Board of County Commissioners - January 8, 2024 - Regular and Organizational Meeting
Meeting Details: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met at 9:30 AM on Monday, January 8, 2024 at the County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Room B303, Chardon, OH. Meetings are typically on Tuesdays, but this meeting was a required Organizational Meeting as well as a Regular Meeting and was scheduled on this date to ensure a quorum. 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, but public comment was permitted.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Attendance: Present were Commissioners James Dvorak, Ralph Spidalieri 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; Andrew Haupt, PE, PS, Chief Deputy Engineer and Shane Hajjar, Engineer; Nick Gorris, Director, Water Resources; Kelly Bidlack, Human Resources Specialist and Elaine Malkamaki, Project Director Community and Economic Development.
Others in Attendance: Carolyn Brakey, Board President, Geauga Public Health, Reporters from the Chagrin Valley Times and Geauga Courier, Tom and Diane Jones, other members of the public and this observer.
The Department of Emergency Services received approval for three encumbrances effective January 1, 2024. These had to be redone due to a glitch in the paperwork.
Financial Report: Mr. Gorton received approval for the following:
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Supplemental from Auditor’s Office for ARPA (American Rescue Act) appropriations for 2024
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Cash transfers from Common Pleas Court from the Probation Fund to the new Community Corrections Act Fund
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Contracts for Emergency Services mentioned above.
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Vouchers:
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$61,390 From the Commissioners to Infinity Construction for Payment Request # 1 for the County Courthouse expansion project
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$40,610 from the Engineer’s to S G Chevrolet LLC for a 2024 Chevy pick up truck
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$36,300 from Maintenance to Gardiner Service Company for a new boiler for the Safety Center
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$135,183.19 from the Sheriff’s Office to Motorola Solutions for the annual service and support
Minutes: There were no meeting minutes submitted for approval. Observer Comment: Weekly LWVG Observer Reports for BOCC are available online through January 8, 2024 for informational purposes but are not substitutes for approved BOCC minutes. BOCC minutes are posted through September 26, 2023.
The County Engineer’s Office received approval for the following:
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To undertake Projects using Force Account in certain cases for Year 2024.
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To execute Resolution #24-010 to Order the Asphalt Resurfacing of Bell Street (CH-0010, Sections D-F) in Newbury Township. This includes approval to execute the Title Sheet of the Specifications for this project. Further, this Resolution sets a Bid Opening on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Engineer’s Office using Bid Express. This Bid Opening will be advertised on January 11, 2024 in the regular methods for notification and on the County website.
Department of Community and Economic Development received approval for the following:
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To reappoint the following members to the Revolving Loan Fund and Local Revolving Loan Fund Committees for a two-year term January 8, 2024 through December 31, 2025: Caroline Mansfield (Alternate: Chris Hitchcock), Lisa Briggs, Lindsay Crombie and a Commissioner with Alternate
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To appoint Kathy Shimer to the Revolving Loan Fund and Local Revolving Loan fund Committees for a two year term, January 8, 2024 through December 31, 2025
The Department of Job and Family Services received approval for the following:
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To re-appoint the following members to the Family Services Planning Committee for a one-year term, January 8, 2024 through December 31, 2024: Jessica Boalt, Vicki Clark, Julie Gorenc, Scott Hildenbrand, Tim Kehres, Jennifer Felker (Alternate – Nancy Santilli), Teri Malnar, Gerry Morgan, Andrea Pollack and Angela Spalsbury.
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To appoint Kristine Frankenberry to the Family Services Planning Committee for a one-year term, January 8, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
The Department of Water Resources received approval to advertise for Bids for the Aquilla Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project to be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 2:15 p.m. Notice of this Bid Opening will be advertised on January 11, 2024 in the regular methods for notification and on the County website.
The Commissioners’ Office received approval for the following:
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To execute the 2024 CEBCO Wellness Grant Agreement to promote employee health and wellness lifestyles in the amount of $15,090.00 from Program Funds and $4,000.00 from Administrative Funds.
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To execute the Ohio Department of Taxation, Application for Real Property Tax Exemption and Remission for Permanent Parcel No. 06-707463, located at 11088 Thwing Road, Chardon, Ohio.
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To cancel the session on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 due to a lack of quorum.
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To close the Geauga County Offices, under the hiring authority of the Board of Commissioners, on Friday, November 29, 2024 in light of the Thanksgiving Holiday, as paid time off for regular scheduled employees up to eight hours (non-active work status time). Twenty-four hour operations will continue to operate as normal. Further, those employees required to work on November 29, 2024 will be entitled to overtime pay in addition to their regular pay for actual hours worked.
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To authorize County Administrator Gerard Morgan to execute an Agreement with Todd Hoffmeyer, Top Choice Home Inspections, to perform a Commercial Building Inspection of the Chase Building at a cost not to exceed $2,374.00.
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To approve a request to the County Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecutor to request an opinion from the Ohio Attorney General (OAG) as to whether the Geauga County Health District (GCHD) is a regular general health district or a combined general health district since GCHD provides general health services for the City of Chardon (in addition to the other townships and municipalities in Geauga County). The Prosecutor further requests the OAG’s opinion on whether GCHD is acting improperly by providing general health services to the City of Chardon without a contract.
Annual Organizational meeting.
Observer Note: There were only a few copies of the Resolutions for this Organizational Meeting and none were available to the press or this Observer.
The Following actions were taken:
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The BOCC chose to maintain the current organizational structure with Commissioners Spidalieri and Dvorak remaining as President and Vice President respectively.
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The Commissioners set meeting times and dates for Tuesdays at 9:30; if there is a holiday, the meeting will move to Thursday.
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The Commissioners reappointed Gerry Morgan as County Administrator, with Mr. Dvorak voting not to re-appoint. Mr. Lennon and Spidalieri voted in favor.
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The Commissioners reappointed Christine Blair as Commissioners’ Clerk and each of the Directors of the Departments under the commissioners’ hiring authority.
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The Commissioners agreed on which of them would represent the Commissioners on various boards and committees and agreed on selection of alternates as follows:
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Board of Revision - Mr. Dvorak (Mr. Spidalieri alternate)
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ADP - Mr. Lennon (Mr. Dvorak alternate)
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Family First - Mr. Lennon (Mr. Spidalieri alternate)
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Financial Review Board - Mr. Spidalieri (Mr. Lennon alternate)
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Solid Waste - Mr. Dvorak (Mr. Lennon alternate, then Mr. Hajjer and Ms. Burhenne)
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NOACA - All Commissioners are listed but each have alternates: Mr. Dvorak (alternate Nick Gorris), Mr. Lennon (alternate Shane Hajjer and then Linda Burhenne as second alternate), and Mr. Spidalieri (alternate Andrew Haupt and then Joe Cattell as second alternate)
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President of the Commissioners (Mr. Spidalieri) is the required person for many committees, such as the Courthouse Advisory Committee.
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Financial Review and Report Committee - Mr. Spidalieri (Mr. Lennon alternate)
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Geauga Solid Waste Policy - Mr. Spidalieri (Mr. Dvorak alternate)
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Planning - All three Commissioners are on the Planning Commission; next week they will choose alternates
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Clerk - Debbie Ashburn will be the alternate for Christine Blair in the event that Ms. Blair is unable to attend Board of Commissioners meetings.
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Commissioners authorized delegated powers under ORC 305.30 (27 items) to Mr. Gerald Morgan.
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Prevailing Wage Coordinators will continue to be Nick Gorris and Shane Hajjer.
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Financial - Debbie Ashburn will again serve as the alternate for Adrian Gorton as needed at Commissioner’s meetings and appearances at other meetings.
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Staff and Directors were authorized as credit card users according to past practice.
Public Comment - The opportunity for the public to comment was given, but there were no comments made.
The Commissioners’ Office moved into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the dismissal of a public employee at the Department on Aging at 10:14 am.
Return from Executive Session at 11:13am. Mr. Dvorak was not at the meeting at this point.
The Commissioners, using three Resolutions, approved an involuntary disability separation for an individual in the Office on Aging
Mrs. Diane Jones asked for confirmation that this was one individual (with three Resolutions). That was confirmed by Mr. Spidalieri.
Meeting Adjourned
More Information and Posted Minutes: Available here.
Next Regular Meeting of the BOCC: Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 9:30 am.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor & Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 01/15/24
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