TRUMBULL COUNTY Newbrough gets new job

The current sanitary engineer is taking a job with the regional water district.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NEWTON FALLS -- Trumbull County commissioners have tapped Gary Newbrough, director of the county planning commission since 1999, to serve as the new county sanitary engineer.
The move is one of a series of personnel shifts that county Administrator Tony Carson said will save the county $43,000 a year.
"This is just another example of commissioners' using taxpayer money wisely," Carson told the board after the vote at a meeting Wednesday in Newton Falls Municipal Court.
Newbrough, a professional engineer, will replace Tom Holloway, who is resigning as sanitary engineer April 16 to become chief engineer for the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.
Newbrough's salary will jump from $58,984 to $70,106 with the job change.
Hiring a professional engineer from outside the county to take the sanitary engineer's job would have cost the county at least $10,000 more than Newbrough will be paid, Commissioner James Tsagaris said.
"Not only are we saving money, we think he can do the job," Tsagaris said.
Holloway made $87,178 a year.
Background
Newbrough was educated at the Air Force Academy and worked for Orbital Engineering Inc. of Pittsburgh before taking the helm of the planning commission.
In 2001, he was suspended by the commission for two weeks for excessive absenteeism.
Newbrough's position on the planning commission will likely be filled by assistant director Alan Knapp, Carson said.
The planning commission will consider promoting Knapp when it meets Tuesday, Newbrough said.
Knapp, who has worked for the county since 1981, makes $54,189 a year.
If Knapp is promoted and the planning commission takes on a new employee, it will likely be at an entry-level salary, Carson said.
Entry-level planners earn $27,941.
siff@vindy.com