Board of County Commissioners - March 26, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. The 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, but public comment was permitted.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri, James Dvorak and Timothy Lennon. Also present were County Administrator Gerald Morgan, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representatives: Linda Burhenne, Assistant County Administrator; Jessica Boalt, Director, Office on Aging; Kathleen Hostutler, Human Resources Manager; Roger Peterson, Director, Department of Emergency Services; Michael Austin, Department of Emergency Services; Craig Swenson, Executive Director, Job and Family Services; Glen Vernick, Director, and Matthew Sieracki, Coordinator, Maintenance Department; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources; Frank Antenucci, Chief Deputy Administrator, ADP; Kate Jacob, Chief Compliance Officer, Auditor’s Office; Don Rice, Superintendent of the Board of Developmental Disabilities
Others in Attendance: Adam Litke, Geauga Public Health; Reporters from the Chagrin Valley Times and Geauga County Maple Leaf; Diane and Tom Jones, other members of the public, and this observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a prayer was offered by Mr. Dvorak.
Administrator’s Report - Mr. Morgan gave the following report of actions that he took pursuant to authority given to him by the Commissioners and in accordance with ORC.
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Rescinded the motion from March 13, 2024 that approved the hiring for the position of recreation and education assistant for the Department on Aging. This person did not accept the position.
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Approved the retirement resignation of a full-time Driver. This job will be posted.
Minutes: Meeting minutes were submitted for approval from January 18 and January 23, 2024. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through March 26, 2024 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through January 8, 2024.
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Appropriations Transfer from Commissioners Miscellaneous Account to Treasurer's Office Contract Services Account to pay for an increase in investment fees.
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Supplemental from Community Development in their Grant Expense Special Account to prepare for the Encumbrance for the Ace Charter School Grant.
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Cash transfer from General Fund to Sheriff’s Office for Law Enforcement Block Grant Amount for the local match amount in the Bureau of Justice Service and Security Strategies Rural Body Camera, along with $34,000 cash advance to pay for the whole $152,000 purchase price. The General Fund will be reimbursed for the $34,000 once the reimbursement portion is received.
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Then and Now Encumbrances from Water Resources to Treasurer, State of Ohio, for permit fees for Plymouth Acres, Burning Lakes, and Aquilla Village wastewater treatment plants which were not previously encumbered.
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Vouchers:
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$113,370.52 from Engineers office to Morton Salt for road salt
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$48,206.00 from Water Resources to Valley Truck for a new replacement vehicle
A Cost Allocation Plan was presented to the Commissioners. The Cost Allocation Plan is a requirement for any departments that receive federal funding. There is an allocation for all departments, but only those that received federal funding actually get invoiced. Mr. Gorton said that the Prosecutor and Auditor are taking issue with the cost allocation. Mr. Lennon asked for a breakdown of costs from the previous year. Mr. Gorton will provide this information to the Commissioners. Mr. Gorton stated that he has reached out to an outside legal firm for research regarding the claims by the Auditor and Prosecutor and is awaiting a response.
Mr. Gorton expressed concern that, due to the closing of offices on April 8th, he will not have sufficient data and time to review the financials for the meeting on April 9, 2024. It was decided that the County Administrator, Mr. Morgan, will review the financials for the week of April 9th as is permitted under Ohio Revised Code (ORC).
The Department on Aging received approval for the following:
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To authorize the President of the Board to execute the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging contract with the Geauga County Department on Aging for SFY2024 HEAP Outreach program for Geauga Seniors Age 60 and over, for the period March 26, 2024 through August 31, 2024 in the amount of $3,462.38.
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Merit Increase for Elizabeth Oliverio, Information and Referral Assistant, to the rate of $15.95 per hour (Grade 5, Step 2) to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Merit Increase for Michelle (Hering) Warren, Social Services Worker, to the rate of $25.05 per hour (Grade 10, Step 4) to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Merit Increase for David Craig, Recreation and Education Coordinator, to the rate of $24.91 per hour (Grade 11, Step 2) to be effective March 31, 2024.
The Department of Emergency Services received approval for the following:
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The promotion of Michael Austin Rice to the position of Full-time Deputy Director (#1711) to be effective March 31, 2024 at the rate of $31.48 per hour (Grade 14E, Step 4) with a 180-day probationary period.
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Permission to advertise for the position of Planner (#1712). This position will remain posted until filled.
The Department of Job and Family Services received approval to execute Resolution #24-051 Recognizing April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Junction Auto will again be supporting this cause with a kickoff on April 1st.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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Execute the service Contract Agreement with Walls Walls LLC to perform painting services per Director in County Buildings for a two-year period, effective March 26, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00.
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Execute the service Contract Agreement with Burton Carpet Shoppe, Inc., to install flooring throughout the second floor of the Geauga County Courthouse Annex Building, effective March 26, 2024, for a period of 120 days in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00.
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Execute the service Contract Agreement with Knewco, Inc., D.B.A. as Paul Davis Restoration of Cleveland Metro and Akron, to provide restoration services in the event of an emergency for a period of one-year, effective March 26, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00.
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To Advertise for Bids for the Geauga County Parking Lot Repairs to be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on March 28, 2024, April 4, 2024, and on the County website.
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To advertise for Bids for the Geauga County 2024-2026 Cleaning Service Contract to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on April 11, 2024, April 18, 2024, and on the County website.
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To advertise for Bids for the Geauga County Window and Glass Cleaning Services to be held on May 8, 2024 at 2:10 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on April 11, 2024, April 18, 2024, and on the County website.
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Proposal submitted by TEC, Inc., for the design and Management of the Geauga County Courthouse Annex Generator Upgrade and will provide schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding / negotiation, and construction administration services in the amount of $28,000.00.
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Remove / abolish the position of Technology Maintenance (#1918) to be effective March 26, 2024.
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increase in the number of positions for Senior Trades Mechanic (#1905) from four to five positions, to be effective March 26, 2024.
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Revised Title and Job Description including a Re-Grade for the position of Custodian I (#1906) to Custodian (#1906) to a Grade 5 to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Title Change to Custodian (#1906) for employees David Alexander, Jeff Slater, Jamie Citriglia, and Matthew Bikulic and the Re-Grade for a Pay Rate Adjustment to Grade 5, Step 5 at the rate of $17.61 per hour to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Pay Rate Adjustment for Maintenance Workers (#1904) Paul Ovark, Gary Merker, James Wiech, and Jerry Tayerle to Grade 6, Step 5 at a rate of $19.28 per hour to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Pay Rate Adjustment for Senior Trades Mechanics (#1905) Shaun Strand, Connor Loza, and Ken Kovach to Grade 7, Step 6 at a rate of $21.54 per hour to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Pay Rate Adjustment for General Communications Clerk / Switchboard Operators (#1912) Kim Monturi and (#1912-1) Joan Staley to Grade 3, Step 7 at a rate of $15.13 per hour to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Pay Rate Adjustment for Administrative Coordinator (#1914) Tammy Kuhn to Grade 7, Step 4 at a rate of $20.26 per hour to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Pay Rate Adjustment for Fiscal and Budget Officer (#1921) Suzanne Sotkovsky to Grade 11, Step 3 at a rate of $25.79 to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Revised Organizational Chart to remove the Technology Maintenance position, increase the number of Senior Trades Mechanics, and the changes to Custodian (#1906) to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Mr. Vernick stated that this has been an ongoing plan for restructuring and, with the help of Job and Family Services, wage adjustments. Mr. Lennon expressed he is comfortable with this plan as it has been hard to find and maintain maintenance employees. Mr. Dvorak questioned the percentage of wage increase. Mr. Vernick will provide the information on the increases.
The Department of Water Resources received approval for the following:
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Execute the service Contract Agreement with Firehouse 8 Extinguisher Service, LLP, to perform Fire Extinguisher Services and Testing for a period of one-year effective March 26, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $4,000.00.
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Execute the service Contract Agreement with Jamison Well Drilling to perform Well Maintenance Services, as needed at various locations within the department for a period of one-year effective March 26, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00.
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Execute the Application for Authorization to Permit the Use of County Credit Cards for the Year 2024 to add Robert Carter, McFarland Chief Operator, to the Home Depot Commercial Credit Account with a not to exceed per month amount of $1,000.00.
The Commissioner’s Office received approval for the following:
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Execute the Request for Partial Payment #6 for Infinity Construction Company for the Geauga County Courthouse Expansion GMP #1 and #2 expenses in the amount of $397,078.50.
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Accept the Statement of Qualifications submitted for Professional Design Services for the Chardon Senior Center Renovation Project from Strollo Architects, ThenDesign Architects and SIXMO Architecture and further grant permission to Request Proposals from these three firms with the deadline for acceptance at 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2024. Proposals will be presented in May.
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Approve a Merit Increase for Gina Hofstetter, Director, Community and Economic Development, to the rate of $37.17 per hour (Grade E15, Step 4) to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Approve a Merit Increase for Roger Petersen, Director, Department of Emergency Services, to the rate of $38.31 per hour (Grade E15, Step 5) to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Approve a Merit Increase for Kelly Bidlack, Human Resources Specialist, to the rate of $24.91 per hour (Grade 11E, Step 2) to be effective March 31, 2024.
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Approve a Merit Increase for Christine Blair, Commissioners’ Clerk, to the rate of $29.12 per hour (Grade 11E, Step 7) to be effective March 31, 2024.
An update was presented by Mr. Rice regarding the loss of tax-exempt status of County-owned property housing the Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Ms. Burhenne presented a timeline of events. See LWVGeauga Observer Report for January 30, 2024 for details. Discussion followed, with Mr. Lennon expressing that the Commissioners will have to get approval ahead of time for all leases going forward. He said that this will require waiting on the decision by the State. He questioned Kate Jacob, a representative from the Auditor’s Office, about the hold up on submitting the application to the State. Ms. Jacob stated that they are working on their final review and will submit their recommendations shortly. Mr. Spidalieri questioned why it went from taxing the split parcel to the entire property. Ms. Jacob asked for them to review the memo that was sent to the Board. Mr. Morgan explained that they are also proceeding with a “dual track” and will also be appealing to the Board of Revision regarding the amount due. There was a motion approved for Mr. Morgan to appeal the taxes to the Board of Revision. Reviewer Note: The deadline for appealing 2023 taxes was April 1, 2024.
Items not on agenda:
Mr. Morgan would like to send a letter to ADP regarding their occupancy of conference room 332. The Board would like for ADP to vacate the room so that it can be utilized by any and all departments. Observer Note: This matter was discussed previously at the March 13 BOCC Meeting. Mr. Morgan gave background on the situation. ADP initially used the conference room to set up the phone system for that building. Since then, they have set up the phone systems for all County buildings. Frank Antennuci was there as the representative from ADP, and Mr. Lennon inquired as to what is the holdup on why they are still there. Mr. Antennuci stated that they are still using it for a staging area and to store the equipment in a secure place. Mr. Lennon said they had to start looking for a different space and emphasized that ADP cannot continue to use the space that was designed as a conference room for all departments.Discussion followed as to different areas that could be used. Mr. Antennuci said that once the letter was received by the ADP Board that he would do whatever the Board directed him to do.
Public Comment was solicited, but none was offered.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15am.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: Reviewer Note: At the time of this March 28 BOCC Meeting, the next meeting was on April 2, 2024 at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, Ohio. There will be a separate report on this meeting. The next meeting following April 2 will be April 9, 2024 at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Mary Heintzelman
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 4/3/24
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