COLUMBIANA CO. Expenses meeting is delayed

The council wants to first see the results of a criminal probe and state audit.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel is backing off his call for a health district advisory council to meet to review the county health department expenditures.
Hoppel said Thursday that he has discussed the idea of a special meeting of the advisory council with its chairman, Carl Garwood, a Fairfield Township trustee. They have decided a meeting should be postponed until a criminal probe and state audit of health Commissioner Robert Morehead's use of a county-issued credit card is completed.
"We'll just wait until the results come out and we have definite things to discuss," said Hoppel
"In all fairness to everyone, it would be appropriate to wait" before meeting to review the matter, Garwood said. Earlier this week, Garwood said he has always been impressed by Morehead's job performance. Garwood also referred to the health board "as a super organization."
Critical of board
Hoppel had previously questioned the five-member health board's oversight of Morehead and even suggested exploring the procedure to recall health board members.
The panel is chosen by the nearly 30-member advisory council, made up of Hoppel, as county commissioner, and township trustees and mayors of cities and villages.
Besides naming health board members, the advisory council also may make recommendations to the health board.
Hoppel acknowledged having changed his mind about the need for the advisory council to meet soon.
"Maybe I have changed my attitude," Hoppel said without elaborating.
He added that he's always "had a lot of confidence" in the health board.
The panel relied on Morehead to be honest, Hoppel said.
He added it was "poor judgment" for Morehead to use the county-issued credit card in 2003 and early this year for personal buys, including novels, golf accessories and Christmas gifts.
Morehead has said he has repaid the county for the personal buys and won't do it again.
Prosecutor ordered probe
His activities may constitute improper use of a credit card, county Prosecutor Robert Herron has said. Herron ordered the criminal probe and requested the state audit into Morehead's actions.
The health board has acknowledged it hadn't previously scrutinized Morehead's expense reports but intends to begin doing so now. Morehead will be permitted to continue using a county-issued credit card, health board chairman Dr. Jack Amato has said.
Regarding other questionable spending, Hoppel said he doesn't object to Morehead's charging the public for hundreds of dollars in business meals at Pondi's, a Lisbon bar and restaurant owned by health board member Matt Borza.
"I'm not sure there's anything wrong" with the practice, said Hoppel, who added that Morehead ate at Pondi's before Borza became owner.
leigh@vindy.com