BOARDMAN Search continues for a zoning inspector

The job originally was offered to someone, then the trustees reconsidered.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Township trustees are again looking for someone to fill the assistant zoning inspector position.
In a 2-1 vote, trustees rescinded an offer of the assistant zoning inspector to Mark Cichanski Sr., who has served on the township's site plan review board for more than five years. Trustee Kathy Miller was the lone vote against rescinding the offer. Miller was also the lone vote against hiring Cichanski in the first place.
Cichanski was offered the position in late March after a statewide search by township officials that cost more than $5,000. The problem, township officials said, is that Cichanski owns and operates a business that they feel will pose a conflict with his duties in the zoning department. They wanted him to sell his business before coming to work for the township.
Cichanski is owner of Pro Masters Lawn Tree and Shrub Care on McClurg Road. Trustee Tom Costello has said it would not be wise for Cichanski to review plans in the zoning office on property that he may bid on through his private business.
Costello said Cichanski was given written notice to contact him with word of his intentions regarding the position by the end of the business day Monday. He said Cichanski did not contact him and trustees voted to rescind the offer.
"I'm totally dumbfounded by this. I thought he would have made contact if even to say 'thanks, but no thanks,' but he hasn't contacted us at all," he said.
Desperately needed
Costello is not sure in what direction trustees will go in filling the position. They could revisit the list of applications already received or they could advertise the job over again, but that would mean another $5,000 and several weeks' worth of time. Time is something Costello said trustees do not have. He said an assistant is needed immediately in the zoning office, where the inspector is working long hours and weekends to keep pace.
"My position is that we look closely at those we interviewed before and make a decision from there," Costello said. "We need help now. If we go through the advertising process, we are looking at the end of July. I am concerned about Darren [the zoning inspector] and I want to get him some help as soon as possible," he said.
A letter from attorney Robyn Gallitto on behalf of Cichanski says Cichanski does not own Pro Masters Landscaping. Cichanski said the business is owned by a trust and he is the president/operations manager. Cichanski also said the sale of the business was never mentioned during the interview process.
The letter also says that Ohio ethics laws do not prohibit public employees from engaging in outside employment so long as the outside work poses no conflict of interest. Cichanski said he will oppose the trustees' decision in court.