STRUTHERS Council hears complaint from colleague over letter

The letter concerns a council meeting that one member did not attend.
STRUTHERS -- Councilman Danny Thomas Jr. says he's looking into filing theft in office charges against Councilman Robert Carcelli, D-at large, over a letter criticizing Thomas that Carcelli drafted on council stationery.
About 250 copies of the letter were made and a matching number of envelopes were addressed to 1st Ward residents, all at city expense, Thomas said. The letters were not mailed, however, as a result of Thomas' complaint to city attorney Carol Clemente-Wagner.
The letter, dated March 6, mentions a September 2000 meeting in which suspected water pressure problems in the 1st Ward were discussed with Consumers Ohio Water Co.
What it said: "All members of the administration and city council were present except for Danny Thomas, your first ward councilman," Carcelli wrote. "I feel ward one residents should know this. I am tired of public officials who want to take credit for things they do not do."
Thomas said he found a copy of the letter in city offices and brought it to Clemente-Wagner.
Clemente-Wagner told council members during their regular meeting Wednesday night that she advised Carcelli to bring the letter up with them because all their names appear on the letterhead.
"This is nothing but a political letter," Thomas told his colleagues. "I'm still upset that a couple hundred copies were run off at the city's expense and envelopes were addressed at the city's expense."
Some council members wondered if Thomas' complaint would force all council members to have their correspondence to constituents reviewed before it could be sent out.
Carcelli said he still plans to either send the letters out on his own stationery or deliver the messages door to door.