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County freezes payments to Auditor consultant amid questions about legal and HR work
Summary
Finance Director Brett Thomas told commissioners he halted payments to Diamond Point Consulting (Dennis DeCamillo) after finding work that appeared to be legal and HR functions contrary to Ohio law unless authorized through the County Prosecutor; an ensuing invoice was denied and no further payments will be approved until statutory processes are followed.
Finance Director Brett Thomas told the Medina County Board of Commissioners on May 12 that Finance ceased processing payments to Diamond Point Consulting, an LLC operated by attorney Dennis DeCamillo, effective April 1 because some of the consultant’s work appeared to involve human-resources and legal functions that, under Ohio law, must be done by or authorized through the County Prosecutor.
Thomas said a subsequent invoice of roughly $5,100 was submitted after the cease-payment memo and was denied. He also said he has verified at least two documented instances in which Mr. DeCamillo performed HR functions, including signing termination letters on Auditor’s office letterhead after the notice to stop payment was issued.
Commissioner Harrison said commissioners were told during budget hearings that DeCamillo was not performing HR duties; he said that representation appears to have been inaccurate. The board confirmed no further Diamond Point Consulting invoices will be approved for payment until the Auditor’s office demonstrates compliance with the statutory process (formal recusal by the Prosecutor and a board resolution authorizing outside counsel, or other statutorily permitted procedure).
No representative of the Auditor’s office responded during the meeting, and the Finance Director said he had received no reply to his memo at the time of the meeting.
