Treasurer’s Request Sparks Discussion and Senior Center Property Negotiations Hit a Snag
Board of County Commissioners - June 18, 2024
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 am on Tuesday, June 18, 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 and at the meeting.
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 Spidalieri, James Dvorak, and Timothy Lennon. Also present were County Administrator Gerald Morgan, Assistant County Administrator Linda Burhenne, Finance Manager Adrian Gorton, and Commissioners' Clerk Christine Blair.
County Representatives: Shane Hajjar, PE, Deputy Engineer; Glen Vernick, Maintenance Director; Jessica Boalt, Director, Department on Aging, and Craig Swenson, Director, Job and Family Services.
Others in Attendance: Adam Litke, Administrator, Geauga Public Health; Carolyn Brakey, County Commissioner Candidate and Geauga Public Health Board member; Tom Jones, Diane Jones, other members of the public, the press and this LWV observer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Minutes: Minutes were submitted and approved from the meetings on May 14 and May 21, 2024. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through June 18, 2024, for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved minutes. Approved BOCC Minutes are posted online here through April 9, 2024.
Administrator’s Report
Mr. Morgan received approval for the following:
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Appropriation transfer from Miscellaneous to a fund to pay Attorney Todd Raskin
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Approved a promotion in the Office on Aging
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Approved an increase in current posting for Recreational/Educational Assistant to 3 positions in the Department of Aging
Mr. Lennon asked about the payment to Mr. Todd Raskin. Mr. Morgan said that the payment went to the law firm but in this case, Mr. Raskin was being employed in his individual capacity and not through his law firm. As a result, they had to track down that payment and reissue it as an individual payment. His services were Attorney’s fees for representing the county witnesses at the Judge Timothy Grendell ethics hearing. Mr. Lennon wanted to know how much was paid to the attorney who was representing the county witnesses for the Grendell hearing. Mr. Morgan said he would find out.
Financial Report
Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Supplemental appropriation to the Treasurer for a payroll increase (see below).
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Then and Now for Attorney Carly Snavely for 2022 indigent counsel fees.
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Purchase Order from Maintenance to Meridian Construction Services, Inc., for the basement project for the Auditor’s office.
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Vouchers:
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$588,901.88 from the Commissioners to Infinity Construction for payment request #8 for the Courthouse Construction project
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$86,814 to Tim Lally Chevrolet for the purchase of 2 vehicles for the Sheriff’s Dept.
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$51,796 to Ganley Chevrolet for a 2024 vehicle for the Sheriff’s Dept.
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$49,995 from Water Resources to Junction Auto for a GMC truck to replace one going to auction
Mr. Lennon asked about the payroll increase above for a suggested raise for Chief Deputy Treasurer, Caroline Mansfield. Mr. Lennon said he saw an email request from the Treasurer. Mr. Gorton said that it appeared the Treasurer was looking for about a $9/hour increase for Ms. Mansfield, which would bring the total to $42/hour. Mr. Gorton stated that many deputy salaries were above Ms. Mansfield’s salary. He said that prior to this raise, there were Deputies getting $15/hour more than Ms. Mansfield.
This request elicited a 20-minute discussion led by Commissioner Lennon concerning the merits of this increase and about the increased pay of other county employees at the deputy or higher levels. He pointed to the fact that the Commissioners had agreed to several standard raises in the past several years (5%, 3% and 3% again for 2025). He stated his belief that many people were getting more than this amount.
Mr. Lennon also said that in his opinion, the Treasurer should have come to the Commissioners in person to make this request. Mr. Gorton said the Treasurer was out of the country.
Mr. Spidalieri said that “our treasurer is almost never here.” He also said, “...to his admission, I said to him, Treasurer Hitchcock, ‘you’re never here’ and he said, ‘I’m not.’” Mr. Spidalieri expressed the opinion that Ms. Mansfield does a great job. He stated that “...at the end of the day, Caroline (Mansfield) is the person who is really doing the job.”
Mr. Lennon wanted to know how salaries of other employees in the Treasurer’s Office compare to others at those levels in the county. Mr. Gorton said there is parity for the other people in the office.
Mr. Gorton said that the Treasurer budgeted very conservatively so anything that he needed, such as this raise, had to come before the Commissioners.
Mr. Spidalieri again said he supports this action for Ms. Mansfield.
It was acknowledged that Ms. Burhenne was working on a pay grade analysis.
The raise was approved, along with the rest of the financial report.
The Airport Authority received approval for Partial Payment #1 for Kenny Hoar Construction Company for the Hangar One Improvement Project in the amount of $134,754.40.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval to execute the Unit Price Contract with CMG Contracting, LLC, for the Embankment Stabilization of Gem Road bridge in Chester Township and the Embankment Stabilization of the Bundysburg Road Bridge in Parkman Township in the amount of $129,980. Mr. Lennon asked what area this concerned and was told that it was the area down river from the bridge.
The Department on Aging received approval to advertise for the position of Social Services Worker (#1022). This position will remain posted until filled. Ms. Boalt, Director of the Department on Aging, stated that this position was on the organizational chart.
The Maintenance Department received approval for the following:
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To reject the Bid from Best Commercial Energy Services, Inc., in response to the Geauga County 2024-2027 County Office Building HVAC Maintenance Project Bid Solicitation, as they provided an invalid convertible bid bond.
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To award the Bid to Air Force One for the Geauga County 2024-2027 County Office Building HVAC Maintenance Project as they represented the next lowest and best bid in the amount of $19,333.00 for 2024-2025, $19,931.00 for 2025-2026, $20,547.00 for 2026-2027 and for service at the labor rates for 2024-2027 in a not to exceed amount of $50,000.00 for a total (not to exceed) amount of $109,211.00. Mr. Vernick, Maintenance Director, stated that he added $50,000 to this project in case it is needed.
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To reject the Bid from Best Commercial Energy Services, Inc., in response to the Geauga County 2024-2027 South HVAC Maintenance Project Bid Solicitation, as they provided an invalid convertible bid bond. Mr. Vernick said this would cover all the south area including the Dog Warden, Emergency Services, West Geauga Senior Center and the Patterson Center.
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To accept the bid to S.A. Comunale Company, Inc., for the Geauga County 2024-2027 South HVAC Maintenance Project as they represented the next lowest and best bid in the amount of $14,520.00 for 2024-2025, $14,955.00 for 2025-2026, $15,406.30 for 2026-2027 and for service at the labor rates for 2024-2027 in a not to exceed amount of $50,000.00 for a total (not to exceed) amount of $94,881.00.
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To approve hiring of an individual to the position of Custodian (#1906) to be effective July 8, 2024, at the rate of $17.61 per hour (Grade 5, Step 5) with a one-year probationary period. Mr. Vernick stated that they are still short 3 custodians.
Mr. Lennon asked about the Maintenance project in the Annex. Mr. Lennon said there was a recent Ohio Attorney General’s opinion that other offices trying to budget for projects should go through the Commissioners. Mr. Vernick confirmed that this project is all going through Maintenance and the Commissioners..
The Commissioners’ Office received approval to execute the Participation Agreement with the County Risk Sharing Authority Inc. (CORSA) for the period May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2027 and further acknowledge the Insurance Program Renewal and payment of $470,928.00 for the period
May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025. Mr. Dvorak asked by what percentage this was up from last year. Ms. Blair said that the prior year there had been an amendment so the total had been $402,000 last year, but with amendment it was more than that. Mr. Morgan also said that this year’s increase was “not a whole lot.”
The Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) had requested the Board move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the compensation of public employees. However, it was stated that this Executive Session was no longer necessary. The topic was stated to be the JFS salary schedule.
Items not on the Agenda:
Department on Aging acquisition of Dollar General - Mr. Lennon asked about the contract to purchase the Dollar General to become the site of a new Senior Center in Chardon. It was stated that an outside attorney from Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LP, had been hired to assist with the negotiations, as this type of real estate transaction is specialized. Ms. Burhenne said it had been 8 months of negotiations. It was discussed that the hold up seems to be a $50,000 non-refundable fee that the Prosecutor’s Office didn’t want to approve because it was non-refundable. Ms. Burhenne said they are trying to find “a work around.”
Geauga Public Library - re-appointment of Board Trustee Josh Hutchison. He was re-appointed to a 7-year term. One of the Commissioners asked why the term was so long, and it was said that the terms were in the library bylaws.
Mental Health and Recovery Board - There was a discussion about appointments to the Mental Health and Recovery Board and the potential change to the size of the Board. See Observer Reports for BOCC for June 3, 2024 and MHRB for May 29, 2024 for more information. Observer Note: Changing the size of the MHRB Board from 14 to 12 would change the balance of the Board, as then 8 members would be appointed by the BOCC and 4 by the State Mental Health Board (MHAS). Presently there are 14 members, with 8 appointed by the BOCC and 6 by the State.
Mr. Morgan said that one of the Commissioners has to go to a MHRB meeting, and Mr. Spidalieri offered to go. He asked when the next Board meeting would be held, and Mr. Morgan said he would find out. All the Commissioners spoke in favor of reducing the size of the MHRB Board.
Geauga/Trumbull Juvenile Detention Center - Mr. Lennon asked if they had gotten the check from Trumbull County for the money due to Geauga. He also asked what was happening in regard to the 22.5% that Geauga had put into the Detention Center. There was no report from Mr. Morgan on this. Observer Note: The Commissioners approved withdrawing from the Juvenile Detention Center in a coordinated series of contracts with Lake County, Richland County and Portage County. See Observer Report for BOCC meeting of May 21, 2024.
Mr. Lennon said, “let’s move this along.”
Public Comment: Ms. Brakey spoke up to say that the next meeting of the MHRB will be Wednesday, June 26 at 6 pm.
Meeting adjourned.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: The next two meetings following this meeting will be June 25, 2024 and July 2, 2024 both at 9:30 am at the Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 6/25/2024
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