Sunday, May 25, 2003
The health board member who the attorney general says is ineligible to serve did not vote.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HARTFORD -- The Trumbull County Board of Health has agreed to pay former administrator George Buccella to go away for good.
Attorneys for Buccella and the board agreed to the settlement Wednesday night, right before the board was to take testimony on Buccella's job performance in a public hearing to fire him -- again.
Buccella has already been fired twice -- once by the health commissioner, Dr. James Enyeart, in October -- then by board action a few months later.
In an appeal to an administrative judge at the State Personnel Board of Review, Buccella argued he was entitled to job protections generally extended to lower-level workers. The appeal is pending.
Buccella, who earned $41,600 a year, declined to comment.
"Looking at our options, the crapshoot with the court, a settlement seemed prudent," Enyeart said.
Officials would not disclose details of the settlement, which will become public after board approval.
It is being reviewed by lawyers on both sides.
Participated in session
Despite a ruling that he cannot hold a seat on the health board while keeping his day job as McDonald village administrator, Robert O'Connell sat with the board Wednesday and participated in a closed session.
He said he will abstain from voting until his situation is resolved.
"I'm not here to make any trouble," he said.
It would be up to the Trumbull County prosecutor or the state attorney general to take the next step toward removing O'Connell by filing an action in the 11th District Court of Appeals.
O'Connell has not cast a swing vote since he was appointed to the health board by a committee of township and village officials three months ago, said assistant prosecutor Jason Earnhart, who represents the board.
The committee met earlier this week to appoint a replacement for Dr. Douglas Burchette, who resigned from the health board last month, but was unable to take action because too few members showed up.
The only qualified applicant for the seat was Dr. Pat DiTommaso, a retired osteopath from Liberty.
siff@vindy.com