Mental Health Board Reaches Agreement, Releases Adams
After months of in-fighting among board members and numerous behind-closed-doors executive sessions, the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services announced July 7 it would be parting ways with longtime Executive Director Jim Adams.
After months of in-fighting among board members and numerous behind-closed-doors executive sessions, the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services announced July 7 it would be parting ways with longtime Executive Director Jim Adams.
“The Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services agrees with the release and settlement agreement between the board and Mr. Jim Adams,” said board Chair Steve Oluic.
The announcement came at a special meeting, during which board members entered executive session with attorney John McLandrich, of Mazanec, Raskin and Ryder, who represented the board for the insurance company. The executive session ended after approximately an hour, with the motion being called regarding the release and settlement in public session.
Attending board members voted unanimously in favor of the release and settlement agreement. They included Ann Bagley, Alberta Chokshi, Skip Claypool, Martin Fay, Jimmie Lee Holden, Kathy Johnson, Carolee Lesyk, Jennifer Malainy, Linda Miller, Steve Oluic and Mike Petruziello. Absent were Gregory O’Brien and Mary Ruth Shumway.
Oluic also read four changes to the agreement, which included spelling corrections and more significantly, new phrasing that not only addresses “alleged lost wages,” but also “future wages to be determined” and a clause stating that neither party will make disparaging comments.
Adams, who served as executive director of the mental health board director for almost 35 years, was placed on paid administrative leave in May. At the time, board members voted 9-1 in favor of the leave. Voting in favor were: Jennifer Malainey, 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. The four board members who were absent were Ann Bagley, Vanessa Jensen, Carolee Lesyk and Linda Miller.
To date, no reason has been given by the mental health board as to why Adams was placed on paid administrative leave nor why they sought to relieve Adams of his duties.
In response to a public records request seeking a copy of the settlement agreement, in a July 11 email the board stated, “since the parties have not yet reached a finalized agreement, there are no records that satisfy your request.”
This article will be updated with more details as they become available.
