COLUMBIANA COUNTY Board accepts contract report

Commissioners said 12 applicants want CDBG funds for 17 projects.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners approved a fact finder's report for a three-year contract between the commissioners and five county employees represented by the Glass Molders and Potters Union Local 384.
The contract for five employees, including the commissioner's office secretary, two maintenance workers and two sewer and water department workers, expired May 1, Commissioner Jim Hoppel said.
The commissioners approved the report Wednesday but would not say what's in it because the union hasn't reviewed it yet.
Hoppel said the negotiations were turned over to a fact finder because the two sides could not reach agreement on three key issues. He declined to say what those issues are.
Another problem
Also at Wednesday's meeting, Diane Reiter, a recorder's office employee and president of Local 384, complained about lack of communication by commissioners to the union employees.
Reiter explained that although many employees are represented by the GMP, each office has separate negotiations. She said she is not involved in the negotiations related to the fact finder's report but represents all GMP employees.
She said the commissioners violated a 60-day notice clause in all the GMP contracts because union employees weren't notified of changes to the health insurance plans.
Reiter said the GMP could have lodged complaints against the commissioners to the State Employment Relations Board, but that would only further delay various contract negotiations. She simply wanted to let commissioners know of the violation and the union's hope that proper notification will be given any time health insurance changes are considered.
Hoppel said the commissioners did not notify the employees about the plans to change the health coverage.
He said the 60-day notice allows the commissioners to change health insurance premiums in the middle of a contract, and because negotiations are ongoing, commissioners considered notification of such changes was implied.
Commissioner Gary Williams added that commissioners considered verbal notification implied because the contract clause requiring 60 days' notice does not specifically state that notification to employees must be given in writing.
CDBG grants
Commissioners are in the midst of a series of meetings that will culminate in selection of county projects for funding by the next round of Community Development Block Grants.
Commissioner Sean Logan said 12 applicants submitted 17 proposals for projects throughout the county.
Logan said two public hearings are required before the county application is submitted to the state. The first hearing was Feb. 12; the second will be June 27.
At the May 28 commissioners' meeting, applicants hoping to see projects funded may make a short presentation about their project. The commissioners will announce June 4 which projects are eligible for funding.
On June 23, county economic development officials will meet with the representatives of the Ohio Department of Development's office of housing and community partnerships to preview the applications.
County economic development officials will send the final application to the Department of Development on July 7.