Geauga Commissioners Meeting Gets Tense Over Pay And Parking Responsibility
BY JEFF SKINNER
CHARDON - The Geauga County Board of Commissioners flatly rejected an aggressive salary restructuring proposal from the county treasurer’s office during a contentious meeting, exposing what officials characterized as a severe communication breakdown within the department.
The pay dispute took center stage as commissioners voiced deep frustration over a surprise letter sent directly by treasury employees, bypassing typical budget channels and standard professional decorum. The board ultimately held the line on county raises, countering with a strict cap and shifting blame back onto leadership within the treasury department.
The friction dates back to a meeting when commissioners hosted the county treasurer and deputy treasurer for what was initially perceived as a productive discussion regarding department compensation. However, the situation quickly soured the following day when commissioners received a joint letter penned directly by the treasury staff.
Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri expressed deep disappointment over the maneuver, revealing that when he contacted Treasurer Caroline on Friday, she was completely unaware her staff had even sent the correspondence.
"There's obviously some major communication breakdowns in that office," Spidalieri said, noting the incident "left a bad taste in my mouth" regarding further one-on-one negotiations.
Spidalieri formally outlined the board's position in a written response to the treasurer’s office, stating he would support no more than a 5% salary increase. When combined with a 3% raise already approved for county workers earlier this year, the adjustment would cap total salary bumps at 8%.
The commissioner strongly critiqued the treasurer's failure to request these salary updates during the standard annual budget hearings, blasting the department for forcing the board into an administrative corner.
"I don't feel that it's fair to the commissioner's office and the commissioners to be put in a position to do this cleanup of salaries," Spidalieri stated, adding that pay tracking "should have been monitored by the elected official of that office" over time.
Spidalieri also pointed to public pushback on social media from county residents who were widely unsupportive of an aggressive salary change. He defended current county compensation by highlighting a robust benefits package that outpaces the private sector, including 15 paid sick days, 12 to 15 paid holidays, competitive medical packages, and an Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) pension that frequently allows employees to earn dual retirement alongside traditional Social Security. He added that professionals in the private commercial banking industry who handle massive volumes of money daily are making significantly less than current county treasury rates.
Commissioner Carolyn Brakey agreed that the employees' direct letter felt inappropriate, though he acknowledged that the staff "advocated for themselves quite well" compared to previous arguments. The board ultimately opted to leave treasury funding unchanged for the time being as the department conducts further research.
In another major fiscal pivot, the board halted a proposed expansion of the Geauga County Office Building parking lot. Charles Tukatch of the maintenance department presented a request for $49,000 to cover professional design and contract administration services from Verdantis LLC. The engineering slice was intended to kick off a wider construction project estimated to cost taxpayers roughly $400,000 to add between 60 and 100 new spaces.
Commissioners aggressively challenged the necessity of the expenditure, citing data from a recent parking study conducted by Chardon City Manager Ben Young. Young’s study revealed that while residents frequently complain of parking shortages around Chardon Square, physical counts proved there was ample parking available, but motorists simply had to shift where they chose to park.
Board members argued the $450,000 project could not be justified if the extra spaces would only be fully utilized once every four years during a presidential election. Commissioners also noted that the lot remains largely empty on weekends during peak election windows because standard county employees are not working.
Furthermore, Spidalieri raised concerns over long-term maintenance liabilities, pointing out that a larger lot brings recurring taxpayer costs for asphalt resurfacing and winter snowplowing.
Rather than moving forward, the board pulled the item entirely. Maintenance officials were directed to downsize and re-engineer the proposal to focus exclusively on constructing a small maneuverability testing course required by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and correcting a dangerously sharp, icy curve at the main entrance lot.
The meeting grew tense during the public comment portion when local resident Howard pressed the board over pedestrian safety gaps outside the county fairgrounds. Howard criticized the absence of painted crosswalks, white lines, and pedestrian islands near the entrance, claiming the current setup is unsafe for children and elderly attendees walking from peripheral lots.
Spidalieri defended the existing safety record, stating that adding permanent road markings would only confuse drivers during the rest of the year when the fair is inactive. He emphasized that an on-site law enforcement presence always handles the crowds.
Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand backed the commissioners, clarifying that the Fairboard already provides free close-up and handicap-accessible parking within the gates so pedestrians do not have to cross the street. Hildenbrand added that it is illegal and impractical to paint a pedestrian crosswalk directly through a functioning commercial business driveway.
When Howard demanded to know who is legally responsible if an accident occurs outside the gates, Spidalieri delivered a blunt response.
"I think the answer is you are," Spidalieri told the resident. "If you choose to park there... when the Fairboard has given you options of being able to park where you could park... then it's real simple. You're responsible."
Howard was subsequently cut off as his public speaking time expired.
