Press Release 04/22/2024: ORTA Calls for Removal of STRS Board Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2024

ORTA Calls for Removal of STRS Board Chair

Chairman unilaterally attempts to end STRS meeting after Wade Steen appears with Court Order

COLUMBUS, OH – On Thursday, the Tenth District Court of Appeals issued a unanimous decision holding that Wade Steen was improperly ousted as the governor-appointed investment member of the STRS board and was immediately reinstated. The STRS board just happened to be meeting that very same day in Columbus, prompting Mr. Steen to immediately walk over and take his seat in the STRS boardroom as members were returning from lunch. 

With a reform majority now firmly seated and recognizing the controversial STRS investment staff “performance bonuses” were set to be voted on per the agenda, Chairman Dale Price abruptly ended the meeting without a vote to adjourn. This clear violation of Robert’s Rules of Order and adopted board rules was met with protests from other board members. Chairman Price then backtracked his "adjournment" and then called for a recess. He then left the room never to return. 

Fifteen minutes later, with board members still seated, Samuel Peppers from the Attorney General's office walked out to inform the room the meeting was "adjourned". This orchestrated and premeditated conspiracy to prevent the meeting to continue begs for questions to be asked to the following individuals:

Lynn Hoover, Interim Executive Director:
614-227-2843, hooverl@strsoh.gov 

•  Why were individuals who were scheduled to present to the board in Thursday's afternoon session informed during lunch that they would not be presenting?

•  Who made this decision to "adjourn" the board meeting?

•  Were you consulted on this decision?

•  Did you instruct or advise for this outcome?

•  Why were other board members not consulted?

Mary Remson, PRP, CPP-T, Parliamentarian
614-260-1804, meetings4u@att.net 

•  Under what authority is the Chairman of a Board -- operating under Roberts Rules of Order -- able to unilaterally "adjourn" a public meeting without a motion, and second and a vote? 

•  Why did you not enforce the rules upon the objection of the Chairman's action from the other board members? 

•  Were you aware this act was to take place?
If so, did you advise against it? 

•  You presented a Roberts Rules of Order training to the board earlier in the morning, why did the Chairman not ask in open session if he has the unilateral power to "adjourn" a meeting? 

•  In your 25+ professional career, have you ever witnessed, allowed or advised a Chairman to unilaterally "adjourn" a meeting without a motion, second and vote?

Claudia Herrington, Board Member, Director of Compliance JobsOhio
614-300-1152, herringtonc@jobsohio.com  

•  Were you aware of the plan for Chairman Price to unilaterally "adjourn" the board meeting?

•  If so, did you advise against it?

•  Why were you not present in the boardroom for the beginning of the afternoon session?

•  In your formal role as Director of Board Compliance for JobsOhio, how would you advise should a Chair attempt to institute this behavior?

Sam Peppers, Pension Counsel, Ohio Attorney General's office
614-728-3546, samuel.peppers@ohioattorneygeneral.gov 

•  Under what authority do you have the ability to "adjourn" an STRS board meeting and dismiss its members?

•  Who instructed you to inform the board? Who was present when you were instructed?

•  Why did Chairman Price not return to the boardroom himself?

•  Did Attorney General Yost instruct you to involve yourself in board business?

•  Why did you immediately leave the board room and not answer questions following your announcement?

Stacy Wideman, STRS General Counsel
614-227-4076, widemans@strsoh.org

•  Under what authority is the Chairman of a Board -- operating under Roberts Rules of Order -- able to unilaterally "adjourn" a public meeting without a motion, and second and a vote?

•  Dale Price released a statement later in the day stating“Counsel had not yet had the opportunity to review the opinion and consider its implications.” What implications are being referenced?

•  Did you assist in the drafting of Dale Price’s statement?

•  Were you aware of the plan for Chairman Price to unilaterally "adjourn" the board meeting?

•  If so, did you advise against it?

•  Do you have any authority over the board or its members?

•  Do you represent the board or its members in any capacity?

•  How often do you communicate with former Executive Director Bill Neville?

Leah Pappas Porner, Calfee, Halter & Griswold, STRS External Lobbyist
614-621-7007, lpappasporner@calfee.com   

•  Did you contact Laurel Dawson at the governor’s office to advocate for the removal of Wade Steen?

•  If so, who instructed you to lobby Laurel Dawson at the governor's office to remove Wade Steen?

•  Who provided you materials to share with the governor's office in this effort?

•  How were you compensated to actively lobby against the removal of a board member?

The following statement may be attributed to Dean Dennis, President, Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association:

"The illegal behavior of Chairman Dale Price and the senior STRS staff is unacceptable. With news cameras recording every moment, a group of entrenched individuals chose to act in a way to knowingly silence and intimidate a public body. Dale Price disappointingly demonstrated his bias serving as the board chair and immediately needs to be removed if this pension system is ever going to embrace transparency.”

# # #

Media Contact:
Robin Rayfield
rrayfield@orta.org
614-431-7002