TRUMBULL COUNTY Panel to OK car policy

Remaining issues can be addressed before the policy takes effect Nov. 1.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners are expected to approve a vehicle policy today that is likely to dramatically reduce the number of employees allowed to drive their county cars home at night.
The new policy forbids county-owned cars from being taken home by employees "except in the case of extenuating circumstances, or in the case of a demonstrated need to maintain public safety."
Most elected officials who had been issued cars to take to and from home have already returned them, said human resources director Jim Keating.
The county owns 45 unmarked cars, vans and trucks. The list includes vehicles used by building inspectors, caseworkers and on-call highway department workers, Keating said.
Until three months ago, 15 cars had also been dedicated for the full-time use of department heads and elected officials, who had the privilege of taking them home at night.
The policy expected to be approved today does not address whether vehicles being returned will be kept or sold, or how a pool of cars for employee use would be managed.
To address questions
Commissioners have time to address those questions before the new policy goes into effect Nov. 1, he said.
The regulations call for vehicles to only be used to transport county employees, on county business.
The assignment of particular cars for use by particular individuals will be made by county commissioners, based on written requests, and reviewed annually, the policy says.
The county currently reimburses employees who use private cars for county business at the rate of 32 1/2 cents a mile.
Employees will be required to use a county car on trips longer than 50 miles.