TRUMBULL COUNTY Board will talk about Buccella

The administrator testified that he worked at Traficant's horse farm while collecting pay to work at the office.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Trumbull County Health Board will discuss the administrator's status now that he has testified in the racketeering trial of U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr.
George Buccella, county health administrator since May 2000, testified last month during Traficant's federal trial in Cleveland that he performed work on the congressman's Greenford horse farm while collecting a federal paycheck.
"We're going to have an executive session to discuss this," said Scott Thompson, a health board member since last March.
The board's next meeting is March 19.
"I've been getting calls myself from advisory board members," Thompson said.
About council: The health district advisory council comprises representatives of all county townships and villages and the cities that use department services.
Thompson said he called health commissioner J. Vincent Catuogno, telling him the issue should be discussed.
"We need to be enlightened of what's happening too," Thompson said. "Before the trial, George couldn't really tell us anything."
Buccella also should be given the opportunity to explain his side to board members, he said.
"We can't ignore it," Thompson said. "We have to confront it. I don't know that we'll do anything, but we're going to discuss it."
Buccella told jurors he worked at Traficant's farm 100 to 300 times during the 15 years he was on staff at the 17th District congressman's Niles office.
Changed jobs: Buccella worked at the congressional office from February 1985 to May 2000 and earned $35,325 annually. He resigned to take the health administrator's post, which pays about $43,000 annually.
Randy Smith, chairman of the health district advisory council, said he has received "quite a few calls" from council members regarding Buccella.
"There are concerns," said Smith, also a Hartford Township trustee. "It would certainly appear that his recent testimony speaks for itself."
He declined to elaborate.
Buccella says he has done nothing wrong and his testimony is unrelated to his health department position.
"Don't you think, with the FBI and the IRS and the U.S. Attorney's Office investigating me, if I'd done anything wrong or illegal, I would not be let off the hook?" he said.
Dr. Douglas Burchett, who abstained from the vote to hire Buccella as administrator, said he has been out of town and hasn't followed Buccella's testimony.
He said he didn't support Buccella's appointment because he doesn't think the position is necessary.
Burchett called Buccella's hiring political. Buccella served as chairman of the advisory council before his appointment.
"If we did need the position, why didn't they advertise for it?" Burchett.
Defends himself: Buccella says if his being hired was political payback, he wants to know what for. "I don't think people would tell you I'm a liar, and I don't think people would tell you I'm lazy," Buccella said.
He says the people voicing concerns bear personal grudges against him. He declined to identify them.
"I think some of the stuff that people are trying to cause is ludicrous," Buccella said. "I've never been a yes person, and I've done my job."
Created job: Catuogno created the job description for the administrator's position and proposed Buccella's hiring in November 1999.
In the proposal, Catuogno called Buccella "loyal, honest and dedicated." The health commissioner says he stands by that. "I support George 100 percent," he said.
No advisory board members have called him saying they are concerned about Buccella's performance.
"We've gotten no complaints about his performance, and that's what it should be based on, his performance," Catuogno said.
If advisory council members have concerns, they should have the "intestinal fortitude" to come forward with them, he said.
"George hasn't been indicted or accused of anything," Catuogno said. "He was subpoenaed and he went in and told the truth. What's the issue here? Who got paid back?"
Catuogno's position is part time, and he contends a full-time administrator is needed at the health department.
Under the job description, the only certificate, license or registration required is a valid Ohio motor vehicle operator's license.
Under education and experience, the description calls for a bachelor's degree with a major in public administration, 10 to 15 years of related experience and/or training, "or equivalent combination of education and experience working in a public agency or serving in a public sector capacity."
Buccella was a Weathersfield trustee from 1981 to 1985 and from 1990 to 2001. He's also owned several small businesses.
Catuogno said Buccella's time as a member of the county public health leadership team and as chairman of the advisory council provided public health experience.
"Why would we reconsider his position? There have been no complaints against him, and he's done an excellent job," said board member Donna Price, who supported the hiring and is satisfied with Buccella's performance.
Price disagrees that the hiring was political and calls on people with that belief to come forward with the reasons behind it.
"He's given 110 percent, and I have no qualms," Price said.
Against hiring: Board member James Walters voted against Buccella's hiring. "I think he should be reconsidered only because we don't need an administrator," he said.
The duties should be handled by the health commissioner, Walters said, adding that his views don't relate to the Traficant trial.
Walters doesn't think Buccella is qualified for the job and agrees with Dr. Burchett that it was a political appointment.
Buccella's r & eacute;sum & eacute; indicates he is a Niles McKinley High School graduate. He doesn't have a bachelor's degree but has received training at General Motors Detroit Diesel School and in refrigeration, furnace and Social Security benefits. He also completed a Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency public policy seminar.
Walters says an administrator should have skills in accounting, public health and public relations. He hasn't seen a difference in the department since Buccella's hiring.
Buccella said he's never had problems with Dr. Burchett or Walters.
"If they had complaints with me, they never brought it to me," he said.
Thompson, the only member who wasn't serving when Buccella was named administrator, said he doesn't have contact with Buccella in the administrator's day-to-day activities.
"From what I've seen, I don't have a bad opinion of him at all," Thompson said.
Jim Smith, board president, supported Buccella's hiring.
"In my own personal opinion -- and it's just my opinion -- I don't know about his involvement with the congressman, but he's done a good job as far as I'm concerned," he said.
Is leaving: Smith, a 10-year health board member, will leave his post after the March meeting. A new state law requires that the next person elected to a health board seat possess a restaurant license, he said.
Smith also disagrees that Buccella's selection was political.
"In my case, I can definitely say no," he said. "I know George. With his expertise -- and he knows how government works -- he was a good person for the job. The man has a lot of years of experience, and that counts."
Buccella's skills as a "good administrator" and his ability to work with people qualified him for the position, Smith said.
"Some people have degrees, but that doesn't mean they can work with people," he said. "George can communicate with people, and that's the job."
As far as reconsideration of Buccella's position, Smith said that decision would have to be made by the remaining board members and Smith's replacement.
dick@vindy.com