MANSFIELD — The Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board on Monday evening voted unanimously to ask its personnel committee to “review processes, procedures and expectations” of board employees.
The vote came after a three-hour executive session that included Richland County Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher and her chief civil assistant, Amanda Middis. The prosecutor’s office is the county agency’s legal representative.
It was the only action taken after the closed-door session and the board immediately voted to adjourn afterward.
Prior to going into executive session, board Chair Jeff O’Brien said, “The purpose of this meeting tonight is actually just to go into executive session … We’re going to address the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board’s responsibilities about policies and procedures and we’re going to enter into executive session to discuss the employment and employment contract of a public employee.”
It’s not known what public employee(s) the board discussed during the closed-door portion of the evening. Nor was it disclosed what processes, procedures and expectations will be reviewed by the board’s personnel committee.
Afterward, during questions by Richland Source, board members and the two attorneys said there was no discussion of board responsibilities, policies and procedures, as O’Brien cited in calling for a motion for the executive session.
That same language was used in the notice emailed to the media Friday about the meeting, which said the purpose of the meeting was to, “address MH&RS Board responsibilities, policies, and procedures and enter executive session to discuss the employment and employment contract of a public employee.”
Ohio Revised Code 121.22 allows public bodies to enter into executive session for specific topics, including:
— to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing.
— to consider the purchase of property for public purposes, the sale of property at competitive bidding, or the sale or other disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use property in accordance with section 505.10 of the Revised Code, if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest.
— conferences with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.
— preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.
Richland Source asked which exception under ORC 121.22 — also known as the state’s Sunshine Law — the board used to discuss board responsibilities, policies and procedures, if such discussion took place.
Both attorneys said there was no such discussion in executive session. It was not discussed when the board resumed the public portion of the meeting.
“The function of the special meeting notice is to ensure that we’ve identified all items that could be addressed,” Middleton said.
Schumacher said, “We discussed the employment of an employee.”
