Nursing home inspector resigns

YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Board of Health accepted "with regret" the resignation of Nancy Potter, the first of at least two long-time employees that Health Commissioner Neil Altman believes will be enticed into retirement by the city's $10,000 buyout offer.
Potter, a 12-year employee, is a registered nurse who inspects nursing homes for the department.
"We've had a number of employees talk about it [the buyout]," Altman said. Potter almost certainly won't be the last to go, he said.
Incentive
In May, city council passed legislation offering $10,000 to full-time city workers with one year or more of time on the job in an effort to cut costs and put a dent in the city's projected $2.5 million financial shortfall this year.
Workers with the city less than a year would be paid a pro-rated portion of the incentive. The deadline to accept the buyout is June 30.
While he is concerned about losing experienced, talented employees, Altman does not believe the buyout incentive will cause enough people to leave to enable the health board to avoid employee layoffs. He said his department's budget picture will be clearer in early July.
In other action, Altman informed the board that Mayor George M. McKelvey rescinded his appointment of Atty. Miriam Ocasio as a board member because she does not live in the city as required by the city charter.
Ocasio's address, 1505 Country Club Ave., is on the Boardman side of the street that divides Boardman and Youngstown, Altman said.