Commissioners vote against motions to fill two positions

John Cox was given a $6,700 raise after the board meeting.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County still is without a full-time dog warden or recycling division director, as county commissioners failed Tuesday to name permanent appointees to those posts.
A motion to hire David Nelson of Youngstown as dog warden was defeated 2-1, with Commissioner Vicki Allen Sherlock voting in favor and Commissioners Ed Reese and David Ludt dissenting.
A proposed promotion for John Cox, from assistant director of the recycling division to director, also went down by a 2-1 vote, with Reese being the lone vote in favor of the promotion.
Filling in
Commissioners then tapped Cox to hold the director's position on an interim basis. He was given a $6,700 a year raise, taking his annual salary to $65,000.
The raise wasn't voted on during the meeting but was approved afterward during a commissioners' staff meeting, according to Ludt and Sherlock.
Connie Pierce, human resources director, said wage adjustments aren't required to be voted on during a board meeting. That can be done by commissioners signing a "personnel action request" for an employee, which is then submitted to the county auditor, who issues paychecks, she said.
Pierce said raises have been similarly approved for other county employees who have been placed in interim leadership positions.
Cox has been assistant director of the recycling division for the past five years. Reese said Cox deserves to be promoted to director, succeeding Timothy Berlekamp, who resigned Friday to take another job.
But Ludt and Sherlock said the county should instead open the position to other applicants, rather than simply hiring from within, to ensure that the best person gets the job.
"I think that's healthy," Sherlock said.
Sherlock said as interim director, Cox has time to "prove himself" on the job before a new board of commissioners takes office next year. Sherlock and Reese are not seeking re-election when their terms expire at the end of the year.
Dog warden
The dog warden's position has been vacant since May 31, when Carol Markovich retired. Commissioners received more than 30 applications for the job and have narrowed the list to five finalists. Nelson, who works as humane agent for Animal Charities of Ohio, is among the top five.
Sherlock pushed for his appointment Tuesday, saying it's time to hire someone. She accused Ludt and Reese of stalling the issue, and said Nelson is the best person for the job.
Local veterinarians Donald Allen and Suzanne Wilcox spoke in favor of hiring Nelson.
Reese said he's not opposed to Nelson, but wants more time to consider the matter before he decides.
Ludt said he won't hire someone until he's assured by the county budget commission that there will be enough money in the coffers to pay a dog warden. The job currently is being done on an interim basis by Mike Fox, a longtime department employee who also is on the list of finalists.
bjackson@vindy.com