TRUMBULL COUNTY Officials form citizens group to help with purchasing plans

The citizens committee will meet for the first time Thursday.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
AND STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- In the wake of an inventory report that showed numerous problems in the county's maintenance department, the Trumbull County commissioners have formed a citizens group to help develop a better purchasing program.
Commissioner Michael J. O'Brien said he and the other two commissioners have appointed three retirees to serve on the committee: Joseph Costanzo, retired from CSC; Chuck Joseph, retired from Delphi Packard Electric; and Ralph Smith, retired from Forum Health.
All are volunteering their services, commissioners said.
& quot;All three of these men worked in the private sector in the purchasing department and have a great deal of knowledge they are willing to share with us, & quot; O'Brien said. & quot;They are planning to get together for their first meeting on Thursday. & quot;
The committee will start by going over the recent inventory report, officials said.
The inventory, conducted over the last four weeks by county employees and presented to commissioners last week, details problems with the county maintenance department, including excessive buying, poor record-keeping and missing money.
Employees conducting the inventory also found no products from two of the companies with which the county has been doing thousands of dollars of business a year.
Brought about probes
The inventory was ordered a few weeks after a series of Vindicator articles detailed excessive spending on janitorial products and sloppy record-keeping. The articles also caused Prosecutor Dennis Watkins to ask the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the state auditor's office to probe the matter.
The investigations are still pending.
& quot;The citizens committee will not get involved with the criminal part, & quot; O'Brien said. & quot;They won't be looking at what was happening but will be concentrating on what we can do to improve and what steps we should take. & quot;
Tony Delmont, head of the maintenance department, was stripped of responsibility for ordering supplies after the Vindicator stories were published. However, O'Brien said Delmont will work with the citizens committee.
& quot;Tony Carson, the county's purchasing director, will also be involved with the committee, & quot; O'Brien said. & quot;Mr. Delmont and Mr. Carson can walk the committee through the departments and explain our needs. & quot;
Officials do not know how long the committee will have to meet before they will be able to make recommendations.
& quot;I do look forward to their recommendations, because with their combined years of experience, I'm sure they will be able to make some sound suggestions that will help us move forward, & quot; O'Brien said.
sinkovich@vindy.comsiff@vindy.com