GC-MHRS Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Approved
Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (GC-MHRS) - Regular Meeting - April 16, 2025
Meeting Details: GC-MHRS Board held a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Board offices located at 13244 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024. This meeting was in person only with no recording available. The agenda was available through a request to Office/Administrative Manager Teresa Slater by email at tslater@geauga.org.
Public Comment Policy: No formal policy but in practice, public comment is permitted at the end of the meeting.
Board Members Attending: Chair Steven Oluic, Secretary Jimmy Lee Holden, Treasurer Michael Petruziello and Board Members Reba Dykes, Kathy Johnson, Douglas Lundblad, Mary Ruth Shumway, and Patricia Varanese.
Board Members Absent: Vice Chair Alberta Chokshi and Board Member Carolee Lesyk.
Staff Members Attending: Executive Director Christine Lakomiak, Finance Director Jim Mausser, Office/Administrative Manager Teresa Slater and Clinical/Compliance Manager Michelle Maneage.
Others Attending: Agency representatives: Angi Daugherty (Family Pride), Melanie Blasko and Charles Tong (Lake Geauga Recovery Center - LGRC), Tia Lawrence (Torchlight), Michelle Bergman (Catholic Charities), Mary Wynne-Peaspanen, Kristy Mowery (Red Tulip Project), and Vicky Clark (Ravenwood). Community members Newell Howard, Tim McCaskey and McCaskey (Munson Township) and this LWVG Observer also attended.
Call to Order, Roll Call, and Pledge of Allegiance occurred as listed on the agenda. The meeting was called to order at 6:05 pm.
Minutes: Minutes for the March 26, 2025 Regular Meeting were approved. Minutes are available on the Board’s webpage here.
Chairman’s Report - Dr. Oluic announced that attempts will be made to keep the meeting brief to allow time for Ethics Training following adjournment. He announced the GC-MHRS FY 2026 budget was approved and accolades received from the Geauga County Budget Commission. He congratulated the staff for all the work in getting the budget approved. He encouraged those present to drive by the Transitional Living Center (TLC) and see that block and brick work is done. Floors and studs are next. Construction continues to be on target for completion by the end of the year. It was also noted that there was one suicide this month.
Executive Director’s Report - Ms. Lakomiak discussed the following:
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At the Budget Commision Hearing on April 7, 2025, the GC-MHRS FY26 budget was approved unanimously. Thank you to Jim Mausser for all his work. This is an incredibly complex process. Ms. Lakomiak noted that there are 33 different funding streams and Jim manages them all.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. GC-MHRS will be raising awareness and promoting 988 in a variety of ways. Reviewer Note: Click here for more information on this new Mental Health phone line
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All are invited to kick off the summer with Torchlight Youth Mentoring. GC-MHRS is co-sponsoring their Putt-Putt event. The cost is $8/pp on May 30th at Chips Clubhouse.
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Ethics Training for Mental Health and Recovery Services Boards will be held after the Board meeting today.
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GC-MHRS Board received Request for Proposals (RFP) totaling $5 million. Four new agencies applied. Reviewer Note: These RFPs are submitted by provider agencies for all the Mental Health and Addiction Services to be provided in FY26. Each year, the Board reviews these proposals and matches the services needed and the services the provider agencies are proposing to provide. This then becomes the budget for the continuum of care for Geauga County for the common year.
Committee Reports -
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Programs and Policies - Chair Kathy Johnson said that they reviewed the Open Meetings Act and made some modifications. These will be presented later in the Agenda. The committee also discussed the Pandemic Policy. More extensive changes are needed so the committee will bring it to the Board later. Not required, but for their information, the Committee reviewed the Client Satisfaction Survey. No action is needed. May 19th is the next meeting.
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Fiscal and Capital - Chair Reba Dykes said they did not meet in April. They will meet in May.
Board Review and Action Items -
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Open Meetings Act Policy (Sunshine Law) - Some minor changes were made to the Open Meetings Act Policy. For example, in the past Boards had to notify media in the newspapers of upcoming meetings. Now notification via the Board’s website will suffice. However, GC-MHRS will continue to notify the newspapers and others via email as they have been doing.
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The new policy has been approved by Susan Wieland, Assistant County Prosecutor.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Resolution 25-04-1 Allocation of 2024-2025 State Opioid and Stimulant Response Fund
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The Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services allocates $34,972.96 to Ravenwood Health for the provision of residential, housing, transitional, treatment, support, medication assisted treatment services, individual and group peer-to-peer recovery support services.
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The Board allocates $23,361.32 to Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers for the provision of support, group services, residential and outpatient peer recovery services.
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The Board allocates $24,142.72 to the Red Tulip Project of Geauga County for the provision of housing and support services.
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The Board Executive Director is authorized to expend funds and reallocates dollars between agencies upon the approval of OhioMHAS (Mental Health and Addiction Services) and in accordance with this resolution once the final State award is received.
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Discussion: This is funding that four agencies receive from the State Opioid and Stimulant response fund. Some of the funding ($82,477.00) was not spent. Agencies were given the opportunity to rebid to use the carryover funds of $82,477. This is the amount they had leftover collectively. These funds will be used by three of the agencies (Ravenwood, Red Tulip and Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers) that had unexpended funds from the original allocation.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Resolution 25-04-2 Shelter Plus Care Fund
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The Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services will pay up to $137,836.00 of Shelter Care Plus Care Funds to Ravenwood Health for rental assistance provided during April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
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Payment to Ravenwood Health for the Shelter Plus Care Program is contingent upon the Board being in receipt of the aforementioned HUD Shelter Plus Care Funds. Observer Note: There was no discussion as to whether they anticipated any cut in this Federal funding.
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The Executive Director of the Board is authorized to expend funds in accordance with this resolution.
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Discussion: This funding goes to help supplement rent for the 10 units in the GC-MHRS apartment building. Residents pay rent on a sliding scale. Funds can also be used for repairs. Funding is not local but comes from a HUD grant for permanent supportive housing. There is a Ravenwood Health supportive staff person on site 40 hours/week. Mr. Petruziello inquired if there is a turnover rate. Ms. Lakomiak responded that the goal is for the housing to be permanent and there are strict guidelines to qualify. Mr. Petruziello then asked if residents are doing well and if they need the services if they leave. Ms. Lakomiak responded that the residents are thriving and doing well because they are receiving the support they need. Ms. Shumway asked that the Board would be notified if these funds are reallocated. Mr. Mausser responded that they cannot be as it is a reimbursement grant meaning that if the receipt is not for an allowable expense, it wouldn’t be reimbursed. There is no opportunity to “reallocate”. GC-MHRS has some funding for FY 27 to offer temporary supportive housing. That is not this funding. This funding is for permanent housing in the 10 unit apartment building.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Financial Reports - Mr. Mausser reported the March, 2025 totals as follows:
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The Board SFY2025 (7/1/24-6/30/25) office budget is through March and GC-MHRS has currently expended 67.9% of the budget.
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The County calendar year (1/1/25-12/31/25) Budget Performance Report shows they have expended just over $1.72 million through March.
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The Auditor's Fund Balance: the March Unencumbered Balance is just over $2.7 million.
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Voucher recap #705 March $466,336.50.
Old Business - None
New Business -
Public Comments:
Dr. Oluic asked for public comment.
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Vicky Clark invited participation at an all-day event on May 15, 2025 to be held at Basil Place. Basil Place is the sponsor. The event’s goal is to increase community and employer mental health awareness with an emphasis on employee wellness. All are welcome. Admission will be $60.
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Jim McCaskey, Munson Township Trustee, offered kudos to GC-MHRS for receiving such a positive budget review. He also noted the difficulty and sadness for first responders who are first on the scene for such tragedies as this month’s suicide in a Munson park. He expressed appreciation for GC-MHRS’ support. Ms. Lakomiak thanked the Munson staff for their commitment to mental health and support for their own staff and community’s wellness.
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Dave McCaskey asked about accessing mandatory outpatient services and if Geauga County had such services. Ms. Lakomiak offered to meet with Mr. McCaskey. He thanked Ms. Lakomiak and will meet with her.
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Dr. Oluic expressed hope for a future Geauga Mental Health Court, modeled on the successful Geauga County New Leaf Addiction Court. He said this would be a long range planning decision. Reviewer Note: Currently the New Leaf program is an approved specialized court program that does include “combined addiction and mental illness” or addiction alone but not mental illness as a separate condition.
Announcements of upcoming events:
Mentioned previously:
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Putt Putt Event, May 30th for Torchlight Youth Mentoring at Chips Clubhouse.
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Ravenwood Health Event, May 15th to promote Mental Health Awareness. Basil Place is donating space and sponsoring.
Meeting adjourned at 6:35 pm. Board attended required annual Ethics Training after the meeting adjourned.
Board Minutes: Available at https://www.geauga.org/board-minutes/
Next meeting: The next meeting will be the Regular Meeting on May 21 , 2025 at 6:00 pm. Meetings are held at the Board offices located at 13244 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024.
More Information: https://www.geauga.org/
Observer: Kathy Franz
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: May 1, 2025
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