By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Some of the faces in the Galion city government may have changed and some of the jobs may be different. What hasn’t changed is the drama involving city officials.
Auditor Brian Treisch held a press conference Thursday in his office, an office he surrendered the key to last Friday when Law Director Roberta Wade came into the building with a police escort and demanded that Treisch vacate the premises. Wade, along with City Treasurer Paula Durbin and City Council President Don Faulds also requested of Mayor Tom O’Leary that Treisch be forced to resign on Monday morning.
Treisch released an email at his press conference from Wade addressed to Faulds, O’Leary, Durbin and Belinda Miller with the subject, “Status of Auditor Brian L. Treisch.” In that email Wade outlined her understanding of Treisch’s unsuccessful efforts to get bonded through the city’s insurance agent, Midland Insurance.
Wade said in the email that Midland had tried to obtain a bond for Treisch through two companies it works with and a broker who sent the application to 60 companies and all refused to issue a bond for the auditor.
Treisch said the issue was due to some “personal issues” he is getting resolved and the fact that he asked for a bond in the amount of $250,000. Treisch said by comparison the Bucyrus city auditor has a bond for $10,000 and the county prosecutor $100,000. County commissioners are even less according to Trieisch. The Galion auditor, back in his office this week, albeit yet without a key, said he has applied through another agency and believes he will have the bond shortly. This time he applied for a bond in the amount of $50,000.
But Treisch insists he is bonded through the city of Galion’s bond that covers all its employees and officials. He also said he intends to remain in office.
“I assure you that I am bonded and in compliance with the required code,” Treisch said. “Once again, I want to assure the citizens of Galion that at no time was I not bonded and that no time was the city’s finances in jeopardy. I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Galion.”
Treisch even took the matter farther and commented on Wade’s actions, alleging they were not proper and not in compliance with the Ohio Revised Code for a city law director.
“Under my understanding of the law, she had no right to do so,” Treisch said of what happened last Friday in having him removed from office and taking his key.
As to the code’s requirements he be bonded, Treisch said in his consulting with attorney’s he believes it is conflicting. Although it requires a bond, the code says it is the city’s responsibility to get it in an amount set by City Council. The Galion City council has never established how much of a bond it requires for the auditor. Furthermore, Treisch maintains, it is the law director’s responsibility to secure the bond and cites ORC 733.51.
Treisch also alleges that even if he had been in noncompliance over the bond Wade acted improperly. Treisch says Wade must first go to the mayor, O’Leary, who must take the matter to the full City Council for an investigation and a decision for a hearing allowing the auditor due process, and if necessary the opportunity to have the case heard in court.
“I think the way it was handled, it was wrong,” Treisch said.
O’Leary was also credited in an article in the Galion Inquirer as saying the three officials were not within their roles as officers of the city in demanding the resignation of Treisch.
Treisch responded to a question as to whether he had or was considering filing a grievance against Wade.
“It is an option I am considering,” Treisch said. “I’m hoping we can put all this behind us.”
He added he was offended by what has transpired and what has been said, but that he wants to work with other city officials “as best I can.”
Treisch said contrary to allegations and rumors, city finances are just fine and have never been in danger. “Financially the city of Galion is in very good shape.”
In addition to his key to the office, Treisch also lost some of his privileges to access city bank accounts. He declined to identify who took that action, but noted it was making it very difficult for him to do the daily duties of his position and that something needed to be done to resolve the situation within the next few days in order for the city to meet its next payroll.
By statute the auditor has to verify account balances before checks can be issued on any account for bills or other city obligations.
Treisch and Wade must both stand for re-election to their posts in the November General Election. Treisch, Dianna Beachy and Rodney Sparks will be on the ballot for Galion city auditor while Wade and Thomas Palmer are running for the law director’s position.
UPDATE: Treisch sent an email to media outlets this morning saying he is now able to access banks accounts for the City of Galion.