GPD Lacks Transparency
Likely many of you folks saw the paid ad by Todd C. Hicks, Esq., of Thrasher Dismore & Dolan in newspapers recently. Ironically, at the top of the ad was the statement: “Paid Advertisement.”
In the spirit of transparency, I say ironic because in at least one newspaper, although one might guess that TDD paid for the ad, it was actually paid for by the Geauga Park District. You guessed it . . . our tax dollars!
Mr. Hicks criticizes our county Auditor Charles E. Walder, who has been a leading advocate and practitioner of transparency in pointing out wasteful and/or possibly illegal spending in county agencies and, in particular, the probate court and Geauga Park District. Check out the auditor’s website “Public Transparency” section and see for yourself.
Mr. Hicks has the nerve to demand that Mr. Walder remove the “new tab” from his site. I say nerve because Mr. Hicks has been at the forefront in representing the park district at park commissioners meetings and in their executive sessions, many of which have clearly been, in my view, in violation of Ohio’s Sunshine Laws. The Ohio Revised Code clearly states what items of discussion are allowed in executive sessions. If Mr. Hicks does not have a copy of the ORC or has difficulty reading, I’d be glad to meet with him and point out the allowed items to be discussed in such sessions.
Geauga Park District continues to be in the forefront of lacking transparency. They still are the only park district in Ohio that does not allow questions or comments at park commissioners meetings. Could it be they would not like to see such questions or comments become part of the official records of the meeting and, thus, their likely lack of an intelligent response would be front and center for the public to see.
Not exactly “in the spirit of transparency” is it?
John G. Augustine
Parkman Township
Township Administrator, Give Me a Break
Trustees Craig Richter, Ken Radtke, Joe Mazzurcco and Fiscal Officer Patricia Jarrett are in the process of hiring a “township administrator” to do their job.
Patricia Jarrett emailed, “I am a Certified Public Accountant and only making 32k a year as a Fiscal Officer. Out in the real world I would make 135,000 a year.”
She also wrote, “You can’t live on what the elected are being paid at township level. . .”
They all aggressively campaigned for their posts, now it’s not enough pay and too much work?
Jarrett stated, “We are a big township with police, fire, road and zoning in need of management present in the town hall managing the township employees and township business on a daily basis.”
Chief Mark Purchase does not need to be managed. He could train others in departmental management. He’s the most responsible and caring chief we could ask for.
We are unbelievably fortunate to have Fire Chief William J. Shaw managing the Chesterland Fire Department. Have you seen this man’s credentials? He’s a gift.
Road Department Director John Onyshko is in command of his very hard working department and he just presented the best budget planning report, possibly in Chesterland history.
Shamefully, Jarrett stated, “with all the disruption in our Fire Department it is apparent Chester is in need of a good township administrator . . .”
The abuse that our firefighters/EMS suffered for more than 10 years had a devastating emotional impact on the staff. Our township incurred tens of thousands of dollars in cost and many felt that our community safety was jeopardized.
This was never a “disruption,” but ongoing abuse and failed leadership. In my opinion, it was never properly addressed by Craig Richter, Ken Radtke and Joe Mazzurcco, Bob Rogish, Bud Kinney, etc., who repeatedly blamed the high turnover due to low pay.
When pay raises were granted and the levy money kicked in, the revolving door continued, and for the full-time new hires the turnover rate was 90%.
Is dereliction/abdication of duties and malfeasance a reason to justify the need for a township administrator?
Our police chief, fire chief and service director do not need to be monitored and managed, they are performing their jobs exceptionally well.
On the other hand, I feel that Richter, Radtke and especially Mazzurco would benefit greatly from extensive hand holding, life coaching and intendance.
Judy K. Zamlen-Spotts
Chester Township
Unsurprising and Humorous
I find it unsurprising and humorous that Joe Loyd, Chardon’s best known Libertarian and “regular fixture at Chardon [School] Board meetings” disputes the schools’ reconfiguration savings.
He claims the treasurer’s financial report is “full of logical fallacies, suspicious methodologies and incorrect conclusions.” Pretty serious, unfounded accusations, especially since the treasurer reports data to the State regularly.
Mr. Loyd is the same guy that during a past levy campaign refused to get actual details from the district treasurer. He instead claimed to use a screenshot of an old presentation he found online and counted pixels in Photoshop to create his own set of data to disparage the effort.
This is the same person that has hidden behind pseudonyms (think Geauga GOATS and the rebranded Chardon Citizens Who Care on Facebook) to push his anti-public schools views.
The survey claiming to suggest >60% respondents (reported as 177 total) are in favor of returning to the previous district configuration was poorly designed with leading questions that were meant to get the desired result. Unfortunately Mr. Loyd’s methodology is effective with an electorate that has embraced alternative facts and rhetoric filled with fear and anger.
Joe Schultz
Munson Township
Rare Leadership Skills
In looking ahead to the March Republican primary please join me in supporting Jim Dvorak for Geauga County Commissioner. He has the rare leadership skills that inspire others.
I first met Jim years ago when I became involved in Geauga County 4-H. He and Luanne raised four children in the program and, as a longtime advisor, I continue to see him working with and inspiring the youth in our 4-H club.
Jim exemplifies the 4-H pledge, “his head to clearer thinking,” the ability to initiate programs for the benefit of good government; “his heart greater loyalty,” respecting all citizens in our county especially working with the youth in our club; “his hands to larger service,” seeing him working on many civic projects year round; and “his health to better living,” leaving a lasting positive impact on our county.
As we celebrate OHIO 4-H WEEK, please consider casting your vote for a positive leader: Jim Dvorak.
Mary Ray
Munson Township
