SALEM Animal welfare groups begin mediation

The mediator volunteered to leave to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- The two private nonprofit groups seeking to provide animal welfare services to the area are off to a good start in the mediation process, even though the mediator already has stepped down.
City Council President Dave Ventresco said Wednesday that he removed himself as mediator after the two sides' first session, held earlier in the day.
Ventresco said he volunteered to quit to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Connections: He noted that he serves on city council with Mary Lou Popa, D-1st, who also is president of Salem Area Humane Society, one of the two sides in the mediation.
Atty. Robert Guehl, former city law director, also served in city government with Ventresco. Guehl is now the attorney representing the other side in the talks, Salem Humane Society Inc.
Ventresco, who accepted the offer to mediate earlier this month, said he waited until the two sides' first meeting to resign so that he could tell the participants personally.
He added that he's optimistic the parties can reach an agreement on providing animal welfare services to the area.
Wednesday's meeting was highlighted by calm discussion, Ventresco said.
The two parties are scheduled to meet again, privately, on Monday. Guehl said he and Atty. Dominic Frank of East Liverpool, representing the other side, hope to have a mediator picked by then.
Guehl declined to elaborate on possible successors to Ventresco.
Striving for conclusion: One goal of the mediation is to reach an agreement pertaining to running and funding an animal shelter located along West State Street in Perry Township.
For decades, the shelter has been operated by Salem Area Humane Society. That group was funded by a trust fund that provided about $18,000 annually.
The trust money was suspended more than a year ago, however, by Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court after allegations arose that the group was mishandling money and failing to properly care for animals at the shelter.
The Salem Area Humane Society is still running the shelter, relying primarily on donations.
In October, some members of the area humane society formed the Salem Humane Society Inc. and are now seeking control of the trust fund through the court.
A May 9 hearing is set before Judge Pike to hear matters connected with the dispute.