Official sits out, blasts use of executive session

Lorain County Commissioner David J. Moore blasted the board, accusing commissioners Michelle Hung and Matt Lundy of holding improper meetings and not being transparent in their use of executive session.

At an Aug. 24 special meeting, the Lorain County Board of Commissioners held a presentation on the $9 million Lorain County Crisis Stabilization Center project, which Moore argued was a smokescreen to change the narrative in the wake of the terminations of three administrators since Aug. 3.

The commissioners welcomed representatives from the MHARS Board of Lorain County, The Nord Center and The LCADA Way to speak about phase one of the plan for the project to provide a dedicated behavioral health ER.

While Lundy and Hung voted to approve the funding, Moore voted present, arguing that while he supports the project, he could not stand behind the process in which the vote came about.

“We were having a special meeting today to discuss health care. And I find out, and I have to apologize to you gentlemen, this is politics 101. When there’s

a scandal it’s time to change the narrative,” Moore said. “So I apologize. You are being used as pawns because all three of us support you. I stated in May that shovels would be in the ground next spring. But today I will tell you I doubt that many businesses will throw money when they see what’s going on today.”

Moore continued, criticizing Lundy and Hung over their use of executive sessions and suggested the public deserved to know more about the debate around the Lorain County employee health care plan. He said the board has spent more than 13 hours in executive session over the previous five weeks compared to one hour in public.

“I feel like they’re making up a reason to block the public from what’s really

going on, because I wish these 13 and a half hours were in public, I really do. Because one hour of public meetings in the last five weeks versus 13 and a half hours of executive session,” Moore said. “People all over the state are looking at us and I’m sick and tired of being a joke. We are a dysfunctional board and I would love to talk right now. Have the health care discussion right now.”

Moore did not participate in the Aug. 24 executive session where the commissioners met for approximately five hours, calling the process improper in an interview with The Morning Journal.

Others disagreed with Moore

Lorain County Assistant

Prosecutor Dan Petticord, in response to a question from Lundy, confirmed that health care benefit discussions fell under the category of personnel issues, and was eligible for executive session.

In response, Hung said the issues before the board fell well within the grounds of executive session.

“The Board has three vacant director positions. These personnel matters required our attention today to facilitate the scheduling of interviews,” Hung said. “We have also received emails from directors concerning the need to fill positions in their department. Those directors require approval from the Board to have HR create the job posting.”

“The previous County Administrator (Tom Williams)

has been involved in a contract negotiation since the beginning of the year and are at the point where guidance from the board was necessary today. The Board did take the necessary amount of time today to ensure these matters were properly reviewed,” Hung continued.

Hung also pushed against Moore’s contention that the Crisis Stabilization Center presentation was a smokescreen and said the project has been a priority for her since taking office in January, adding that the board has been in discussions for months gathering information as well as individually.

“This is a project that will touch the lives of those who need the help the most. It is a project our residents can be proud of,” she said.

Lundy said of Moore that

he has publicly supported the project and was surprised by his statements, but noted that as a commissioner he speaks for himself.

“We’re in the process of reviewing our benefits plan for employees. And we also are in the process of reviewing resumes for the positions if we need to fill, and those are matters that legally qualify for Executive Session, so I don’t understand his position,” Lundy noted.

Lundy added that he is here to get things done and do the work that needs to be done for Lorain County. The most important decision they made today was a $4 million investment in the people of Lorain County through the crisis stabilization center to help address the opioid crisis, he said.