TRUMBULL COUNTY Commissioner aims to keep Delmont from buildings

Commissioners had unanimously approved firing the maintenance director.
By STEPHEN SIFF
and PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County Commissioner Michael O'Brien said he will ask prosecutors to investigate ways to keep the county's former maintenance director, Tony Delmont, from setting foot in county buildings.
O'Brien said the move is "prudent" until a criminal case against Delmont is settled.
Delmont has pleaded innocent to a seven-count indictment charging him with bribery, money laundering and theft in office.
Delmont, a 27-year county employee, was fired by commissioners Wednesday, a week after he failed to show up or offer a defense at a predisciplinary hearing.
Earlier Wednesday, county employees called the sheriff's department when they noticed Delmont's truck parked near the maintenance department.
"He just went over there, picked up some papers and left," Sheriff Thomas Altiere said. "I don't know why we even got called. I have no clue."
Last week, maintenance department workers recovered a county-owned gas-powered leaf bagger from Delmont's home that had been missing for about a year.
Allegations at hearing
At a disciplinary hearing last week, First Assistant County Prosecutor James Misocky presented evidence that Delmont accepted bribes, vacations and gifts in return for allowing vendors to overcharge and oversell goods to Trumbull County.
In a letter dated Tuesday, Misocky recommended that commissioners fire Delmont "based on the overwhelming evidence in this matter."
Commissioner James Tsagaris said he thought the commissioners had enough evidence to act.
"Our legal representative told us we do now, so I guess we do," he said.
Wednesday, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution authorizing Delmont's termination for "misfeasance, malfeasance, and nonfeasance, acts of dishonesty and other failures of good behavior."
An attorney for Delmont said he is not surprised.
"I don't know why they had the disciplinary hearing," Atty. Dan Thomas said. "We are going to appeal with the state employment board of review."
Delmont has not been receiving pay or health benefits from the county since commissioners Angelo and Tsagaris voted last month to suspend him. O'Brien wanted to fire him then.
Proper process
Angelo said he held off on firing Delmont because he wanted to make sure the proper process was followed. Since 1978, three employees fired by commissioners were eventually reinstated, costing taxpayers $267,000.
"I'm confident we followed the letter of the law," Angelo said Wednesday. "Our action today will not cost taxpayer money. We are confident we have done it the right way."
The other workers were not fired on suspicion of theft or dishonesty, O'Brien pointed out.
"I'm glad my colleagues have come around to my point of view that Mr. Delmont should be terminated," O'Brien said. "In my opinion, this step should have been taken five weeks ago."
Delmont has been off work since crashing a county truck in February. He will continue to receive worker's compensation checks for 72 percent of his $71,000-a-year salary, regardless of his employment status, officials say.
Worker's compensation would only be discontinued if he is incarcerated or if doctors say his back injury will improve no further, officials say.
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