WARREN Vote to hire interim auditor divides panel

The move angered Commissioner Paul Heltzel.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- With politicking officially on the calendar for Jan. 10 -- when the Trumbull County Democratic Party Precinct Committee votes to appoint a county auditor to replace David Hines -- county commissioners kicked things off Tuesday by making a surprise selection.
With many eyes focused on Hines' chief deputy, Adrian Biviano, commissioners Dan Polivka and James Tsagaris voted at a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to hire Linda Sypert, the county's information services director, to be auditor for about seven days.
The temporary position is needed to keep the auditor's office running until the party names an interim director Jan. 10. Hines resigned the position in mid-December, a little more than a year before his term expired.
The Democrats' selection will fill the position until the next auditor's election in November. So far, the party is aware of two people seeking the appointment -- Biviano and former Warren Mayor Dan Sferra.
Not bonded
Commissioner Paul Heltzel voted against Sypert's appointment, pointing out that she isn't bonded -- and getting her bonded could leave the auditor's office unable to conduct certain transactions for a second day. He said Biviano already is bonded.
"What they're doing is leaving the office vacant," Heltzel said.
James Misocky, an assistant county prosecutor and a legal adviser to the commissioners, said he didn't know how long it takes to get a person's bonding in place but agreed Sypert would need that to carry out the duties of auditor.
Dale Appis of Brookfield came to the meeting hoping to get his mobile home title transferred. He was waiting for commissioners to appoint someone with the hope that it would allow him to complete the title transfer.
He said he doesn't know now how long it will take to get it done.
He had been at the county building for a couple of hours trying to complete the transfer and had talked to Polivka about the problem before the commissioners' meeting hoping to find a solution.
'Gloves off'
Heltzel said after the meeting he believed Polivka and Tsagaris were refusing to appoint Biviano because of phone calls they received saying that appointment would appear to be an endorsement of Biviano. Heltzel said they were appointing Sypert for "political reasons."
Heltzel, who is beginning his second year as commissioner, angrily told Polivka and Tsagaris, "It's gloves off in '06. I was nice in '05, but that's it."
Polivka said he didn't appoint Biviano because, "I think there are two people in the race now, and they're fine candidates."
Tsagaris said of Biviano: "He's running. Other people are running. Let's not show favoritism."
Sypert, a 28-year county employee, makes about $75,000 per year running the data processing department. County auditor's job pays $82,364.
In other action, commissioners approved a temporary budget to operate on until a complete 2006 budget is approved sometime in the next three months.
runyan@vindy.com