MAHONING COUNTY Officials receive contract extensions

Commissioners are happy to have the leaders on board for three more years.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County commissioners approved contract extensions Thursday for two of their top appointed officials.
County Administrator Gary Kubic and Dee Crawford, executive director of the county Department of Job and Family Services, each received a three-year agreement.
Kubic's salary will increase to $81,288 next year, $83,727 in 2003 and $86,238 in 2004. He has a fourth-year option that would make his salary $88,825 in 2005.
He was hired in September 1993, having previously served as Youngstown finance director.
Commissioner Ed Reese served on the search committee that originally recommended Kubic for the post.
"Everything we looked for in a county administrator, Gary Kubic exhibits superbly," Reese said.
Kubic said he believes the county has made significant progress in the past few years, especially in the area of government accountability.
Commissioners have also developed innovative programs like a community development fund, which returns a portion of sales-tax revenue to various communities.
"I'm proud to have been a part of that," he said.
Executive director: Crawford was hired in November 1996 to replace Robert Douglas Jr., who is now a Youngstown Municipal Court judge. Before that, she was a coordinator at Youngstown State University's Center for Urban Studies.
"She's stern, but she's fair," said Commissioner David Ludt.
Her salary will be $79,000 next year, $82,160 in 2003 and $85,446 in 2004, Reese said.
Crawford said she's looking forward to meeting the challenges of her department over the next three years.
"It hasn't been easy so far, and it's not going to get easier, but collectively I think we have accomplished a lot," she said.
Commissioners said both Kubic's and Crawford's salaries are in line with those of other county agency officials, such as the department of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, children services department and mental health board.
Honored: Commissioners also recognized four deputy sheriffs for their efforts to revive a man who had a heart attack and died in a parking garage near the courthouse Nov. 15.
Deputies Fred DeLuca, Sal Pascarella, Dale Rinehart and Joseph Sandine assisted when 39-year-old Daniel Telford of Canfield collapsed in the parking deck on his way home from work. He died later.
Two weeks ago, commissioners honored deputy Kent Thornton and 911 operator Mike Jankowski, who were first to arrive and help Telford. Commissioner David Ludt said he was unaware of the other deputies' involvement, or he would have honored them all at the same time.
bjackson@vindy.com