- WEEKLY POLL
- Main News
Jerusalem residents fire allegations at trustees
By J. Patrick Eaken
Press Staff Writer
news@presspublications.com
At Tuesday’s meeting, Jerusalem Township residents continued allegations that trustees were improperly using credit cards for personal use, violating Sunshine Laws, and were illegally reimbursed for health care premiums.
A packed meeting room in the fire hall listened to continued debate over the allegations. To date, no official investigation or audit has begun except the state auditor did send two people to the township two weeks ago. Fiscal officer Julie Van Nest did not know what they were investigating.
Van Nest informed The Press that trustee Rodney Graffis is being reimbursed $842 each month by the township because he opts not to enroll in the township’s health insurance plan. The Press reported incorrectly three weeks ago that Graffis was being reimbursed about $400.
Graffis explained the state auditor’s office has informed him that it is legal to be reimbursed, even though residents allege that he does not pay the premiums out of pocket. Township attorney John Borell also told The Press it is legal for Graffis to be reimbursed.
The township provided The Press with a copy a letter from Holgate Metal Fab Inc., Graffis’ employer, stating that as a journeyman sheet metal worker “we have paid $4,932.19 to Northwest Ohio Administration for his health insurance” based on “hours worked” covering nearly seven months.
Another document, issued by Toledo District Building Trades, states that Graffis’ union dues include health and welfare payments remitted to NWOA.
Resident Bill Hoops, a former board member with the Jerusalem Senior Center and the township food pantry, said he planned to contact Lucas County prosecutor Julie Bates regarding the issue, and said “somebody needs to address it. If not, I’ll keep going with it.”
Graffis responded, “The state auditor says its fine. That’s all I got to say, Bill. If you want to get the state auditor’s office involved, that’s fine, too.”
Gray said Graffis’ reimbursement is “fully documented and the auditor of state fully approves of our policy.” Van Nest said afterwards that she has not received anything from the state auditor on that issue.
Another resident, Rich Hansen, alleged the trustees were violating Sunshine Laws when they went into executive session at a meeting three weeks earlier. Gray said the conference, involving the three trustees and Van Nest, was “to discuss legal matters.”
Hansen promised to follow up by requesting a legal opinion from his attorney, and added that he was informed that Van Nest did not have to accompany the trustees into the executive session if it wasn’t necessary. Van Nest never commented on Tuesday whether or not she believed she had reason to attend.
“I’m trying to figure out why you went in there in the first place, so I’m taking it up with my attorney,” Hansen said.
Murray joins debate
Don Murray, who was fiscal officer and interim fire chief until this year, made an appearance at the meeting to answer questions from Kiss about township property.
Murray was defeated by Van Nest in the November election, and Van Nest took office on April 1. Ottawa Hills Fire Department Captain Larry Stanton was appointed Jerusalem Township fire chief earlier this year.
Kiss had twice made a motion requesting that the township issue a certified letter to Murray asking him to declare if he had any township property, but there was never a second to his motion.
Murray told Kiss he had two back-up CDs in his possession from serving as township fiscal officer, but had no other township hardware or software.
“If you have an issue, they can be provided to the auditor,” Murray said. “If I can go a little bit further, because I understand there were some allegations of some original documents (missing), the original copies of everything stayed back there in the office.”
Gray asked Kiss if Murray’s answer would settle the issue.
“Yes, Don’s on the record saying that he does not have that stuff, and that’s put to bed,” Kiss said.
At the meeting, Murray also answered questions regarding credit card records from when he attended an October government training conference in Columbus on behalf of the township.
Hoops, who got township records from his own public records requests, asked why Murray needed to reserve two rooms for the conference.
Hoops asked why the credit cards records show “A-1 Deck Service,” which is Murray’s business, and then alleged that Murray used the conference for personal business usage at the township’s expense.
Murray acknowledged that the name of his business appeared in credit card records, and said that “it probably shows up as A-1 Deck Service because that is my company.”
Gray responded to Hoops allegations, saying, “There are receipts in there that say the fiscal officer went there for training for the township. To say that he went down there without backing it up, you’re just asking for trouble.”
Murray started debate on another issue, and he ended up getting into another altercation with Kiss. Murray scolded Kiss for taking his children with him while surveying the damage after a tornado hit Reno Beach last month.
“It doesn’t seem to me that that’s a good place to have kids,” Murray said. “I’m not sure what kind of father or husband you are, but I wouldn’t take my kids over there.”
Kiss said Chief Stanton was aware the trustee was traveling with his two boys, and said the chief informed him the boys were safe.
“I really don’t care if you are concerned,” Kiss responded. “Thank you for trying to embarrass me, because you haven’t.
- BUSINESS DIRECTORY
- COMMUNITY RESOURCE
