Stewart

TRIADELPHIA — Greg Stewart — currently without a contract — is presently not on the job as manager of The Highlands.

The Ohio County Development Authority last week voided a contract it approved Dec. 15, 2020 that retained Stewart through a newly-formed independent company he established, CMAD LLC.

The contract was determined to have been improperly approved, as it was not on the OCDA agenda and was voted on during a closed-door session. County Commission President Randy Wharton, also OCDA president, confirmed Stewart is not on the job.

“He is not currently employed by the Ohio County Commission or the Ohio County Development Authority,” Wharton said. “There has been no resolution to an employment agreement with him.

“A committee that was appointed to review the process has not met yet.”

Wharton isn’t certain what route the committee members will take.

“We haven’t gotten together as a group,” he said. “We just have to wait and see.”

A seven-member committee, all members of the OCDA board, is presently working to negotiate a contract with Stewart. Those on the committee include the three Ohio County commissioners — Wharton, Don Nickerson and Zach Abraham — as well as Oglebay Foundation President and CEO Eriks Janelsins, John Olejasz, John McCullough and Mary Pockl.

Nickerson also confirmed Stewart is not presently on the job.

“When the contract was voided, this left him with no status,” Nickerson said. “A new contract has not been finalized.”

And Nickerson isn’t certain whether Stewart will return as manager when all is said and done.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Some of the board members do want him back. I’m not sure about others. It will be a full board decision, but I honestly don’t know the answer to it.

“It has been a long path. This should have been done a long time ago. There have been twists and turns and it’s unfortunate we are where we are.”

Stewart could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Presently, OCDA board members and OCDA staff are collaborating to manage day-to-day activities at The Highlands, Nickerson said.

He said it is not a bad situation there.

“It’s just a time of possible change,” Nickerson said. “Things may ultimately change. I don’t think it’s a bad situation.”

The differences between the OCDA and Stewart involve “a combination of things,” including salary and the scope of services, according to Nickerson.

“Everything is being reevaluated,” he said. “It’s a different commission. There are new board members. Change is not unusual, and a reevaluation is happening.”

Wharton has set a deadline of April 8 for the committee to have a contract with Stewart before the OCDA board.

Stewart served 25 years as Ohio County administrator, and was highly involved with development of The Highlands during his tenure. He resigned his job as administrator on Dec. 31, 2020 with the idea he would have a new role focusing only on management of The Highlands development.

The Dec. 15 contract called for his company CMAD to be paid an amount close to the annual salary of $203,000 he earned as administrator.