TRUMBULL COUNTY Officials advertise to fill health commissioner's post

Commissioners are expected to pay a company more than $11,000 to remove and clean equipment.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Feel like you have what it takes to run a government agency with more than 30 employees, a sick building and an often contentious board of directors?
The Trumbull County Health Department wants to hear from you.
This week, the county department began running a classified ad seeking applicants for the health commissioner's post. The position may be full or part time, depending on the applicant.
"Experience in a local health department preferred, but not necessary," the ad in Sunday's Vindicator read in part.
However, the educational requirements are strict: The successful applicant has to be a physician, dentist, veterinarian, podiatrist or chiropractor. A master's degree in public health will also do, the ad says.
"We are trying to do this the right way," said Jason Earnhart, an assistant county prosecutor who is collecting applications on behalf of the board of health.
"What we want to do is make sure the public is notified and those who are qualified are given the opportunity to say they would like the job."
One response
So far, there has been only one response, a letter which did not include the r & eacute;sum & eacute; and three letters of recommendation the board requires, Earnhart said.
The successful applicant will replace Vincent Catuogno, the health commissioner since 1998, when he leaves office Aug. 15.
By that time, the department will likely have moved to new digs at the county-owned Wean Building, to escape an infestation of toxic mold that led to the closure of the basement of its current building on Chestnut Avenue Northeast.
County commissioners are expected to approve an $11,622 contract today with Aberdeen Construction Corp. of Youngstown to remove files, computers and equipment left behind when the basement was sealed. The rooms were used by employees of the county Emergency Management Agency.
In addition to newspaper ads, the board of health has posted notice of the health commissioner vacancy in other area health department offices, Earnhart said.
The deadline to apply is July 24. Board of health members will review applications at a special meeting July 31.
The departing health commissioner earned about $40,000 a year for working 20 hours a week, and got six weeks' annual vacation, Earnhart said.