BOE’s Tyler Plants Promoted to Director;
February 4 is Filing Deadline for Candidates & Issues for May 5 Primary Election
Geauga County Board of Elections (BOE) Special Meeting - January 8, 2026
Meeting Info - Special Meeting on Jan 8, 2025 at 9:00 am in the BOE Conference Room at 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 004 (Basement), Chardon, OH, 44024. Attendance was in-person and virtual via MS Teams.
Public Comment Policy - The Board of Elections typically responds to questions about agenda items throughout the course of their meetings. Those exchanges are documented below as they occur.
Attendance: Present were:
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Board Chair - Dennis Pavella
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Board Member - Richard Piraino
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Board Member - Joan Windnagel
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Board Member - Janet Carson
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Acting Director - Nora McGinnis
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Office Administrator - Scott Daisher
County Representatives: In person, Frank Antenucci, Deputy Chief Administrator & Chief Information Security Officer at Automated Data Processing (ADP); Ron Weigle, Maintenance Director and Mark Jimison, Deputy County Administrator at Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).
Others: In person, three members of the public, Ohio Secretary of State (SoS) Regional Liaison Dustin
Russell (arrived around 10:00 am), 2 candidates for BOE Director and this Observer.
Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am.
Minutes - Minutes for the Special Meeting on December 1, 2025 were approved without edits 4-0.
Payment of Bills - Invoices totaling $13,586.39 were approved unanimously and included:
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$11,875.00 to KNOWiNK for poll pad annual software license.
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$589.96 to The News Herald and Chagrin Valley Times to advertise the open Director’s position.
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$466.21 to KMI for election supplies.
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$275.81 to DEX Imaging for monthly copier contract.
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$204.79 to Verizon Wireless for monthly emergency cell phones.
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$154.23 to Chardon Oil for equipment to pick up fuel.
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$20.39 to Quill for office supplies.
Janet Carson requested that staff explore a less expensive option for return envelopes.
Report from ADP – Per Mr. Antenucci, ADP just learned that a final fire inspection will be conducted on Monday, January 12 at 8:00 am for the BOE server room’s non-water fire suppression system located in the BOE server closet. It was explained later in the meeting that Chardon Fire Department provides services to the Geauga Office Building.
Discussion with New BOCC Staff - Recent hires Rob Weigle, Maintenance Director, and Mark Jimison, Deputy County Administrator, introduced themselves to the Board.
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Mr. Weigle expressed intentions to rectify past communication issues and welcomed the opportunity to meet with the new Director.
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Mr. Jimison stated BOE’s issues are valid and high priority. He related his military experience setting up elections while serving in Afghanistan.
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Mrs. Windnagel expressed concern about the safety of stairs leading down to BOE’s basement location, stating that they become very slippery when wet. Mrs. Carson reminded them that early voting for the May primary begins in April. She opined that changes in election law brought about by SB293 will increase in-person voting. Reviewer Note: See discussion below about the changes to the acceptance of absentee ballots brought about by SB293 and read more about SB293 here.
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Mrs. Windnagel and Mr. Pavella discussed parking limitations. Mr. Pavella noted that there are only 86 parking spots available to accommodate all of the building employees and voters. This Observer inquired how many employees are typically in the building and neither Mr. Weigle nor Mr. Jimison were able to respond.
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Mr. Piraino inquired about the status of BOE’s Evacuation Plan. Neither Mr. Weigle nor Mr. Jimison were aware of any plans. Mr. Antenucci said he is aware of partially completed plans for the top 3 floors, but he is not aware of a plan for BOE. Mrs. Carson noted that the BOE never participated in an occupancy inspection and asked Mr. Weigle and Mr. Jimison to follow up on that.
Campaign Finance Reports – Staff distributed a list of campaign finance reports they had reviewed. Mr. Daisher reported that all reports were received on time. The Board voted 3-1 to accept the reports, with Mrs. Carson abstaining because supporting documents had not been supplied in advance for her review.
Precinct Changes – Mr. Daisher presented recommendations for redrawing Bainbridge Township and Chardon City precinct lines. He explained that by law, precincts may not exceed 1,400 registered voters. Mr. Pavella explained that the board and staff worked in a bipartisan manner to create compliant precincts, giving consideration to expected development in these communities.
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For Bainbridge Township, Mr. Daisher recommended moving a total of 723 registered voters from Bainbridge Twp Precincts B, D and F to form the new Bainbridge Twp Precinct J. No changes in voting location are expected. The Board approved 4-0.
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For Chardon City, Mr. Daisher recommended shifting 231 registered voters from Chardon City Precinct C to Chardon City Precinct D. No changes in voting location are expected. The Board approved 4-0.
Winter Conference, Ohio Association of Election Officials – Mrs. McGinnis provided the Board with schedules and tax exempt paperwork. She also detailed staff coverage of the office while she is at the conference.
Leadership Geauga Tour - Mrs. McGinnis explained that Leadership Geauga had invited the BOE to participate in its January 23 Government Day program. Mrs. McGinnis was authorized to present.
SOS Liaison Update - Mr. Russell indicated Secretary of State LaRose intends to address election officials during the Winter Conference next week. He also said the SOS wishes to honor long-serving poll workers and those who have voted regularly for a long period of time. He requested that BOE compile this information at their convenience.
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Mrs. Carson sought clarification about changes to election law under SB293. She inquired whether mailed ballots postmarked Election Day and retrieved by the Board of Elections by the close of polls on Election Day would be counted. Mr. Russell was unable to answer. Observer Note: Prior to passage of SB293, absentee ballots returned via USPS were required to be postmarked the day BEFORE Election Day and received within 4 days following Election Day. SB293 eliminates the 4 day grace period, but the required postmark date is unclear.
Executive Session - At 10:28 am the board voted to enter Executive Session under ORC 121.22(G)(1) to consider the employment of a public official. The meeting was restricted to only the board members. Over the next four hours, 3 individuals were observed separately entering the board meeting room to interview for the Director position. The Board deliberated and reached a decision. Regular session was re-entered at 2:45 pm and the Board voted 3-1, with Mrs. Carson voting no, to offer the Director position to BOE Voter Registration Supervisor Tyler Plants. Mr. Plants accepted the promotion and agreed to a 120-day probationary period. Mr. Pavella will inform the other candidates of the Board’s decision.
Acting Director’s Report – Mrs. McGinnis shared these updates:
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Staff has been attending ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) webinars hosted by Brett Harbage, Ohio Secretary of State’s ADA Coordinator.
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She is coordinating Monday’s inspection by the Chardon City Fire Department.
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She will introduce Tyler Plants at ADP’s organizational meeting.
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She helped obtain the BOCC resolution honoring prior Director Michelle Lane’s service and planned Mrs. Lane’s retirement party.
Next Meeting: The Board will review candidate and issue petitions for the May 5, 2026 Primary Election during their February 17, 2026 meeting at 9:00 am. The Board noted that candidate and issue petitions for the May 5 Primary Election must be filed with the Board of Elections by February 4, 2026.
Adjournment - 3:03 pm
Observer: Shelly Lewis
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: January 8, 2026
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