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Meeting: Monday, September 19, 2022 at Big Creek Park Meyer Center, 8:30 am. This meeting was in person with no virtual option.  The meeting began at 8:30 am on September 19, 2022.

The following Commissioners were in attendance: Mr. Howard Bates, Jolene Carnabuci, Mario Innocenzi, and Mr. Pat Preston. Mr. Ray Guarino was absent. Also in attendance were Sheryl Hatridge, Administrative Service Manager, Dawn Sweeney, Assistant, Matt McCue, Deputy Director and Park Ranger Sloan. Mr. Todd Hicks, legal counsel from Thrasher, Dinsmore and Dolan was present. Jennifer Pae, Treasurer and Fiscal Officer was not present.

The Agenda items were approved as well as Addendum items.

Minutes from the August 15, 2022 meeting and the August 24, 2022 Special Meeting were approved without discussion.

Financial Statement and Payment Report - It was noted that Ms. Pae was not present so the Financial statement was available to the Board but there was no discussion and no motions to accept. In connection with this statement and Payment Report, Mr. Preston asked for clarification about some large purchases and requested that with any large purchases there be a notation as to what they were for so that there would be no need for questions at the meeting. Two large purchases referenced were $54,000 for the West Woods roof and $32,000 for the first payment for Frohring Meadows Pollinator garden. (Observer Note: It has been reported in the Geauga Maple Leaf that Ms. Pae has resigned and that the Geauga Park District is actively looking for her replacement.)

Grant Updates – Mr. Matt McCue stated that there was nothing new. They are still waiting for the ODNR grant for the Brede Property (in Troy Township).

Union Chapel Update

Mr. McCue reviewed the two basic options –

1. Stabilize only – probably $22,000 fee for Engineering work and $200,000 for the project or
2. Restoration of all issues – foundation, structure, restroom, parking, etc. Engineering of $59,500

and total of $565,000
These would be on the 2025 list, with a requirement that decisions be made by spring 2023.

Three Trustees were present: Ms. Carole Drabek, President, Bill Ward and Dr. Beri Oyler Stith. The President reviewed the history, dating back to 1858 and she stated that until 2000 there was a lot of activity. Now the Chapel is used for educational and small group purposes. They agreed with the Park District that they will seek funding and there is a meeting planned with the Cleveland Foundation. Dr. Oyler Stith mentioned that the Trustees have worked to obtain a designation on the National Registrar of Historic Places.

Mr. Preston repeated comments from a prior meeting that he would like to see school buses going there and having it used as an educational field trip location. The Trustees agreed that would be wonderful.

Mr. Oros stated that the Park District could contribute in-kind services for engineering and other types of work.

New Business

Naturalist Presentation – postponed due to naturalist not being able to be present

2022 Planning and Operations Update and Capital Improvement Projects
Matt McCue discussed the following projects:

• ●  Veterans Legacy – Phase II – this part of the work at Legacy Woods will include trail upgrades, new trails, a Memorial Garden. /additional work for the interior of the Visitor’s Center will include new fixtures, new design inside to “brighten up” the look, change from dropped ceilings. A lot of this work will occur over the winter by Park employees.

• ●  Holbrook Hollows – It is planned to provide an access area off South Frnaklin St which will also allow this park to connect to the bike and hike trail that will continue to Solon. It is projected to have parking for 20-25 cars open picnic pavilion, flush toilets and a Nature-based play area. Projected to go out to bid in 2023

• ●  Brede Property (Troy Township) This is a 60 acre wetland with virtually no access. The plan is to provide some boardwalks and primitive trails and limited parking (5-7 cars). Waiting for grant from ODNR

• ●  West Woods intrastructure (bridge)

• ●  Swine Creek – asphalt paving

•  

• Transfer Request – The Board approved a transfer of 1.3 million to the Land Improvement Fund (Observer Note: This amount was the amount that had been in the newly created Land Purchase Fund which is disputed by the Budget Commission to not have been formed correctly.)

•  

  Certification of Tax Levies – passed with little or no comment

• 
  Updated Vacation Policy – Mr. Oros had recommended (through Ms. Dawn Sweeney) that the vacation

  policy be amended in two ways:

• ●  Allow new employees to take vacation as it accumulates

• ●  Give credit for time served in private industry to new hires (or maybe all hires). The effect of this

  resolution would have been to permit employees with prior work experience to receive more vacation time (up to the maximum for years served.)

  It was stated that the Park needed to make this change so that they could attract new employees and retain current employees. On an accompanying sheet there was a list of 17 employees who would have received from 5-15 more vacation days a year.

Mr. Preston raised objections to this and there was a motion approved to table the proposed resolution.

Commissioner’s Time

• Mr. Oros stated that there were 73 naturalist-led programs with 3,695 participants. There were 1,368 at the Art Fest, 300 at the Moths and Meteors program and 200 at Movie Night.
• Mr. Preston spoke at some length about his concerns that the Board was being misrepresented by letters to the editor in the Maple Leaf. He also stated that there was no restaurant at Veteran’s Legacy Woods but that people could bring in their own catering.
• Mr. Preston also made several comments concerning a dispute between Auditor Walder and Judge Grendell over the payment of invoices. He stated his opinion that Jennifer Pae represented the Park Board perfectly at the Budget Commission hearing. He also stated his opinion that the Budget Commission spoke in a derogatory way to Ms. Pae.
• Mr. Preston further stated that a public comment section would not produce “the facts”.
• The Board moved to go into Executive Session and a Mr. Dave Partington, a member of the public who identified with Save Geauga Parks, asked for a public comment section to be added to Geauga Park Board agendas
• Mr. Bates stated that in the past the Board voted not to have public comment but Mr. Preston suggested that this be put on the Agenda for the next meeting.

Executive Session for the purpose of considering employment and compensation of a public employee.

No action taken after the Executive Session.

Next meeting – October 17, 2022

Additional Information and Minutes available here:

https://www.geaugaparkdistrict.org/about-gpd/park-board-staff/

Observer: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted 9/22/2022

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