Commissioners Hire Law Firm to Handle Complaint Against an Unnamed Member of the Commissioners’ Staff
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Meeting - October 22, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Tuesday, October 22 at 9:30 am for a meeting 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. Items discussed at the meeting but not on the agenda are addressed at the end of this report.
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 has been no formal policy introduced although public comment was permitted today.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri, Timothy Lennon and James Dvorak. Also present were Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair, County Administrator Gerry Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne and Finance Manager Adrian Gorton.
County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, Deputy Engineer; Jessica Boalt, Director, Office on Aging, and Cindi Haycox-Wellman, Director Victim Witness Program.
Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Geauga Health Board member and candidate for Board of County Commissioners; Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Pam McMahan, Chief Operations Officer, Auditor’s Office, members of the press, the public and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Minutes: The minutes from the meetings of September 26 and October 1, 2024 were submitted and approved. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through October 22, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through August 29, 2024.
There was no report from Administrator Morgan
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following: Observer Note: Monetary figures are generally only given for the Vouchers, but they are listed in any instance when they are given.
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Appropriation transfer from Commissioners’ Miscellaneous Transfer Out to Maintenance for the recently approved snow plow contract.
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Supplemental from Metzenbaum in the Residential Services Fund for the waiver match. Observer Note: Metzenbaum administers the Medicaid waiver program that provides home care for those who qualify for services. Information is available here. The county pays 40% as a match to the Federal payments of 60%.
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Travel approved for the Commissioner’s Office and Probate Court
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Then and Now from the Common Pleas Court for services rendered in 2023 to the Ohio Public Defender’s Office for charges that were not approved earlier
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Vouchers: $534,730.50 from the Engineer’s Office to Ronyak Paving for paving of Chardon-Windsor Road.
Mr. Gorton also announced that there would be a meeting that day at 2 pm with the City of Chardon to discuss the Courthouse expansion project. Mr. Gorton said that his understanding of this meeting is that it would help the City of Chardon to identify the costs for which they are responsible. He said further that the County has received one payment from the City of Chardon and that it was a little more than expected. There will be discussion about the City of Chardon’s responsibilities in terms of site preparation and utilities. Mr. Gorton said that there would be someone there from the Prosecutor’s Office. Mr. Dvorak said that he would like to know about such meetings a week in advance so that he could be there. Mr. Gorton said that he wasn’t sure when he heard about the meeting who was invited and that the Prosecutor’s Office had reached out to him.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval to execute Change Order #1 and Final, decreasing the Contract with Cole Burton Contractors, LLC for the Asphalt Resurfacing of Various Roads, including Ravenwood Drive (CH-0604, Sections A-B) and Merritt Road (CH-0605, Section A) in Claridon and Munson Townships in the amount of $20,327.54. Mr. Hajjar said that they came in $20,000 below budget.
The Prosecutor’s Office – The Victim Witness program received approval to execute the Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) and State Victim Advocacy Act (SVAA) 2024-2025 Grant Award and Acceptance Form in the amount of $44,993.07 from Grant #2025-VOCA-135901839 ($28,441.07 from Federal VOCA funds and $16,552.00 local match from the County General Fund) and $4,461.00 from Grant #2025-SVAA-135901844 with no local match. This grant is for the period October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
There was a discussion of the Victim Witness program and the Director, Ms.Haycox-Wellman, said that the program provides services to victims of felonies and delinquent acts in response to Marsy’s Law. She said that includes notifying victims of their rights, helping them get restitution and sitting with them during court proceedings to explain the process. She said they can help the victim with the impact statement that crime victims are permitted to give during sentencing. She said they continue to be in touch with the victim and notify them about parole or release dates.
Mr. Lennon said that the Commissioners appreciate what she does. Ms. Haycox-Wellman said that this would be her “last time in front of you.” Observer Note: She did not explain what that meant and no one asked.
The Department on Aging received approval for the following:
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To award the bid to Symba and Snap Gourmet Foods, Incorporated for the Elderly Nutrition Program, Preparation and Delivery of Catered Meals, according to Federal Guidelines for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026 in the total amount of $1,041,460.00, as they represented the lowest and best bid ($4.68 per congregate meal, $4.99 per home delivered meal, $4.58 per frozen/holiday meal and $5.80 per therapeutic meal). Ms. Boalt said that the current vendor was the lowest and best bid. This is a reimbursement for only meals provided.
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To begin lease negotiations with the Village of Middlefield, as they were the only respondent to the Request for Proposal for a lease for a Middlefield Senior Center and meet the qualifications to provide the lease space. Ms. Boalt said that they have had a five year lease for this property and hope for another 5-year lease. She said they have been wonderful to work with.
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To begin lease negotiations with the Bainbridge Community United Church of Christ, as they represented the lowest lease proposal cost to the Request for Proposal for a lease for a Bainbridge Senior Center and meet the qualifications to provide the lease space. Ms. Boalt said that the bid from Community United Church Of Christ was significantly less than the other bidder, which was a location in Tanglewood.
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To award the following bids for the 2025-2026 Home Care Services, Assistance with Daily Living for Geauga Residents Age 60 and older:
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To Qual Care, LLC d.b.a. Home Instead in the amount of 5,768 units of service at a reimbursement rate of $32.00 per unit for a total contract amount of $184,576.00.
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To Cherished Companions Home Care LLC in the amount of 14,648 units of service at a reimbursement rate of $32.00 per unit for a total contract amount of $475,648.00. Mr. Lennon abstained from this item, citing a conflict.
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To The Hills at Home, Incorporated d.b.a. Ohman Family Living in the amount of 4,368 units of service at a reimbursement rate of $32.00 per unit for a total contract amount of $139,776.00 and to waive the $.20 cent minor irregularity in the amount of the bid bond.
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To reject the bid submitted by Addus Healthcare (South Carolina), Incorporated d.b.a. Arcadia Homecare and Staffing, as Addus has not been able to provide adequate services to Geauga Residents under the current contract due to a lack of caregivers in the Geauga County area. Of the 1,832 units awarded for the 2023-2024 contract, they have provided only 239.25 units of service; as a result, there are Geauga residents who went without the in-home care they needed.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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To execute the Letter of Engagement with Fishel Downey Albrecht and Riepenhoff, LLC, Attorneys at Law for Investigation of complaint, in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00, unless prior authorized by the Board. It was stated that this firm had previously assisted the County with a review of their Policy and Procedure Manual. They will be helping to investigate a complaint that was filed against “someone in the Commissioners’ Office.” Observer Note: This appears to be a complaint against an unnamed Commissioners’ Office staff member that was filed by another County employee. The nature of the complaint is unknown at this time.
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To execute Resolution #24-184 Re-Appointing Eric Fink to the Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program (NEOCAP) Facility Governing Board for the term November 9, 2024 through November 9, 2027. Mr. Fink was appointed two years ago. Mr. Spidalieri asked how much pay Board members received, and Mr. Morgan said that there was no pay for Board service.
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To approve the updated fees from Best Funeral Home for cremation services, in accordance with the Indigent Burial Policy and O.R.C. 9.15, in the amount of $1,095.00 per service, to be effective October 22, 2024. Ms. Blair said that this is the first increase since 2018 and is just $100.00. As part of the fee, they agree to provide burial services and a grave marker. It was stated that for veterans certain plots are available, but if the person is not a veteran they are buried at the County home on Aquilla Road across from Ravenwood Dr. These services are required by Ohio Revised Code. There have been no indigent burials “recently” according to Ms. Blair.
Executive Session: The Commissioners’ Office is requesting the Board move into Executive Session for the purpose of considering the purchase of property for public purposes, pursuant to O.R.C. 121.22 (G)(2), as premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to another person or interest. Ms. Boalt (Office on Aging Director) went into the session with the Commissioners, Mr. Morgan and Ms. Burhenne.
After the Executive Session, Mr. Spidalieri announced there would be no action.
Public Comment: This observer asked about whether the vacancies for the three seats on the Planning Commission have been advertised. Ms. Blair said that they had and can be found on the Commissioner’s website under Announcements. The application information is here. The Planning Commission website is here.
Meeting adjourned at 10:53 am
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next BOCC meeting after this one is Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 9:30 am.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 10/28/2024
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