WHO WE ARE

Board of Directors

A citizen Board of 18 community members determines services to be provided and funded based upon state requirements and community needs. The Board of Directors monitors funding and evaluation of those public services. Private, not-for-profit, and independent community agencies are contracted by the MHARS Board to provide an array of addiction and mental health services. Services include counseling, prevention, consultation, peer support, community support, crisis intervention, housing development and management, and vocational support.

Fiscal Year 2025

Current Board of Directors

Chairperson

Daniel T. Urbin (Avon Lake)

Vice Chairperson

Mike Babet (North Ridgeville)

Chief Governance Officer

James Schaeper (Avon Lake)

Secretary

Sandra Premura (North Ridgeville)

David Ashenhurst (Oberlin)

Tim Barfield (Wellington)

Monica Bauer (Vermilion)

Patricia Bell (Oberlin)

Kreig Brusnahan (Avon Lake)

Tim Carrion (Lorain)

Wanda Ewing (Sheffield Lake)

Michael Finch (Avon/Avon Lake)

Michele Flanagan (Avon/Avon Lake)

Patrick McGervey (Avon/Avon Lake

John Nisky (Oberlin)

Clifton Oliver (Elyria)

Robert Stipe (Lorain)

Click HERE to view board member biographies.

Committee Chairs

Finance Committee

Michael Finch, Finance Committee Chairperson

Community Planning & Oversight (CP&O)Committee

Patrick McGervey, CP&O Committee Chairperson

Governance Committee

James Schaeper, Governance Committee Chairperson

Nominating Committee

Michele Flanagan, Nominating Committee Chairperson

Committees

Executive

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and all chairs of standing Committees. Between the meetings of the BOD, the Executive Committee, shall have, and may exercise, the authority of the BOD, except as such authority is limited by statute. The Executive Committee shall have only such power and authority of the BOD between meetings of the BOD as shall be necessary to address crisis situations of the Board; any such action taken by the Executive Committee between meetings of the BOD shall be subject to ratification or modification by the BOD at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Finance

The Finance Committee shall review all expenditures of the Board monthly financial statements and shall report on these to the BOD. The Committee shall review the annual budget proposed by the Executive Director and shall make recommendations on the annual budget to the BOD. The Committee shall review results from the annual county financial audit and monitor the implementation of any corrective action plans required by the audit.

Governance

The Governance Committee shall review Board By-Laws and recommend revisions to the BOD for adoption. Any BOD member or the Executive Director may suggest By-Law changes for the Governance Committee to consider. All discussions regarding By-Law changes shall include input from the Executive Director. The Committee will review and supervise Board Member attendance. The Committee shall monitor and conduct self-evaluation surveys of BOD members to inform the future educational training needs of the BOD. These surveys shall be conducted not later than June of each year.

Community Planning and Oversight

The Community Planning and Oversight Committee shall evaluate new programs and determine service gaps and unmet needs in the community. The Committee shall also set standards for evaluating service providers funded by the Board with respect to meeting the service terms of contracts, programs, goals and objectives, and the quality of service, and periodically monitor and review provider status. The Committee shall facilitate the development of a schedule of regular presentations to the BOD pertaining to current programming and emerging needs in the community.

Nominating

The Committee shall conduct interviews and shall make recommendations of potential BOD members to the BOD to formally request the appropriate appointing authorities to fill vacancies. The Committee shall endeavor to ensure that the composition of the BOD reflects the demographic characteristics of Lorain County. The Nominating Committee shall have the responsibility to prepare, recommend, and nominate candidates for election as officers to be submitted to the BOD at its May meeting, after soliciting names of candidates from the members of the BOD after which the nominations shall be closed. The Nominating Committee shall convene, consider, and recommend to the BOD candidates for vacant officer positions and shall act by a majority vote of its members. The Nominating Committee shall propose the slate of candidates for BOD officer positions by the June Board meeting each year. The Committee will have supervisory capacity regarding new member orientation, and will establish and supervise the Board Member Mentoring Procedure Process for Community Representatives serving on the Committees.

Board Member Qualifications

To serve on the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County, one must be a resident of Lorain County and have an interest in mental health and/or addiction. Certain restrictions exist. A Board Member may not be related to any member of the Board of County Commissioners. A Board Member may not serve on the Board of any agency under contract with the Board or be employed by any such agency. A Board Member may not be employed by the MHARS Board or be related to any person employed by the MHARS Board.

Board Members are volunteers who do not receive compensation for their service.

Board Member Application

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors for the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County, please email Vinaida R. Reyna, Executive Assistant, at vreyna@mharslc.org for an application and details, or print the linked application and return to our office