MAHONING COUNTY Chief building inspector is praised as he retires

Commissioners said Don Hall lent expertise to the office he directed.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County's chief building official has retired after being off work some five months for medical reasons.
County commissioners approved Don C. Hall's retirement during their meeting Tuesday. They appointed Jeffrey S. Uroseva to serve as interim director of the Building Inspection Department until a full-time appointment is made.
Joseph Caruso, assistant county administrator, said no plans have been made for how a permanent replacement will be named.
Hall was placed on paid administrative leave by commissioners effective May 5. Caruso and Connie Pierce, county human resources director, said the leave was for medical reasons, not disciplinary. They would not elaborate, citing the need to protect Hall's medical privacy.
Commissioner Vicki Allen Sherlock said Hall "brought some expertise to the office that wasn't there before." She and Commissioners Ed Reese and David Ludt thanked Hall for his years of service and commended Uroseva for the job he has done as acting director since then.
Hall, 67, was named chief building official in February 1998 and was being paid $66,756 a year. Uroseva's pay was increased from $43,400 to $50,000 a year in May, when he became acting director in Hall's absence.
Contract
Commissioners also approved a $14,700 contract with Steel Valley Engineering Inc., Boardman, for renovation of a portion of the third floor of the courthouse.
Richard Malagisi, facilities manager, said the company will help with overhauling the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in space that was once occupied by the prosecutor's office, which has moved to another building.
Malagisi said the HVAC system in that part of the building was "self-contained" and was not connected to the system that serves the rest of the building. The system will be upgraded and linked up with the rest of the building, and the space will eventually be renovated into a courtroom for use by the common pleas courts, Malagisi said.
bjackson@vindy.com