NILES Mayor: I'll keep jobs combined

The city has saved more than $15,000 by combining the jobs.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Mayor Ralph A. Infante sees no reason to sever two administrations positions that were combined earlier this year.
Donald Allen, the city's safety director, has been doubling as service director since early March, when council agreed to merge the offices and increase Allen's salary from $1,255 to $3,508 per month.
Allen assumed the new position on a temporary basis after the February death of Sam Natoli, who was service director more than 10 years.
At the time, Infante said he planned to name a new service director and once again separate the positions by the end of the year.
"Everything is going so well now, though," he said. "That's not to say we might not still do it next year, but right now, things are working out."
Praise for employee
Infante said Allen had performed the duties of both positions admirably the past several months.
"He's put in the time we need for him to do both jobs," he said.
Infante also noted that by combining the positions, the city has saved more than $15,000 in salaries this year.
The positions of safety and service director cover the majority of operations in cities throughout Ohio.
While one person can be employed in each office -- as is the case in cities such as Hubbard and Girard -- oftentimes the jobs are combined, as it is in Warren and now Niles.
In cases where the job is combined, the safety-service director is traditionally responsible for administering the police and fire departments, which are under the direct supervision of their chiefs.
The safety-service director often oversees a city's building department and is responsible for the management and supervision of public works, including streets, sewers, water and electric plants, sanitary disposal, park systems and cemeteries.
slshaulis@vindy.com