt, Director, Department on Aging; Kathleen Miller, Fiscal Specialist, Water Resources; and a representative from The Soil and Water Conservation District;
Others in Attendance: Sandra O’Brien, State Senator, District 32; Gina Hofstetter, Human Resources; Roger Peterson, Director, Department of Emergency Services; Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Glen Vernick, Director, Maintenance; reporter from the Geauga County Maple Leaf and the Chagrin Valley Times, other members of the public, and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: Minutes from the meetings of March 26 and April 2, 2024 were both approved. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through April 30, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through March 5, 2024.
Administrator’s Report
Mr. Morgan reported on actions he had taken in the prior week that had been authorized by ORC and the Commissioners:
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Approved the hiring of a new employee for the position of Planner/Trainer for the Department of Emergency Services.
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Amended the start date for a new employee as a full-time project manager in the Maintenance Department.
Financial Report
Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
Discussion followed. The ADP voucher is coming out of the General Fund, the Contract Services Fund, and the Real Estate Assessment Fund. Mr. Lennon questioned this and asked Mr. Gorton: “Did you get an explanation why?” Mr Gorton replied that he had not gotten an explanation but that it may be due to the number of funds that will utilize the system. Mr. Lennon expressed concern from a budgeting standpoint as he said it can be hard to see the actual budgets if they are pulling from different funds. Mr. Spidalieri asked if this had been budgeted? Mr. Gorton said he would look at their budget and get back to the Commissioners. Mr. Dvorak stated that this should be discussed at the upcoming budget hearings. Mr. Lennon said he would like to see actual vs budgeted and Mr. Gorton said that they were working on that. The Commissioners said they would like to see the whole picture in the budget hearings.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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To execute the Unit Price Contract with Cole Burton Contractors, LLC, for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Fairmount Road (CH-0016, Sections F-G) in Newbury Township in the amount of $733,733.00.
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To award the Bid to The Aero-Mark Company, LLC, for the Application of Polyester Pavement Markings to Various Roads in Geauga County, Year 2024, in the amount of $254,517.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid.
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To execute Resolution #24-114 to Order the Asphalt Resurfacing of Auburn Road (CH-0004, Sections K-M) in Munson and Newbury Township.
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To execute Resolution #24-115 to Order the Asphalt Resurfacing of Chardon Windsor Road (CH-0013, Sections A-D) in Claridon and Hambden Township.
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To execute Resolution #24-116 to Order the Replacement of the Sperry Road Bridge, (Structure #0012-03590) in Chester Township.
The Soil and Water Conservation District is requesting the Board issue a “Finding of Violation” against Stacey Crute, IV, and Nicolina Vencl regarding construction activities occurring at 11425 Aquilla Road (Parcel #13-007100) in Claridon Township for failure to comply with Geauga County Water Management and Sediment Control regulations Section 3.01 and 7.02 by not submitting or obtaining an approved Water Management and Sediment Control Plan and failure to prevent excessive sediment from leaving the property, as identified in the 1st (date) and 2nd (date) Notice of Violations and forward the “Finding of Violation” to the Geauga County Prosecutor for further action as necessary to secure the required compliance.
The Department on Aging received approval:
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To authorize the President of the Board to execute the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging Modification #2 of Purchase of Service Agreement, SFY 2024 Alzheimer’s Respite Funds for Geauga Seniors Age 60 and over, increasing grant award in the amount of $57,603.72 for a revised grant award of $72,580.72.
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To abolish the position of Assistant Director (#1015) to be effective May 6, 2024.
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To approve the Title Change, Job Description and Re-Grade for the position of Administrative Services Manager (#1034) to become In-Home Services Manager (#1034) to be effective May 6, 2024.
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To approve the Title Change, Job Description and Re-Grade for the position of Internal Operations Manager (#1033) to become Administrative Services Manager (#1033) to be effective May 6, 2024.
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To approve the Title Change, Job Description and Re-Grade for the position of Senior Centers’ Supervisor (#1003) to become Senior Centers’ Manager (#1003) to be effective May 6, 2024.
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To approve the Title Change and Re-Grade of Reba Dykes from Administrative Services Manager to In-Home Services Manager (#1034) to be effective May 6, 2024 at the rate of $31.23 per hour.
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To approve the Title Change and Re-Grade of Karen Stone from Internal Operations Manager to Administrative Services Manager (#1033) to be effective May 6, 2024 at the rate of $31.23 per hour (Grade 16E, Step 1).
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To approve the Title Change and Re-Grade of Sandy McLeod from Senior Centers’ Supervisor to Senior Centers’ Manager (#1003) to be effective May 6, 2024 at the rate of $35.82 per hour (Grade 16E, Step 5).
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To approve the revised organizational chart that removes the abolished position of Assistant Director and the title changes of the three positions of In-Home Services Manager (#1034), Administrative Services Manager (#1033) and Senior Centers’ Manager (#1003) to be effective May 6, 2024.
The Building Department received approval:
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To execute the Agreement with Code Consultation and Plan Review Services, LLC, to provide the required professional services of plan review service at the rate of $130.00 per hour for a two-year period, April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026.
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To execute the Agreement with L. Neal Hoffman and Associates to provide the required professional services of plan review service at the rate of $130.00 per hour for a two-year period, April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026.
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To execute the Agreement with Duber Architectural and Consulting Services, LLC, to provide the required professional services of plan review service at the rate of $130.00 per hour for a two-year period, April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026.
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To execute the Agreement with SIXMO Companies to provide the required professional services of plan review service at the rate of $130.00 per hour for a two-year period, April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026.
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To execute the Agreement with F & B Engineering, Inc., to provide the required professional services of plan review service at the rate of $130.00 per hour for a two-year period, April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026.
The Maintenance Department is requesting the Board award the Bid to Ohio Paving and Construction Company, Inc., for the Geauga County Parking Lot Repairs in the amount of $85,881.00 as they represented the lowest and best bid. This represented the only bid.
Mr. Lennon questioned why there was only one bid. Mr. Sieracki stated that they had multiple quotes but only one bid. The other quotes were in excess of $100,000 and companies said they were not interested in this small job of repairs to different locations. The Commissioners asked to have this readvertised to see if they could get more than one quote. There was a motion to reject all bids at this time and advertise again.
Items not on the Agenda:
Mr. Spidalieri wanted to follow up with Mr. Litke after the work session of May 7th with ADP/Auditor’s office.
Mr. Litke was unable to attend that meeting. Mr. Spidalieri and Mr. Litke had previously discussed the space that the Health Board was not utilizing (Rooms A310 and A328) and Mr. Spidalieri asked if the Health Board was still moving forward with ADP taking over that space? He said that they would have to vote on it at the next Health Board meeting which takes place on May 22, 2024. Mr. Lennon asked for the final decision to be documented as to plans and needs of ADP.
A letter from the Public Defender's office was sent to the Commissioners for their consideration. It is a Budget and Cost Allocation for 2025. Mr. Lennon stated that he thought it was a conservative estimate and that he is on board. Mr. Dvoark or Mr. Spidalieri did not respond.
Public Comment: Solicited, but none offered
Meeting adjourned.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next meeting following this meeting will be May 14, 2024 at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor/Reviewer: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 5/07/2024
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