GMHA Board Hires Anna Ball as New Executive Director
Geauga Metropolitan Housing Authority (GMHA) - June 16, 2026
Meeting Info: Regular meeting held on June 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM (EST) in the Conference Room at Murray Manor at 385 Center Street, Chardon, OH 44024. The meeting was held in person.
Agenda: An agenda was provided at the meeting. It is not available online. The documented
proceedings below follow the agenda and are presented sequentially.
1. Call to Order - 4:00 PM
2. Attendance: Chairman Jeff Markley, and board members Sandy Grassman, Michael Petruziello, Walter (Skip) Claypool and Susan Kemerrer were present. Legal Counsel Marshal Pitchford was present.
Attendance: Carrie Carlson, Chief Financial Officer and Acting Executive Director, was present.
Others Present: This Observer and four other members of the public were in attendance in person.
Observer Note: The Board Chairman indicated they were recording the audio of the meeting. These recordings are not routinely published.
3. Pledge of Allegiance - Recited
4. Discussion/Approval of Minutes
The board reviewed minutes from multiple May 2026 meetings, including May 8, May 15, May 18, May 19, and May 28. The minutes were approved by voice vote. Those meetings consisted primarily of executive sessions related to interviewing and selecting a new Executive Director.
5. Financial Statements
Financial statements for Public Housing, Section 8, HCVP (Housing Choice Voucher Program) were reviewed through May 2026. No questions were raised. A motion to approve the financial statements passed by roll-call vote.
6. Commissioner’s Report
Ms. Kemerrer requested authority to prepare a monthly tenant update memo addressing RAD and other ongoing topics such as key-card entry and camera projects. The purpose was to reduce rumors and provide factual information to tenants.
The board discussed the need for any memo to be factual, tied to board actions, reviewed by staff and counsel as appropriate, and not to create policy commitments or liability. Counsel advised that formal authorization should be handled carefully. The board reached general agreement that a template would be prepared and reviewed before distribution each month.
7. Report of Counsel
Mr. Pitchford reported there were no new legal actions.
8. Report of Director
a. May Programs Report
The board reviewed the May Programs Report. Mr. Claypool asked about work-order numbers, including emergency and routine work orders, and whether the totals reflected the month of May. Ms. Carlson agreed to provide follow-up information by email. She also noted that income-related information had been omitted from recent reports and would be included going forward.
b. Strickland Arms Insurance Claim
Ms. Carlson reported that the Strickland Arms claim, involving a tree that fell on a unit, had been approved. The insurance check had been received, and work was expected to begin June 22.
c. Cloverdale II Update
Staff reported that environmental review documentation had been received from the Mayor of Chardon. HUD approval may take up to 90 days.
d. RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration)
Ms. Carlson discussed the status of the RAD initiative and referenced a May 21 letter previously distributed to board members outlining issues for consideration. She noted that before the planned financial analysis can proceed, the board must first decide the scope of the project and the alternatives it wishes to evaluate. Mr. Markley reminded the board that they had decided to pursue all units being included, which avoids a roughly $200,000 additional cost if done in stages. Mr. Claypool advocated for adding an additional option involving privatization to the two RAD alternatives under consideration. The RAD alternatives are:
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PBRA (Project-Based Rental Assistance) – conversion to a long-term Section 8 rental assistance contract administered by HUD.
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PBV (Project-Based Voucher) – conversion to a project-based voucher model administered through a housing authority under the voucher program.
Legal counsel was asked to prepare an opinion regarding privatization to assist the board in its future deliberations before determining the next steps in the RAD evaluation process.
e. Housing Services Inc. (HSI)
Ms. Kemerrer and Mr. Markley still need to each appoint a board member to HSI.
f. Murray Manor Center Street Ramps
Ms. Carlson will seek quotes for this work.
g. HOTMA (Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016)
Ms. Carlson and her staff will undergo self-administered training.
New Business
a. Murray Manor & Harris House Keyless Entries
The board discussed bids for keyless entry systems at Murray Manor and Harris House. Discussion focused on hardwired versus wireless systems, bid responsiveness, bonding requirements, total cost, monthly monitoring, and whether rebidding would better serve the authority.
One bidder appeared to have submitted the lowest hardwired price but lacked required bid documentation. Counsel advised that the missing bid bond could not simply be accepted late. The board discussed rejecting all bids and rebidding, with a preference to focus on hardwired systems and clarify bid language.
A motion was made and passed to reject the received bids and rebid the project.
c. Murray Manor & Harris House Paving & Drainage
This item was taken before New Business item b.
Staff reported that the final walkthrough for the Murray Manor and Harris House paving and drainage project was completed June 9 by staff, Four Points Architectural & Engineering, the project engineer, and contractor. A punch list was developed and provided to the contractor. The work was generally found satisfactory by Four Points A&E.
The board approved release of the final payment of $45,560.88, contingent upon completion of all punch-list items and satisfactory project closeout documentation.
b. IT Services
The board discussed extending GMHA’s current information technology services contract with Griffin. Members expressed a preference for maintaining the existing provider on an interim basis rather than pursuing an immediate change. Following discussion, the board approved extending the current IT services contract by one year to maintain uninterrupted support while longer-term options continue to be evaluated.
d. RAD
No additional discussion on this agenda topic.
e. Revision of GMHA Cybersecurity Program Policy
Ms. Carlson completely revised the cybersecurity policy originally drafted in November 2025 to ensure compliance with Ohio Revised Code 9.64. Ms. Grassman moved to replace the November 2025 draft with Ms. Carlson’s revised policy. Mr. Markley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
9. Hearing of the Public
Several tenants addressed the board with questions and concerns regarding building operations, maintenance, and safety:
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Blinds and window treatments. One tenant questioned why requests for blinds or window treatments had not been addressed. Ms. Carlson explained that such requests are not being undertaken at this time due to policy and budget considerations. The tenant expressed frustration with the response but was advised that staff must operate within established regulations and available resources.
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Recycling containers. A tenant again requested the installation of a recycling container or collection point to make recycling more convenient. Ms. Carlson acknowledged that the request had previously been raised but inadvertently overlooked and apologized. She asked that future requests be submitted in writing or by email to ensure they are tracked and responded to.
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Proper channel for operational requests. Board members emphasized that day-to-day operational concerns should first be directed to the housing manager or appropriate staff rather than the board. If tenants are dissatisfied with the response, the matter may be elevated through management channels, but operational decisions generally remain within staff responsibilities.
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Grounds maintenance. A tenant expressed concern that grass across the parking lot was not being mowed frequently enough, resulting in deer, turkeys, and other wildlife entering the area and creating concerns for pet owners. The board acknowledged the concern and noted that maintenance staff are responsible for multiple GMHA properties and must prioritize work accordingly. Tenants were encouraged to continue reporting maintenance concerns to staff. The same tenant offered to assist with mowing to address maintenance concerns. The board declined the offer, explaining that allowing volunteers to perform such work would create liability and insurance issues for the authority.
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Positive maintenance feedback. A tenant thanked maintenance staff for recently replacing a transition strip between carpet and tile flooring using a more durable method after years of unsuccessful attempts, stating that the repair was “awesome.” Board members welcomed the positive feedback.
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Keyless entry system. A resident asked whether installation of the proposed key-card access system would eliminate the existing visitor buzzer/intercom function. Ms. Carlson responded that the current visitor access system would remain operational and that visitors would still be able to be admitted through the entrance. Up to two key-cards per unit are allowed.
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Request for meeting regarding safety concerns. A resident requested a meeting with board members to discuss safety and employee-related issues. The board explained that a gathering of board members outside a properly noticed public meeting could raise Open Meetings Act concerns and advised that operational safety issues should instead be raised with management, who could then elevate matters to the board if appropriate.
Overall, the board reiterated that operational concerns should be directed to housing management or the Executive Director, preferably in writing, while acknowledging that staff are balancing responsibilities across multiple GMHA properties during the leadership transition.
10. Executive Session
The board moved into executive session under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(1) for personnel-related discussion. Legal counsel and a candidate for the executive director position were invited into executive session. The motion passed by roll-call vote.
11. Any Further Business
After the executive session, the board returned to public session. The Board took action related to the hiring of an executive director:
A motion was made to appoint Anna Ball as the new executive director of GMHA and to extend to her a three-year contract, subject to board approval, with a hire date of July 20, 2026. The motion passed unanimously.
12. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6:13 PM by unanimous vote.
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be a regular board meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 4:00 pm at Murray Manor. More information about the Geauga Metropolitan Housing Authority can be found here.
Observer: David Lewis
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: June 17, 2026
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