Ravenwood Health and Community Counseling Center to Merge
in February 2026
Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (GC-MHRS) - October 15, 2025
Meeting Details: GC-MHRS Board held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 15, 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, Vice Chair Kathy Johnson, Secretary Jimmy Lee Holden, Treasurer Reba Dykes; Board Members - Douglas Lundblad, Michael Petruziello, and Patricia Varanese.
Absent: Board Member, Mary Ruth Shumway,.
Staff Members Attending: Executive Director Christine Lakomiak, Finance Director Jim Mausser, Office/Administrative Manager Teresa Slater, and Clinical/Compliance Manager Michelle Maneage
Others Attending:
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Agency representatives: Melanie Blasko (Lake Geauga Recovery Center - LGRC), Michelle Bertman (Catholic Charities), Andrea Gutka (WomenSafe), Tia Lawrence (Torchlight), and Vicki Clark (Ravenwood Health).
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Community members Newell Howard and this LWV-Geauga Observer.
Observer note: There may have been a few other attendees who did not sign in or speak.
Call to Order, Roll Call, and Pledge of Allegiance - The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm. Roll call and Pledge of Allegiance occurred as listed on the agenda.
Minutes: Minutes for the September 2025 Regular Meeting were approved. Minutes are available on the Board’s webpage here.
Chairman’s Report - Dr. Oluic reported:
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The biggest thing he has been involved with has been tracking the Transitional Living Center (TLC) project. Construction is on schedule.
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Also, he has been following the sign issue which will be discussed later in the meeting. The Board has been researching a digital sign on Route 44 in front of the Board Administrative office building.
Executive Director’s Report - Ms. Lakomiak discussed the following:
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Statewide Changes -
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Name Change to Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (Ohio DBH). The change which has been under discussion for a long time, was made to more reflect the health of the whole person.
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Director Leanne Doran left Ohio DBH. She was instrumental in improving Crisis Care for Ohio Children and Families. Interim Director is Tia Marcel Moretti. She will continue to prioritize Crisis services. Mobile crisis for adults is the next goal.
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The Ohio Department of Development program audit finished their review of GC-MHRS last month. There were no findings - no issues were identified. The reviewers commended GC-MHRS for the quality of the services provided and the degree of monitoring. The reviewers thanked Jim Mausser for his assistance during the audit.
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Board Updates -
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Community Assessment Plan (CAP) plan for data collection for 2026-2028. Michelle Maneage discussed various strategies for data collection which include the use of internal and external data, surveys (leadership and consumers), and other means. A report will be written explaining the various methods that will be used.
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The board received a grant to work with schools to provide 988 (Suicide and Crisis Line) education and resources to schools. Director Lakomiak reported that materials promoting 988 were widely distributed. This provided an opportunity to educate kids about what happens when you call 988. The Ohio DBH provided videos and other printed materials that GC-MHRS can use to talk about 988. A call to 988 connects the caller to a trained person to talk the caller through a tough time. Students and school staff learned you don’t have to be in a crisis to call 988. A call to 988 will connect you with resources in your local community.
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Geauga County has had the COPELINE to connect the community with service providers for many years. GC-MHRS has been part of this collaboration. With the advent of the 988 Crisis Line, the counties have been expected to use the 988 number for community referrals, particularly mental health and addiction calls. Many agencies in Geauga County fund COPELINE. GC-MHRS provided $89,000, which they will no longer be able to do as those dollars are directed to 988. GC-MHRS is working with Job and Family Services (JFS) and other agencies to preserve COPELINE once the Ohio DBH dollars that funded this previously will now go to the 988 Crisis line. Reviewer Note: The COPELINE is sponsored by Geauga County Job & Family Services and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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SB 138 made changes to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 340. ORC 340 is the code that regulates Mental Health Boards. The changes made to the ORC will require some language and other small changes to Board policies. Director Lakomiak will make a summary of board responsibilities, as she did a year ago, which will summarize the changes. Then the Board can discuss the changes.
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Many in-service providers and clinicians have been trained to work in crisis situations and provide follow up. They have been called upon to provide support and have responded. Progress in work with the Amish Community continues. There has been an increase in the community reaching out to the Crisis Response Team for support.
Year to date there have been 10 deaths by Suicide and 3 Overdose fatalities. The Suicide Mortality Review Committee has reviewed each situation. One outcome is planned outreach to Township Trustees to get 988 signage in local parks. Director Lakomiak will speak about this at the next Geauga Township Association meeting in January.
Observer Note: Director Lakomiak acknowledged (today as well as in previous meetings) that many suicides take place in local parks.
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Peer Recovery Support Training
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Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide prevention training here in November provided by NAMI. Focus is on assessing suicide risk. The training is November 6, 2025.
Question: Mr. Petruziello asked how many of the individuals who died by suicide were known to the mental health system. Director Lakomiak recalled that 5 were unknown to the GC-MHRS system or hospitals.
Board Review and Action Items -
Observer’s note: Since the last meeting the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) has been renamed the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (OhioDBH).
Resolution 25-10-1 Reimbursement to Geauga Safety Center 1st half SFY2026
Amended Substitute H.B. No. 49 established the psychotropic drug reimbursement program to provide reimbursement for the cost of psychotropic drugs that are dispensed to inmates of county jails in Ohio. The OhioDBH has provided advance funding for the Geauga County Sheriff's Office submitted for prescriptions for the 1st half of SFY2026. The Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services (GC-MHRS) shall distribute to the Geauga County Safety Center $12,494.00 for payment of psychotropic medications.
Roll call vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Resolution 25-10-2 Recovery Housing Allocation to Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers SFY2026
The GC-MHRS Board has received a funding allocation for SFY2026 from the OhioDBH for recovery support in the amount of $219,302.00. One of the uses of the funds is for operational expenses and minor facility improvements to class two and class three residential facilities. Lake-Geauga Recovery Center has submitted a budget for their Recovery Housing Program, which meets the requirements stipulated. An allocation of $61,000 was awarded to Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers for the costs of improvements to class two and class three residential facilities associated with the operation of, and services provided at, their Geauga County Recovery Homes for SFY2026.
Director Lakomiak: Funding came after the RFP (request for proposal) process had been completed.
Roll call vote: Ayes: Unanimous
Financial Reports -
Mr. Mausser reported the September 2025 totals as follows:
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The Board SFY2026 (7/1/25-6/30/26) office budget is through September and GC-MHRS expended 22.1% of the budget.
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The County calendar year (1/1/25-12/31/25) Budget Performance Report GC-MHRS have expended just over $5.7 million through September.
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The Auditor's Fund Balance: GC-MHRS September Unencumbered Balance is just over $2.89 million.
Old Business -
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Board Sign Discussion
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A digital sign is being discussed for Route 44 in front of the GC-MHRS Board offices. This has been on the agenda for several months.
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A packet was distributed to board members last month.
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The meeting’s discussion paper was distributed with 3 options to consider. Discussion ensued about the need for the sign, digital or not, traffic impact if the sign has too many words as motorists are driving fast on Route 44 and other options.
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Mr. Petruziello was very firm in wanting a digital sign. Ms. Johnson and Ms. Dykes were concerned about its effectiveness, i.e., with busy, high speed traffic, no time for motorists to read many words, a better place for the sign? Mr. Lundblad asked if billboards have been used? For example a 988 billboard in Middlefield and other locations? Director Lakomiak reported that the Maple Leaf is providing coverage of 988 and first responder issues.
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Mr. Petruziello stated he was certain they could petition the State to reduce speed on Route 44 to allow more time to see the sign (from 45mph to 35mph).
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There was discussion of messaging, purpose, location, and programs.
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Discussion moved to the 3 companies that responded to requests for more information. All provided an estimate but the 3 quotes need more exploration (for example some included electrical and some did not, the quoted signs are not all the same size, some charge to develop a design, some do not). All options are for elevated signs (raised up several feet above ground level) according to Ms. Slater. Drawings were distributed to Board members last month. All 3 vendors had checked with permitting/zoning according to Ms. Slater.
Motion: Staff are authorized to spend up to $40,000 for a digital sign.
Vote: Ayes: Oluic, Holden, Petruziello, Varanese, Lundblad No: Johnson, Dykes
There has been discussion about what to do concerning the build up of icicles. This is still in the process of information gathering.
Director Lakomiak has emailed the OhioDBH letting them know our Board has concerns. She asked the State DBH for ideas about how to provide effective advocacy regarding the Board's concerns about gambling addiction. Mr. Petruziello asked if other counties might join in the effort. He made the point that by allowing gambling, the state legislature created mental health issues and a burden for the County Boards. They should fund treatment. Director Lakomiak stated the State did provide some funds for a position to provide treatment for addiction related to gambling.
New Business -
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WomenSafe. In 2023 OhioMHAS asked for proposals for capital projects. Ms. Gutka applied for up to $70,000 for bathrooms at Womensafe. The project required a $35,000 local match. WomenSafe now knows they received the funding. There currently is $30,000 (for a local match) in GC-MHRS’s SFY2026 budget for the Capital Reserve Fund. This $30,000 could be provided to WomenSafe to fulfill the need for a local match. The match has been set aside for this since 2023. Ms. Gutka stated the whole cost was $90,000 for the needed bathroom work. The expense for the bathrooms has already been incurred. Ms. Gutka acknowledged how important this funding is for Womensafe. It is part of a larger problem regarding the septic system which also needs to be addressed on a long term basis. Motion made to release $30,000 to WomenSafe for the bathroom work.
Roll Call vote Aye: Unanimous
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Regarding the TLC (Transitional Living Center), Director Lakomiak reminded the board members that, as with any project, there will be change orders. Board members receive an email regarding change orders and photos at least twice a month. Although Director Lakomiak has had to authorize changes, the TLC costs are still within the budget.
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Vicki Clark, Ravenwood Health, announced that they have been working towards a merger with Community Counseling Center. A task force and consultants have helped guide the process which has gone very smoothly. The Boards met jointly last week. Voting is next week - Community Counseling Center votes on October 21st and Ravenwood votes on October 23rd. Community Counseling will come under the Ravenwood name and tax ID number. New CEO, Paul Bolino who is current CEO of Community Counseling Center, will become the CEO of the combined agency effective Feb 2, 2026, the day the merger will become effective. Ms. Clark stated that she and Mr. Bolino will work closely over the next few months. Mr. Bolino wants to get to know the community and will be meeting service providers and others. Ms. Clark stated she will be leaving and will miss the people. Mr. Bolino and Ms. Clark have talked about this merger for 10 years. Ravenwood's name and location on Ravenwood Drive will stay the same. The benefits for both agencies will be enabling them to scale up to meet the many administrative demands and governmental and accreditation requirements. Ravenwood Health has a long history of working with Community Counseling and have long considered them a sister agency since the two agencies have similar programs. Ravenwood is about twice the size. Reviewer Note: Community Counseling Center of Ohio is a non-profit behavioral health provider focused on engaging the community in recovery. It is based in Ashtabula, Ohio and has additional locations in Conneaut and Geneva
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Ms. Lakomiak stated that under ORC 340.041 the Executive Director is tasked with establishing the salaries for staff. Director Lakomiak asked for $9,000 to be transferred to the Salary, Medicare and OPERS line item. This would allow her to offer some merit increases. In the past, GC-MHRS Board submits a budget to the County Commissioners who have instructed the Board not to put any increases in the budget. Agencies are then instructed to implement increases and other changes later. This is not something the GC-MHRS Board has done. As Ms. Lakomiak gets ready to submit her budget for staff, she requested $9,000 be transferred in Salaried, Medicare and OPERS.
Motion to approve, Seconded.
Discussion: Mr. Petruziello asked to move into Executive Session to discuss this. Ms. Lakomiak stated this is not required per the ORC. Discussion that followed centered on “in the past”, personnel matters were always handled in Executive Session.
Motion was made to move to Executive Session. Not seconded.
More discussion: Dr. Oluic stated he had asked for information several weeks ago and never got it. Dr. Oluic tabled it.
Public Comments:
Ms. Varanese apologized for being late to the meeting. Ms. Gutka expressed thanks for the
funding for Womensafe’s bathrooms.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:14 pm.
Board Minutes: Available at https://www.geauga.org/board-minutes/
Next meeting: The next meeting will be the Regular Meeting on November 19, 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: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: October 27, 2025
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