Hardrives did work for Warren
Hardrives resurfaced Warren streets in 1995, when Dan Sferra was still mayor.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
and AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Former mayor Dan Sferra has said he doesn't think Hardrives Paving did work for the city under his tenure and would have to go back through records to make sure.
The Vindicator checked for him Thursday and found the now-closed paving company did work for the city at least once while Sferra was mayor.
According to records from the city's engineering and community development departments, Hardrives did a street resurfacing project for the city in 1995 and was paid $53,087.
Officials said Hardrives also resurfaced 15 streets for $258,000 in 1995, as part of a city program that uses federal money for streets in low-to-moderate income areas.
Sought copies: The Vindicator requested copies of the contracts and asked to view the bids received for the project but was told by the city auditor, engineering department and the mayor's office that those records could not be readily located.
Officials in the engineering department and mayor's office said Hardrives did not do any work for the city before 1995.
Sferra, who is on vacation in Florida, told The Vindicator Thursday he's disturbed that his name surfaced in the federal corruption trial of U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, D-17th.
He also says he doesn't know Hardrives' owner, James Sabatine of Canfield, who has acknowledged during questioning by Traficant that he paid money to several public officials -- including Sferra and Trumbull County Auditor David Hines.
The county auditor denies he took campaign contributions from Sabatine.
Shocked: Sferra, now a state legislator, said he's shocked at the accusation that he received $2,500 from Sabatine, who owned Hardrives in Mineral Ridge until 2000.
Sabatine pleaded guilty in August to charges of engaging in a pattern of racketeering and filing a false income tax return.
Sferra left office at the end of 1995, and Hank Angelo took office in 1996.
Hardrives restored a sewer trench in 1996 for $5,950, and he was paid $58,451 and $26,635 for resurfacing and reconstruction in 1996.
The company also received $354,853 for the city's 2000 street resurfacing program, paid in part by federal funds.
Angelo said that he's not sure how many jobs Hardrives did for the city.
"They got the contracts like any other company would -- they bid and they were the lowest and best bid," Angelo said. "And no, I was never offered a bribe and I find it highly offensive that I would even be asked that question."
The mayor further noted that he invites all press to review Hardrives' bids and that "It's an open invitation -- that's how positive I am that nothing was wrong."
The mayor said that information would have to be gathered and would be available sometime next week.
City and county officials have said Hardrives has reorganized as Rhino Excavation and Milling Inc., which is handling the city's reconstruction of Dana Street N.E. Public records list Bob Tabachino as president and Michael Malvasi as vice president. They were unavailable Thursday afternoon.
sinkovich@vindy.comdavis@vindy.com