Board of County Commissioners - May 16, 2023
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)met at 9:30 AM on May 16, 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.
Attendance: Commissioners James Dvorak, Timothy Lennon, and Ralph Spidalieri were all present. Also present were Commissioner’s Clerk Christine Blair, Deborah Ashburn, senior fiscal specialist, and County Administrator Gerard Morgan. Attorney Amily Imbrogno of Meyers, Roman Friedberg and Lewis arrived just prior to the Executive Session.
County Representatives (having issues on the agenda): Jessica Boalt, Director, Department on Aging.
Others in Attendance: Adam Litke, Geauga Public Health Administrator; Caroline Brakey, President, Geauga Public Health Board; Chris Alusheff, President, Health District Advisory Council and Claridon Township Zoning Inspector; Ron Leyde, Chief Deputy Auditor; Joan A. Windnagel and Nancy B. McArthur, Board of Elections; Members of the press from Geauga Maple Leaf, Chagrin Valley Times and Cleveland.com; Members of the public, Diane Jones.
Minutes - none submitted for approval. The most recent approved minutes are from the March 14, 2023 meeting. Approved BOCC Minutes are available online or by request to Commissioners Clerk Christine Blair. Reviewer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available for information purposes but are not substitutes for BOCC Minutes.
County Administrator report - Mr. Morgan, County Administrator, reported on the following actions that he took pursuant to the authority granted to him by the County Commissioners:
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Approved a hiring in the Department on Aging.
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Approved contract with Maintenance with Auburn Fence in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for a 3-year period for needed repairs or installations.
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Approved an unpaid leave of absence for David Osborne, Operations Manager, and extended his probationary period in Water Resources (May 25-26, 2023) Observer Note: Mr. Osborne was a retire/rehire. See Maple Leaf.
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Agreed with Bainbridge Twp not to require a liquor license hearing for Aldi’s in Chagrin Falls.
Financials - the following were presented by Deborah Ashburn. She noted that Finance Director Gorton will be at the meeting next week. The following were approved:
Appropriations and Supplemental increases
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Appropriations transfer to the Sheriff’s office for miscellaneous refunds and reimbursements that were deposited in the General Fund.
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Appropriations transfer to the Sheriff’s office for the cost of hiring the resource officer for the County Office Building and for bunk beds in the Safety Center.
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Supplemental for increases to ADP for upcoming purchases of equipment and contract services
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Supplemental transfer to Capital Reserve Fund for 2019 Phase One potential future change orders and for 2021 Phase Two upcoming encumbrances.
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Supplemental Community Development for demolition at Geauga Lakes (previously approved).
Cash transfers
Travel for Water Resources and Probate Court
Purchase Order for Maintenance to Valley Ford Truck for purchase of vehicle
Vouchers
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$10,000 from the Auditor to Company 119 (for video production)
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$23,300 from Water Resources to ADS LLC for temporary flow monitoring study.
The Department on Aging received approval to terminate employee at the level of part-time Recreation and Education Assistant (#1005-1).
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the creation, title and job description for the position of Special Projects Coordinator (#1328) to be effective May 16, 2023, and for a revised Organizational Chart to include the new position of Special Projects Coordinator (#1328) to be effective May 16, 2023. This position will be advertised internally for a period of five days, with applications accepted from May 22, 2023 through 4:30 p.m. on May 26, 2023. If no qualified candidate is found, then advertise externally until the position is filled.
The HR Director said this was a much needed position. It would be a level 12 position with an annual salary of $24.72/per hour. Mr. Dvorak said they had wanted this for three-and-a-half years, but the HR Director said that she didn’t feel it was that long. During the discussion, Mr. Dvorak stated that this person would “help Gerry” (meaning County Administrator Gerry Morgan.)
Not on the Agenda - Motion by Mr. Morgan to suspend the previously passed retroactive 5% pay raise for Mike Kurzinger: APPROVED unanimously.
Observer Note: This pay increase was approved by the Commissioners on May 2nd, then at the May 9th meeting they passed another resolution to clarify the details of the pay increase and that it would be retroactive to January. On May 9th, they also placed Mr. Mike Kurzinger, Water Resources Network Administrator (#2315), on Paid Administrative Leave beginning Friday, May 5, 2023 at 12:00 noon until further notice.
Executive Session - The Board moved into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation. They were joined by attorney Amily Imbrogno of Meyers, Roman, Friedberg and Lewis. Observer Note: This firm represents the Commissioners in a lawsuit filed by the Board of Elections against the Commissioners (Case No. 22M000299) to compel compliance with certain Secretary of State requirements and other specifics of their assigned office space in the new Geauga County Office Building.
The Board re-entered open session at 10:43 AM and announced that no action would be taken. Mr. Morgan stated that this matter will be addressed next week.
Public Comment - Mr. Spidalieri invited questions from the public.
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Mr. Dvorak indicated he wanted to make a comment in public session and stated, “Since the events on May 3rd, very disappointed with the communication to the Commissioners being on the same page as what is going on from the Administrator. Very disappointed. We don’t have the FBI coming in any of our county buildings once a week. This is just a different setting. I think we should be informed about what HR does, a copy of the letter or even have some input in the situation.” Observer Note: As reported by the Chagrin Valley Times/Geauga Times Courier, Geauga Maple Leaf and Cleveland.com, on May 3, 2023 a multi-site raid was carried out by a task force made up of the FBI, Secret Service and Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office. This raid included Department of Resources offices and locations associated with Joe Camino, an IT vendor hired by the Department of Water Resources. BOCC has authority over the Department of Water Resources.
Mr. Morgan responded, “He is permitted to be in the building as this is a public building. He is not permitted into Water Resources facilities unless he is being escorted by Water Resources personnel at all times.”
Mr. Dvorak added, “At the ADP meeting on Thursday, everyone voted yes to pull the credentials for both people Mike Kurzinger and Joe Camino. This was done right after the ADP meeting was over with. So they can’t have network access. Last Tuesday, I wanted that to happen but it didn’t happen until last Thursday after the emergency ADP meeting.” Reviewer Note: For more information about the ADP meeting referred to by Mr. Dvorak, see LWVG Observer Report for May 11, 2023 ADP Emergency Meeting.
Mrs. Jones followed up to ask if this policy would be made public and Mr. Morgan stated that it would after it was approved by the Commissioners in public session.
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here
Next Meeting: Tuesday May 16, 2023 at 9:30 am
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Submitted: May 18, 2023
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