Mental health board director Joe Trolian placed on paid leave after charges filed
Formal administrative charges were filed Wednesday against Joe Trolian, executive director of the Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services board, for alleged neglect of duty and violation of Ohio Ethics Law.
Trolian is accused of paying thousands of dollars from the agency to his wife Christy Ellis-Trolian's company, The Change Companies of Carson City, Nevada, for training, treatment services and books, all in violation of Ohio law.
The mental health agency held an early morning session Wednesday and placed the executive director on paid administrative leave, Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero said.
Trolian told the News Journal he declined to comment.
The Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services board met at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in a 2½-hour executive session during a special meeting for the stated purpose of considering the employment of a public official.
When the board returned to public session, board chair Susan Bemiller said there will be "written charges against executive director J. Trolian for neglect of duty, in violation (Ohio Revised Code) 2921.42A1 and (ORC) 2921.42A4 and Ohio Ethics Law."
ORC 2921.42A1 states no public official shall knowingly do any of the folllowing: "Authorize, or employ the authority or influence of the public official's office to secure authorization of any public contract in which the public official, a member of the public official's family, or any of the public official's business associates has an interest."
Trolian is also accused of violating ORC 2921.42A4, "Have an interest in the profits or benefits of a public contract entered into by or for the use of the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality with which the public official is connected;"
Bemiller said under Trolian's contract the board is required to issue written charges in order to have a hearing on them. "And that is his opportunity to share his side," she said.
The charges are not criminal charges, but instead administrative Bemiller and Amanda Middis, Richland County Prosecutor's Office civil prosecutor, told media. Trolian has three days to respond after which there will be a hearing.
Bemiller also said she could not discuss details about the nature of charges.
But a public records request to the Richland County commissioners show invoices to the RCMH&RS for Trolian's wife's company.
Christy Ellis-Trolian is a licensed professional clinical counselor and an inactive attorney. In addition to her experience in the behavioral health field, she also has worked in higher education for the last several years. As an adjunct professor at Tiffin University, she teaches graduate level courses including Mental Health Law and Drugs and Society.
As the founding director of the Center for Addictions at Ashland University, she developed five addictions counseling courses, a minor in addictions, and an associate's of arts with a concentration in addictions, according to public records the News Journal obtained.
Trolian also gave the Lexington School District a check for $500 for its spring musical.
"With respect to records in our possession between the Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services (“RCMH&RS”) and the Lexington Local School District: You will find a $500 invoice from the RCMH&RS as sponsorship for their 2023 Spring Musical," Vero said in an email when fulfilling the public records request. "We can confirm that a child of Joe Trolian appeared as the narrator in that musical. However, we kindly direct you to the Lexington Local School District for the Playbill of that event. We have no other records of the RCMH&RS contributing to any other musicals in any other school districts in Richland County at any time except for the one in which a child of Mr. Trolian appeared in."
Invoices to Trolian's wife's company from RCMH&RS
According to the public records provided to the News Journal, Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services invoices to The Change Companies included:
$3,504.55 for a treatment voucher on June 16, 2022;
$5,595.98 for treatment on June 16, 2022;
$10,851.18 for treatment on July 26, 2022;
$1,615 for 20 books plus tax and shipping for a total of $17,752.28 on July 12, 2022;
$9,098.90 for ASAM Criteria Skill Building Training for 13 hours of training June 30 and July 1, 2022;
$9,176.76 for treatment on Aug. 9, 2022;
$9,176.76 for treatment on July 25 and 26 for a total of 13 hours;
$1,030.75 on Aug. 23, 2022 for treatment;
$1,030.75 for 10 books at $95 each on Aug. 12, 2022;
$9.121 on Sept. 7, 2022 for treatment;
$9,121 for in-person classroom two-day ASAM Criteria Skill Building and ASAM copyright and permission fee for 20 to participate Aug. 29-30, 2022;
$9,121 for treatment Sept. 6, 2022;
$18,318.75 for treatment Oct. 3, 2022.
Records indicate the agency paid The Change Companies for three training sessions in which Trolian's wife conducted the training.
Mental health board member Jay D. Wachs resigned last week
Richland County Commissioners on Oct. 24 voted to accept the resignation of Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services board member Jay D. Wachs whom they allege was financially benefiting from public monies, in violation of Ohio law.
"This is quite problematic as a sitting board member with additional records that indicate you personally voted on said monies to enrich yourself," Commissioner Tony Vero said in an Oct. 23 email to Wachs. "Additionally, we also (are) in receipt of payments comprised of public dollars that you also personally approved as a board member to an organization known as Gravity Ohio."
In an interview with the News Journal Tuesday, Wachs said he was unaware of any violations.
"I had no idea. As soon as it was pointed out, the statute was very clear. It was obvious there was a conflict of interest and it required a resignation," he said.
"Our attached documents note you serve as a chairman of that organization along with the RCMH&RS Director Joe Trolian serving on that board as well. This would bring such actions under the auspices of the Ohio Revised Code provisions provided in this email," Vero said earlier.
Trolian encourages consultation agreement
The News Journal reported last week that Trolian sent an email to donors that included encouraging them to hire Wach's company for consulting purposes.
"We would like to continue to encourage agencies to a) build their ability to increase awareness of what they have to offer, b) promote their business and c) help people to Know It Before They Need It. In doing so I have attached an agreement to share funding for with agencies to enter into a consultation agreement with JW Consulting who presented earlier this month, New Day Creative, James Boyd, who present(ed) last spring or any other local firm. Our agreement is to pay 50% for up to 10 hours a month for up to a total of $7,200 per year. If you want to take advantage of this offer, please contact the consultant of your choice and work with them to complete the requirements listed on the agreement, sign the agreement, and send it to me. If you have any questions, please contact me at your convenience. You do not need to be a contract agency to take advantage of this offer, but it will limit it to 7 agencies total."
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mental health board head accused of neglect of duty, ethics violations
