Hubbard official calls for a probe

Council again tables legislation for a communications tower.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- A departing city lawmaker has called for an investigation of the assistant city engineer.
Councilman Richard Keenan, D-4th, called Monday for a probe of Robert Toth after council members received letters from the county auditor's office saying that Toth has not been sending the county copies of zoning permits.
The permits are used to determine the increase in property valuation to increase property taxes on improvements, Keenan said.
In his letter to the council members, Robert Senvisky, deputy auditor/appraiser, said despite numerous requests, Toth has not sent the permit copies from Dec. 1, 2002, to Nov. 28.
"Your immediate response would be appreciated for it is your tax dollars at stake," Senvisky wrote.
Toth, a member of the Hubbard Board of Education, could not be reached to comment.
Keenan, who was defeated for re-election in November after serving one term, said he doesn't know how much property tax the community has lost but noted most of it goes to the Hubbard school district.
"It's a shame that it's happened," said John Darko, council president, who agreed a probe is required.
Communications tower
In another matter, council again tabled legislation approving an agreement with Alltel to construct a communications tower on city-owned property on Creed Avenue.
Keenan pointed out the city doesn't have a proposed agreement with Alltel to act upon.
Lawmakers have received a petition signed by 178 residents who are against the tower because of what they maintain are long-term health risks to those who would live near it.
Also during the meeting, Auditor Michael Villano reported it cost the city $31,070 to clean up a portion of its dump.
The city was ordered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to removed debris from the adjoining wetlands behind Maple Grove Cemetery or face fines.
Villano said it took only 21/2 weeks to get the job done.
In other business, Atty. Jeffrey Adler, a Timber Creek housing development resident, threatened a lawsuit if city services are withheld from the 45 homes in the development.
Mayor-elect Arthur U. Magee has said he will withhold city services from the development unless the streets are dedicated, or accepted, by the city.
James Carsone Sr., head of Timber Point Development Co., the development company, told lawmakers that he has done everything required to get the streets in the development dedicated.
James J. Mahoney, vice president of Western Reserve Land Consultants Inc., said the development plats have been filed with the county recorder's office and approved by the city planning commission.
Councilman John Marshall, D-2nd, asked Villano to prepare a report on how much the city has spent to repair city utilities in the development.
Marshall noted that the developer should pay such expenses because the work was done on private property because the streets have not been dedicated.
yovich@vindy.com