Mental Health Board Places Executive Director on Leave
The Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services voted May 4 to place Executive Director Jim Adams on paid administrative leave immediately, following an executive session.
The Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services voted May 4 to place Executive Director Jim Adams on paid administrative leave immediately, following an executive session.
Aimee Martin-D’Arienzo has been named interim executive director. She had previously been the assistant executive director.
Board members voted 9-1, with those in favor including Jennifer Malainy, Steven Oluic, Michael Petruziello, Walter “Skip” Claypool, Mary Fay, Jimmy Lee Holden, Kathy Johnson, Gregory O’Brien and Mary Ruth Shumway. The one dissenting vote came from Alberta Chokshi. Four board members were absent – Ann Bagley, Vanessa Jensen, Carolee Lesyk and Linda Miller.
The details of the board’s action were kept confidential, but Malainy, board chairperson, did respond to a request for comment.
“I cannot comment, but I will say that the board looks forward to a bright future ahead,” Malainy said.
Malainy was also asked about the outcome from a previous resolution by the board, in which they were seeking guidance from Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz regarding obtaining legal counsel related to this matter.
“Mr. Flaiz is the board’s attorney,” Malainy responded.
Adams has been executive director of the mental health board for almost 35 years. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Ohio State University.
In 2011, the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Geauga presented Adams with the Mental Health Heroes Award. He was also named Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter District in 2014. Adams was one of two representatives from Ohio selected to develop standardized mental health outcome measures at the National Research Institute at Harvard University.
Adams also played an integral role in the community following the Chardon High School mass shooting. He developed and implemented a recovery plan for the community. As a result of that work, Adams has presented at national, regional and statewide conferences regarding his research and findings related to school and community response to trauma, crisis preparedness, violence trends and predictability in youth.
When reached Thursday morning, Adams declined to comment at this time. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
