Friday, December 20, 2002
The prosecutor says the commissioner never complained about poor service.
By STEPHEN SIFF
and PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County Commissioner James Tsagaris does not appear to have the votes needed to fire the county prosecutor as commissioners' legal adviser and hire a private attorney.
Tsagaris, who has gone as far as contacting a local attorney about the job, says a private lawyer will provide faster work for the commissioners and won't cost any more money.
The budget for Dennis Watkins, the county prosecutor, would be cut to pay for the outside attorney, Tsagaris said.
Tsagaris will present the idea to the other two county commissioners Thursday. Both now say they oppose the plan.
"I can't vote for it," said Joseph Angelo Jr., a county commissioner. "We can't afford it right now."
If finances permitted, Angelo said he would favor hiring an outside lawyer to help commissioners with the budget process, however. Cutbacks may be required this year, and it would be awkward for the prosecutor's office to represent both commissioners and elected department heads whose budgets may need to be trimmed, he said.
The third commissioner, Michael O'Brien, has been adamant that the county prosecutor's office has been doing a good job representing commissioners and that no change is necessary.
Criticism
Tsagaris has several complaints against the prosecutor's office, including the length of time to get legal opinions and conflicting advice from the office. He also blames the prosecutor's office for not having started an investigation earlier of excessive purchasing and lax bookkeeping at the county building maintenance department.
The maintenance department works directly under commissioners, who also approve its bills.
Watkins said he does not know why Tsagaris is unhappy with his office.
"I have never received a complaint from him," Watkins said. "Mr. Tsagaris has not called me to ask a question or to complain."
Tsagaris said commissioners pay $100,000 a year for legal help from the prosecutor. That money could be taken out of the prosecutor's budget and used for the a lawyer.
"Any way you look, it is taxpayer money," he said.
Tsagaris said he did not have a particular lawyer in mind to do the commissioners' legal work. He has, however, corresponded with Atty. Charles Richards of Warren about the position.
Work for commissioners
The prosecutor's office does a variety of work for commissioners, including reviewing resolutions, providing advice and standing up for them in court cases.
Even if commissioners did choose to hire an outside lawyer, state law requires the prosecutor's office to review all contracts the commissioners enter, Watkins said.
James Misocky, the prosecutor assigned to the commissioner's office, said he has reviewed numerous contracts for commissioners.
"In one recent case, I reviewed a contract and told the commissioners they had to go out for formal bids," Misocky said. "The commissioners did go out for formal bids, and they ended up saving about $25,000."
siff@vindy.comsinkovich@vindy.com