TRUMBULL COUNTY Officials: Some will keep cell phones

Employees may have been abusing their airtime, one county commissioner says.
By STEPHEN SIFF and PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Static has disrupted Trumbull County commissioners' call to disconnect all county cellular phones within a few months.
In the face of protests by the sheriff's and coroner's offices, and a letter citing case law from the county prosecutor, commissioners are backing off from a letter they sent earlier this month unambiguously telling department heads that all cell phones will be disconnected Jan. 1.
"No monies will be appropriated in the 2003 fiscal budget for cell phones," the letter signed by all three commissioners reads in part.
The county pays about $24,000 a year out of its general fund for 62 cell phones, used by employees ranging from caseworkers to cops and the coroner's office staff.
Because law enforcement departments use different kinds of radio systems, cell phones are often used by authorities in the field to communicate with one another.
Commissioners say they wanted to get rid of cell phones because of their cost.
Commissioner's comments
"I think there is waste in the county, and there are ways we can cut it out," said Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo Jr. "I don't think all the calls we are paying for are for county business."
Several department heads argue that cell phones are needed for employees to conduct business from the field.
"It is as preposterous as taking fire hoses from the fire department, firearms from the police department and life-saving equipment from EMS and then expecting them to do their jobs," said Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, the county's forensic pathologist.
"Without being able to communicate with law enforcement, physicians, and family members, the entire death investigation process will collapse."
Commissioners say they will allow some departments to keep some cell phones.
"We have a couple of letters from some departments expressing that their office needs cell phones, so we are examining that," said Commissioner Michael O'Brien. "We expect to go over it as part of the budget process."
The change of heart follows a suggestion by Prosecutor Dennis Watkins.
In a letter to commissioners last week, he cited a court decision that found that county budgets must be crafted according to department needs.
"The use of cell phones provides for the efficient usage of the various criminal justice departments within the county, including the homicide unit, multicounty drug task force and the prosecution of crimes involving the use of guns," Watkins said.
"Other offices, such as the Trumbull County Auditor, may need cell phones to reasonably perform their duties."
The sheriff's department pays about $900 a month for its cell phones, according to a year-old report prepared by Tony Carson, the county's purchasing director.
They're carried by shift commanders, top administrators and members of special teams.
"Do you want the first responder to make executive-level decisions because of lack of communications?" said Ernest Cook, the sheriff's chief of operations. "Having them is an integral part of doing their duty."
Immediately cancelling service may not save the county any money. Some departments have already signed contracts for another year.