Meeting Info: Special Meeting on September 21, 2022 at 9:00 am in BOE Conference Room at 470
Center St, Bldg 6A, Chardon, OH, 44024. In-person and virtual, via Microsoft Teams.
Agenda: an agenda was provided in advance.
Minutes approved from August 23, 2022.
Attendance: Present were Board members Dennis Pavella, Joan Windnagel, Janet Carson and
Ed Ryder and staff members Director Michelle Lane and Office Administrator Scott Daisher and
Deputy Director Nora McGinnis. Board Counsel Corey Colombo of McTigue Colombo & Clinger for the Executive Session.
Online guests included Mrs. Nancy McArthur (virtual), and Mrs. Gingerich (virtual).
The Board of Elections took the following actions:
-
Removed a tax levy from the ballot that had been requested by Newbury Township before a decision was made to demolish the former Newbury elementary school and auditorium;
-
Approved polling location changes for the Nov. 8, 2022, election including: Building 8 (County Building) to Heritage House, Chardon Square; Metzenbaum Center to Mayfield Church; Munson Elementary School to Notre Dame; and Berkshire Board of Education to former Berkshire High School;
-
Redoing ballots to add an independent candidate for Secretary of State whose candidacy was just approved; (Observer Note: This independent candidate, Terpsehore Maras, had been found ineligible due to issues with petition signatures, but the Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled that she had enough signatures and should be added to the ballot. See https://www.courtnewsohio.gov/cases/2022/SCO/0920/221083.asp#.YzH11HbMK3A)
-
Addressing six public service requests asking for almost identical information regarding the 2020 election that are similar to ones being filed in other states. Fulfilling the requests may cost tens of thousands of dollars in additional staff time for filing, redactions, and observers. The Board of Elections voted to request payment for these services upfront from the parties requesting the information. BOE Director Michelle Lane said she had been contacted on this issue by CNN and it was decided that Scott Daisher on the BOE staff would handle a request for an interview related to these public service requests;
-
Approved the payment of approximately $7,000 in bills that included the publishing of a new Precinct Election Official Manual.
-
Requested appropriations from the County Commissioners for payment of legal fees regarding the Board of Elections' lawsuit over the new county office building. Actions taken were all unanimous.
Also discussed but not on the Agenda: The potential use of a portion of the former Burton High School for storage needed due to the lack of space at the new county building.
Executive Session: The BOE went into executive session for an hour with their counsel to discuss their ongoing lawsuit against the County Commissioners regarding the inadequacies of the new county office building BOE space.
Following the Executive Session, the BOE voted to request appropriations from the Board of County Commissioners of Geauga County for $16,175.09 for the legal fees to be paid to McTigue & Colombo LLC for the invoice amounts that were submitted to the Board of Elections for legal work completed between April 21, 2022 (when the Prosecutor filed an application of appointment of counsel due to a conflict in Case No. 22 Misc 5) and July 31, 2022, and to authorize McTigue & Colombo LLC to submit the appropriation request and redacted copies of the invoices to the Board of County Commissioners on behalf of the Board of Elections.
The BOE also voted to request payment to McTigue & Colombo LLC of the initial $5,000 in legal fees that was already requested from the Geauga County Board of County Commissioners and which funds were already transferred to the Board of Elections' account.
The next meeting of the Board of Elections will be 10/20 at 9:00 am.
No Public Comment
Approved Board minutes are shared online through August 2, 2022 here:
https://boelections.geauga.oh.gov/Board-Minutes
See BOE social media posts: https://www.facebook.com/geaugaboe
Observer Comment: Virtual meeting information via Microsoft Teams is available on the BOE
home page. BOE does not include public comment on their agenda but is generally willing to
hear concerns and provide clarification.
Observer: Anne Ondrey
Editor: Betsy Kubbins
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
The League of Women Voters of Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that
encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding
of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at
www.lwvgeauga.org