Accusations bring no conclusions

Some residents are taking a wait-and-see attitude.
By DENISE DICK
and STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Some people say they're reserving judgment on accusations leveled by a witness in the trial of U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. that other local public officials were also on the take.
"In this country, anyone can say anything about anyone else," said Tim Bowers, 46, a police captain in the city. "Saying something doesn't make it so."
On Monday, James R. Sabatine, the former operator of Hardrives Paving and Construction Inc., Mineral Ridge, under questioning from Traficant, testified that he had bribed former Warren Mayor Dan Sferra, now a state representative; and a Weathersfield Township road superintendent.
"I think it would be worth investigating," said Luanne Bolles, executive director of the Weathersfield Township Responsible Citizens Association. "The group would be interested in anything that comes out."
Read report: At the trial, Traficant read from the report of an FBI interview in which Sabatine said he paid a Weathersfield road superintendent $2,000. The superintendent wasn't named and the time frame wasn't specified.
Sabatine confirmed from the stand that he paid the bribe.
David Pugh, township administrator, has performed road superintendent duties since he was hired in 1996 and says he's taken no bribes. He said he expected Weathersfield Township's name to come up in the trial.
"We did business with all of them, so it doesn't surprise me," Pugh said.
The FBI was in the township administration building last year, but township officials have said they don't know what the agents were looking for.
Federal prosecutors have said that Weathersfield trustees were among those with whom Traficant intervened on behalf of another contracting company, Bucci Brothers, in return for Bucci's forgiving a $13,000 debt for work he did at Traficant's Greenford farm.
The township contracted with the Bucci Brothers on two paving contracts. Anthony Bucci, who along with his brother, Robert, formerly operated Prime Contractors and Asphalt Specialist Inc. in Girard, testified in the Traficant trial last week.
Bucci is named in one count of the 10-count indictment against Traficant which alleges conspiracy to violate the federal bribery statute. Bucci was granted immunity for his testimony.
A former Weathersfield trustee, George Buccella, testified at the trial last month about work he did at Traficant's farm while on staff in Traficant's district office.
Not a surprise: The latest allegations involving Weathersfield come as no surprise to John Vogel, another member of Weathersfield Township Responsible Citizens Association, which was formed about a year ago and has 50 members.
"I'm not surprised at anything anymore than goes on in this county," he said. "The method of operation that's accepted by politicians at the highest level is instilled by politicians at the lowest level."
Dan Sferra, now a state representative, D-66th, has also denied taking any bribes. City records indicate that Warren did business with Hardrives while he was mayor, but Sferra has said he remembers nothing about it.
"I think we will all have to watch and see on this," said Tristan Hand, 56, a business owner in Warren. "Everything Traficant is concerned with tends to be a three-ring circus."