Department Chiefs Dig in to Recover, Repair Image
“This county pulled together. They locked arms.” – Chuck Walder
Ninety days into recovery, the management team at the Geauga County Auditor’s Office is smiling. And laughing. And joking.
It is a notable reversal from the fear and betrayal many felt when word came down last year that their friend and co-worker Stephen Decatur had allegedly embezzled $1.8 million from the county while serving as its information technology director.
The discovery and his subsequent arrest kicked off an investigation in which auditor’s office computers were seized and office procedures and policies analyzed.
That was followed in March by uncertainty about their futures when former county Auditor Frank Gliha resigned and later was charged with and pleaded guilty to five counts of dereliction of duty in office.
While doubt raged, Geauga County Commissioners searched for candidates to fill Gliha’s job the county’s chief fiscal officer. Russell Township Fiscal Officer Charles “Chuck” Walder, who already had filed to challenge Gliha in the May Republican primary election, was tapped for the job and Gliha eventually withdrew his name from the ballot.
Meanwhile, those in charge of finance, operations and technology in the auditor’s office had been keeping the ship afloat for weeks, unsure if they were headed for shipwreck or safe harbor.
Relief warred with trepidation as many wondered about their job security. Some employees left, but the section heads remained.
Walder’s “90 Day Triage” started with a staff reorganization and introduction of many of the 35 members of the department to Walder’s easy-going, common sense approach to dealing with a difficult state of affairs.
Call Me Chuck
Walder set the tone immediately, sending out a memo in which he said, “Please refer to me as Chuck, not Auditor Walder, Mr. Walder, etc.”
Chief Finance Director Ron Leyde said Walder visited with each group to introduce himself and encourage everyone to keep up with their duties, as they had from beginning.
“There was collaboration between the employees from the initial event,” Leyde said, as Walder reassured them changes in the office would be positive.
“When Chuck came into the office, he gave our personnel a very calming explanation,” said Leyde, explaining Walder urged the sections to work together. “It meant the employee were more at ease.”
The new auditor convinced everyone he welcomed their ideas and concerns, and he was able to put smiles on a lot of faces, Leyde said.
As for Walder, his new perspective on life started when he took over the office April 3.
He set up a new organizational chart and brought in former Geauga County Assistant Prosecutor Kate Jacob as chief compliance officer and administrator.
“(This office) never had a legally-trained person vetting contracts,” Walder said, noting Jacob is not the office’s legal counsel.
He had known Jacob when she represented Russell Township as its legal counsel. Having her review the many contracts means less work for the county prosecutor’s staff, Walder said.
Since Decatur’s was removed from the IT department, Al Vontorcik and Allen Keener had held the reins, so it was natural for Walder to promote them to co-directors of the department. The pair had helped throughout the forensic process and determined the system’s vulnerability.
“They got rave reviews from the state auditor,” Walder said.
He also appointed Chris Greenawalt to chief operations officer to deal with property tax systems, licensing and weights and measures.
Pam McMahan’s role changed from being the auditor’s assistant to providing administrative support for the entire office.
“I just operate differently. I moved Pam so she could benefit everybody,” Walder said. “This is about the whole group performing.”
Walder understood the anger and distrust many in the groups felt, and provided access to counseling.
While his direct reports retained their job descriptions, Walder changed parts of his own responsibilities to include goal setter, transparency agent, obstacle remover, external liaison and legal authority.
McMahan said Walder focused on moving forward and avoided any negative comments about Gliha.
“I was fearful about losing my position. Chuck made it clear we were all here to stay and do our jobs,” she said. “He has held true on that. There has been a miraculous change.”
People in the office started communicating better and forged “a real team,” McMahan said.
The change in office attitude is so extreme McMahan said she is still surprised when she comes to work.
“You have to pinch yourself every day,” she said.
Finding the Truth
The shift didn’t come without emotional pain and second-guessing, especially by Vontorcik and Keene, known by most county employees as Al and Allen.
“Our department probably felt the thing the worst,” Vontorcik said. “Steve was our boss.”
Added Keener, “Never in a million years did we dream he’d embezzle money. Steve was a likeable guy.”
Both had worked with Decatur more than 10 years, supporting not just the county offices and some municipalities, but answering confidently to the ADT board that all was well. Little did they know they were being deceived.
When the investigation began, they put their shoulders to the finding the truth.
“The ADT board and elected officials put their trust in us to do what we had to do,” Vontorcik said, explaining they often worked 50 to 60 hours a week, discovering the depth of the county’s vulnerability.
Other departments worked with them through their disillusionment, providing counseling, time to talk things through and even bringing in a therapy dog, Vontorcik said.
The group lost three employees over the months, but they have been replaced and the two said they feel the section is stronger now than ever.
Making the pair co-directors created an automatic succession plan, Walder said.
“Now we are able to capitalize on the interdependence they developed during the problem. It makes the department stronger,” said Walder.
They have come to believe Decatur had isolated groups to enable his alleged theft.
Under the old system, Walder said Decatur had been able to create purchase orders as well as approve paying for them — a fiscally unwise arrangement.
Now the co-directors approve each other’s spending, which insures better checks and balances, Walder said.
Lots of Moving Pieces
Jacob said the changes clearly have improved the atmosphere.
“There’s a lot to do,” she said. “It’s good we are talking the way we are. (The situation) is very complicated. There are a lot of moving pieces.”
Having worked with the auditor’s office, Jacob knew everyone from the outside, but has found learning all the inner-workings interesting.
“This group has been very welcoming,” Walder said of the office’s reception to having her on the team.
He found them to be honest about their reservations and resilient in accepting her.
“They could have built a wall,” he said.
Walder also noted this was not the first time a county department has created a special position for an attorney. The county engineer’s office added a place at the table for attorney Frank Antunicci to handle contracts and oversee other duties.
“We kind of stole his job description,” Walder said.
Assistance from other county offices — treasurer, sheriff, prosecutor, commissioners, courts and engineer — helped the office rally.
“This county pulled together. They locked arms,” he said. “They all could have told (the auditor’s sections) they were on their own.”
Getting the legal issues handled quickly helped the office’s recovery and made it possible for everyone to cope with their anger at the loss of taxpayer dollars.
“(Geauga County Prosecutor) Jim Flaiz is still going after those funds,” Walder said.
So far, insurance has paid out more than $460,000 and there are more avenues to explore, Jacob said.
While there looks like a lot of work ahead, Walder set the stage early for a kinder, friendlier atmosphere of trust and a less stringent workplace.
One of his first memos eliminated timekeeping fobs, assigned parking spaces, the ban on eating and drinking at workspaces, a strict dress code and a bar on personal cell phone usage. He also started the process of disposing of “self-promotion of the auditor’s personal image and name.”
He urged workers to share ideas to improve efficiency or service levels and to use common sense regarding parking, cell phones, etc.
“Above all else, please give yourselves credit for getting through some very difficult times,” Walder said. “Together we will work to rebuild the office image and restore confidence in my position and office.”
