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 2022

Current Board of Directors

Chairperson

Daniel T. Urbin (Avon Lake)

Vice Chairperson

Regan Phillips (North Ridgeville)

Secretary

Dr. Denise Eacott (Lorain)

Chief Governance Officer

David Ashenhurst (Oberlin)

Mike Babet (North Ridgeville)

Chief Tim Barfield (Wellington)

Monica Bauer (Vermilion)

Patricia Bell (Oberlin)

Kreig Brusnahan (Avon Lake)

Tim Carrion (Lorain)

Michele Flanagan (Avon Lake)

Inez James (Elyria)

Patrick McGervey (Avon Lake)

Dr. Hope Moon (Lorain)

Sandra Premura (North Ridgeville)

James Schaeper (Avon Lake)

Karen Sutera (Lorain)

Marie Leibas (Lorain)

Click HERE to view board member biographies.

Committee Chairs

Finance

Pat McGervey, Finance Committee Chairperson

Community Planning & Oversight

James Schaeper, CP&O Committee Chairperson

Membership

Kreig Brusnahan, Nominating Committee Chairperson

Committees

Executive

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Officers of the Board. The Executive Committee shall serve to consult with the Chairperson of the Board on items including but not limited to the development of the Board agenda. The Chairperson of the Board shall chair the Executive Committee.

Finance

The Finance Committee shall review all expenditures of the Board and monthly financial statements and shall report on these to the Board of Directors. The Committee will review the annual budget proposed by the Executive Director and shall make recommendations on the annual budget to the Board of Directors. 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 bylaws and recommend revisions to the Board of Directors for adoption. Any Board member or the Executive Director may suggest bylaw changes for the Governance Committee to consider. All discussions regarding bylaw changes shall include input from the Executive Director. The Governance Committee shall monitor and conduct self-evaluation surveys of Board members to inform the future educational training needs of the Board of Directors. These surveys shall be conducted not later than June of each year.

Community Planning and Oversight

The Community Planning and Overview Committee shall evaluate new programs and determine service gaps and unmet needs in the community. The Committee also shall establish methods to be used to monitor the performance of programs funded by the Board of Directors. The Committee shall facilitate the development of a schedule of regular presentations to the Board of Directors pertaining to current programming and emerging needs in the community.

Membership

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 review and supervise Board Member attendance. The Committee will have supervisory capacity regarding new member orientation. The Committee will establish and supervise a Board Member Mentoring Procedure and a Process for Community Representatives serving on the Board.

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, complete the application form online.

The form and its contents will be transmitted electronically, and will be subject to all usual public information requirements.

To receive/submit a Board Appointment Application by hardcopy form, contact Vinaida R. Reyna at vreyna@mharslc.org, or:

MHARS Board

Attn: Membership Committee

1173 North Ridge Road East, Suite 101

Lorain, OH 44055