TRUMBULL COUNTY Mayor OKs payment to ex-official

The work time grew during labor talks and flooding, the mayor says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Mayor James J. Melfi has approved a $2,600 payment to his former safety director to leave. As safety director and in charge of human resources, Frank Rich negotiated the current contracts with city unions that contain wage freezes.
The city has been under a state-imposed fiscal emergency since August 2001.
Rich resigned effective mid-April after 41/2 years at the post to take a job with Astro Shapes Inc., an aluminum extruding company in Struthers. After leaving the city, Rich submitted a request that he be paid 156 hours in compensatory time. With a $35,516 annual salary, Rich will be paid $2,600.
Melfi said he requires his appointees to account for their time because some were leaving work for their own business before he took office.
Mayor's comments
"I did not allow my appointees to come and go as they pleased like other [city] employees," the mayor asserted.
Most of Rich's accumulated time was the result of labor negotiations with city unions and dealing with last summer's flooding, Melfi explained.
"I'm very comfortable with his [Rich's] work," Melfi said, noting his bargaining labor contracts saved the city about $100,000.
Melfi agreed to the payment, he said, after the issue received a favorable opinion by Law Director Mark Standohar.
Firefighter Phil Cretella Jr., president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1120, declined to comment about the payment because he was unaware the mayor had approved it.
Patrol Officer Daniel Rau, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 52, said his membership isn't opposed because police and firefighters are entitled to compensatory time when they retire.
Police can receive up to 240 hours; firefighters, 480, Rau said.
"If it's legal, it's legal. If it's illegal, we'll fight it," Rau commented Friday.