GIRARD Mayor jumped the gun in ordering sewer plant probe, investigator says

By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The city administration acted prematurely in ordering an investigation of flooding at the sewage treatment plant, the police chief investigator says.
"I'm not thrilled they dumped it in our lap," Capt. Frank Bigowsky said Friday.
Police were called in Wednesday to probe the switching off of two of four pumps at the South State Street facility.
With a Tuesday night thunderstorm, the plant basement filled with sewage and water.
The pump motors in the basement were damaged and liquid sewage was discharged into Little Squaw Creek, which flows into the Mahoning River.
Mayor James J. Melfi alleges there was wrongdoing, although he stopped short of calling it sabotage.
Bigowsky said there should have been an initial internal investigation, and the administration "let the cat out of the bag," making the investigation more difficult.
"We'll look into it," the captain added.
"If he's unable to handle it, we'll find some other agency to do it," said Melfi, who responded to Bigowsky's comments. "It's his job to do the investigation."
"It [the probe] will be done because I ordered it done," the mayor said.
Unknowns
Bigowsky said it hasn't been determined if there was criminal activity at the plant or if the pumps were turned off by mistake.
Bigowsky was at the plant Friday talking to Ray Ragozine, facility superintendent.
Melfi said police were to interview plant employees.
Melfi explained millions of dollars in state and federal funds were used to construct the plant, and he will go outside the city police department if the investigation requires that step.
Bigowsky noted that he doesn't yet know if he will ask the employees to take polygraph tests.
Melfi had said the pumps were on and functioning when employees left the facility for the day Tuesday afternoon.
The fence that surrounds the plant was not damaged and the lock on the fence gate was intact.
Melfi said three of four pumps functioned after the sewage and water was pumped out of the basement, and the fourth is drying out. Most of the damage is to the electrical system.
The initial damage estimate is $30,000, although that could increase, the mayor noted.
yovich@vindy.com