Geauga Public Health (GPH) – Regular Meeting August 23, 2023
Meeting Details: The GPH Board met in Regular Session at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite B303, Chardon, OH, on August 23, 2023 at 5 pm. The agenda was available on the GPHD facebook page. Geauga County Automated Data Processing (ADP) live streamed this meeting and the recording is available here. At publication, the recording has been viewed 109 times. Due to the fact that a video is available, this report will only contain highlights of this meeting.
Public Comment Policy: There is no separate written policy, but in practice, “Citizens’ Remarks” are included on the agenda and are permitted as detailed there.
Board Attendance: (as seated, from L to R).
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Carolyn Brakey, President
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Dr. Ashley Jones, Pro Tem
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Lynn Roman
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Dr. Mark Rood
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Dr. Mark Hendrickson
Staff Attendance:
Legal Counsel: Not present
Others Present: Members of the press
Call to Order: Called to order at 5:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A quorum was declared and a certification of delivery of official notices of meeting.
Minutes: Approved Minutes of the Regular Meeting July 26, 2023 regular meeting minutes by voice vote. Reviewer Comment: Prior to the March 15, 2023, cross jurisdictional agreement with Lake County General Health District, approved GPH minutes were promptly shared on the GPH website. At publication, the most recent published minutes are for the March 2, 2023 Special Meeting. LWVG Observer Reports are available online for information purposes but are not substitutes for GPH minutes.
The Agenda is listed below: Please refer to the video for additional information. Key discussions are included in this report. Note that the minutes on the tape do not correspond to the actual time as the recording started prior to 5 pm.
Health District Staff Reports
15 Min - Population Health Report ; discussion of pertussis outbreak and vaccinations and lyme disease (18.25 Min)
15.25 Min. - Discussion of Fair - Mr. Litke will be there and staff will be there every day; discussion of reimbursing staff for lunch.
20.18 Min. - Environmental Health Report - Mr. Lark discussed public meetings regarding the Operation and Maintenance Program; He stated GPH expects to inspect all 1800 NPDES systems; in two more years, they will be inspecting 40,000 systems. Variance fees will be going down and this will require Board approval. (25.02 min.)
Administrator’s Report
26 Min. HB 110 - Adam Litke remarked that they are getting things set up to pay back the refunds to those who paid for inspections and did not receive them. See prior report from April 26, 2023
27 Min. - Covid Guidance: The Geauga Public Health Board voted to approve a new summary of Covid guidance for schools. The link to view this School Covid Guidance is on the Geauga Public Health facebook page here. One paragraph includes the following statement: “ The decision-making autonomy of families should be respected. GPH affirms the reversion to a pre-pandemic education and community experiences and discourages - in the strongest possible terms - the resumption of any prior COVID-19 school restrictions.”
33 Min. - Rent at new County Office Building: Mr. Litke presented information to the Board concerning rent for their offices in the New County Office Building. He stated that it was $8.00/sq foot which would be $58,000 annually and that they had no advance notice of this amount. He relayed that he had tried to get a figure for rent at least 6 months prior to moving in but that no amount was given to him. Geauga Public Health was not charged for rent at their prior county building at 470 Center Street, Chardon. Ms. Brakey stated that she had been concerned prior to the move since they didn’t have a lease agreement. Alternatives were discussed by Mr. Litke which included the possibility of making their space more efficient by having staff work from home to reduce their footprint. He also said that paying this amount would mean not hiring additional staff should they need to do that. Board members stated their objections to the rate and the late notice, stating that this amount was nothing like what they expected. County Departments do not pay rent. Ms. Roman expressed her frustration that the county had not provided any information when asked to do so before the move and that there had been no collaboration in the design of the space. The Board took no action but stated that they would be looking at alternatives although no definitive direction was given. Ms. Roman suggested a special meeting with County administrators to talk about this. Dr. Rood also objected to paying for space that does not work efficiently for Geauga Health. Mr. Litke suggested a meeting with the County Administrator team and himself, Ms. Roman and Dr. Hendrikson.
56 Min. - Parkman Wells: Mr. Lark said they are working on a map of those that are not “clean.”
58 Min. - Financials: Appropriation changes for lab fees for Operation and Maintenance. There was a concern expressed by Ms. Brakey about legal fees, which were not presented to the public but were referenced as being a lot of Then and Now’s, which are expenses not previously authorized. There was also a discussion by Mr. Litke about an ongoing court case, but the case itself was not referenced.
Financials approved.
107 Min. - Health Commissioner’s Report (Commissioner not present): Mr. Litke said there was a potential meeting in Washington DC that might be important. There was a question about accreditation and there will be an update next month.
Committee Meeting reports - none
Old Business
103 Min. - Financial Report Action: Resolution to accept financial report - approved and
Resolution to appropriate $30,000 - approved
55.19 Min. Geauga Public Health Levy Review
Mr. Litke has touched base with Mr Piraino, who is leading the effort on the Levy.
109 Min. -Executive session to discuss pending litigation at 5:55 pm
139 Min. Resumption of meeting at 6:26 pm. Ms. Brakey stated no action to be taken following the Executive Session.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:27 pm
Next regular meeting: September 27, 2023 at 5 pm. All meetings at Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite B303, Chardon, OH.
More Information: Geauga Public Health
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Anne Ondrey
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