Board of County Commissioners - June 6, 2023
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 AM on June 6, 2023 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. BOCC meetings are in-person only and there are no recordings for the public. An agenda is available in advance via request to the Commissioners Clerk.
Public Comment Policy: Observer Comment: Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri announced at the end of the April 4, 2023 meeting that public comment would be permitted and that a more formal policy would be forthcoming. There was no formal policy introduced today.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak
Attendance: Commissioners James Dvorak, Timothy Lennon and Ralph Spidalieri; Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and County Administrator Gerard Morgan.
County Representatives (having issues on the agenda):
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Shane Hajjar, Engineer’s Office
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Cindi Wellman, Victim Advocate for Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office
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Scott Hildenbrand - Geauga County Sheriff
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Elaine Malkamaki, Program Director, Dept. of Community & Economic Development (CED)
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Christine Lakomiak, Director, Mental Health and Recovery Services
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Dan Spada, Chief Building Official, Dept. of Development (Building)
Others in Attendance: Chief Deputy Tom Rowan, Geauga Sheriff’s Office; Gina Hofstetter, Director of Dept. of Community & Economic Development (CED); Adam Litke, Geauga Public Health Administrator; Carolyn Brakey, Geauga Public Health Board President; Kimberly Brown, Regional Program Manager and Richard Szasz, Professional Development Coach at Ohio Guidestone; Members of the press from Geauga Maple Leaf and Chagrin Valley Times; Members of the public, Diane and Tom Jones (with camera), several unidentified individuals.
Minutes - No minutes were submitted for approval. Approved BOCC Minutes are available online through March 7, 2023 or by request to Commissioners’ Clerk Christine Blair. Reviewer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online for information purposes but are not substitutes for BOCC Minutes.
County Administrator Report - none
The Commissioners’ Office requested the Board approve and execute Resolution #23-103 itemizing the financials for the meeting of June 6, 2023, which was reported by Mr. Gorton.
Financials - Mr. Gorton, Finance Director, reported:
Vouchers
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$58,851.33 payment from the Commissioners office to Then Design Architecture LTD for phase 2 courthouse renovation project.
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$89,871.97 from the Sheriff’s office to Hall Public Safety for upfitting of six new Chevy Tahoe deputy vehicles.
The Commissioners’ Office requested the Board grant permission to advertise to hold a Public Hearing to discuss the Geauga County 2024 Tax Budget to be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Notice of this Public Hearing will be advertised on June 8, 2023 and on the county website. APPROVED
The Auditor’s Office requested the Board accept, execute and file the monthly Statement of County Finances filed by the County Auditor for the months of July 2022 through February 2023, pursuant to O.R.C. 319.35. APPROVED
Mr. Lennon noted that reports from the Auditor’s Office have been provided sporadically. Mr. Gorton confirmed that the Auditor is required to report monthly per the ORC and noted there were issues with the New World accounting software that had impacted reporting.
The Treasurer’s Office requested the Board accept, execute and file the monthly Statement of County Finances filed by the County Treasurer for the months of July 2022 through February 2023, pursuant to O.R.C. 319.35. APPROVED
The County Engineer’s Office, represented by Shane Hajjer:
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Requested the Board accept and execute the Highway Easement between the Geauga County Commissioners and James T. and Barbara A. Gottron (Parcel #06-057150) for roadway improvements to Robinson Road (TR 76) in Chardon Township in the amount of $3,000.00. APPROVED
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Requested the Board approve and execute Change Order #1 and Final, increasing the Contract with Grade Line, Inc., for the drainage Improvements to Washington Street (CH-0606, Sections C-E) in Auburn and Bainbridge Townships in the amount of $256.45. APPROVED
The Prosecutor’s Office/Victim Witness Program, represented by Cindi Wellman, requested the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) and State Victim Advocacy Act (SVAA) 2023-2024 Grant Application in the amount of $50,951.00. As part of this grant $29,938.00 is being requested from federal VOCA funds with a local match from the County General Fund of $16,552.00 and $4,461.00 from SVAA with no local match. This grant is for the period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. APPROVED
The Sheriff’s Office, represented by Sheriff Hildenbrand:
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Requested the Board approve and execute the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) Subgrant Award Agreement for Stop Violence Against Women VAWA Grant #2022-WF-VA2-8214 in the amount of $59,162.58 ($44,372.62 OCJS, $14,789.96 Local County match). This grant is for the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2023. APPROVED
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Requested the Board grant permission to advertise for bids for the Microwave Network Upgrade Project to be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on June 8, 2023, June 15, 2023 and on the county website. APPROVED
The Department of Development (Community & Economic), represented by Elaine Malkamaki:
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Requested the Board approve and execute Resolution #23-104 Authorizing the President of the Board of Geauga County Commissioners to make an application to the State of Ohio Development Services Agency for Financial Assistance under the State of Ohio PY 2023 Community Development Block Grant Allocation Program. APPROVED
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Requested the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Ohio Department of Development Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities Allocation Program. APPROVED
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Requested the Board approve and authorize the President of the Board to execute the Ohio Department of Development Environmental Review Certification Form for General Administration, Fair Housing and Planning for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities PY2023 Allocation Program. APPROVED
The Commissioners’ Office requested the Board discuss and appoint three members to the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services for a three-year term, July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.
Mrs. Blair stated that five applications had been forwarded to the Commissioners to fill 3 positions. The Commissioners appointed Reba Dykes, Steve Oluic and Alberta Chokshi to 4 year terms ending June 30, 2027. Observer Comment: the motion was amended to correct the appointment term from 3 years to 4 years.
Presentation: Ohio Guidestone - Kimberly Brown and Richard Szasz discussed the youth employment and development programs they provide through Geauga Job and Family Services and Geauga Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Mr. Dvorak asked how many youth they will serve this summer and whether they still receive donations at their Newbury location. Ms. Brown said they intend to serve about 30 youth and confirmed that donations of furniture and clothing are accepted.
Mr. Spidalieri inquired about sources of funding, total budget and whether they were duplicating services already provided by the Department of Developmental Disabilities. He stated (paraphrasing) that either our education system is failing or bad parenting isn’t preparing young people but “if they want to work they could work.”
Ms. Brown replied that the majority of their funding is through Geauga Job and Family Services, their annual budget is $565,000 and that the Department of Developmental Disabilities does not provide these services. She stated further that the youth they serve often have significant barriers to overcome, including poverty, aging out of foster care, homelessness and personal trauma.
Executive Session - the Board moved into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the employment and compensation of a public employee in the Department of Development (Building). Dan Spada was invited to participate. Regular session resumed at 10:55 a.m.
Commissioners approved a motion to hire Mike Davet as Multi Certified Inspector IV at the Department of Development (Building) at a pay rate of $38.75/hour.
Public Comment: Mr. Spidalieri invited public comment.
Howard Newell sought additional information about the appointments to the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. Mrs. Blair said that in addition to the 3 candidates selected, applications were received from Linda Miller and Walter ‘Skip’ Claypool. Mr. Newell inquired whether Michael Petruziello and Jimmy Lee Holden are still on the Board and Mrs. Blair confirmed that they are.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned shortly after 11:00 a.m.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here
Next Meeting: Tuesday June 13, 2023 at 9:30 am
Observer: Shelly Lewis
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
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