Vindicator questions private meeting

A public hearing was held on an annexation from Bazetta to Cortland.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Just because it's always been done that way doesn't make it right.
That's the message several Trumbull County officials got Wednesday after the Investment Advisory Board met without notifying anyone except board members.
Questions were raised by The Vindicator after county Commissioners Paul Heltzel and James Tsagaris; their clerk, Paulette Godfrey; county Administrator Tony Carson Jr.; and various officials from the county treasurer's office; held the morning meeting in private.
Jason Earnhart, assistant prosecutor and the commissioners' legal counsel, looked into the matter with Barbara Katzenberger, deputy treasurer, whose office called the meeting. Earnhart informed her that Ohio open meetings law requirements must be met -- meaning that the press must be notified.
"Nothing they did was nefarious. They were just doing it the way it was always done," Earnhart said.
Carson agreed that the Investment Advisory Board has been meeting for many years without notifying the press.
"It was an oversight," he said. "They usually last about a minute." He added that he often doesn't attend the meetings and thinks very few people would find them to be of interest.
According to state law, however, the board's function is to discuss the investment of county funds and what financial instruments will provide for the best and safest return on those funds.
Katzenberger said Treasurer Christ Michelakis normally runs the meeting. She was just filling in Wednesday.
Proposed annexation
Later, in a separate session, county commissioners had a public hearing on a proposed annexation of a one-acre property at 4676 Warren-Meadville Road from Bazetta Township to Cortland. The owners, Russell and Shirley Lauer of state Route 5 in Cortland, are the petitioners.
The Lauers said they want the annexation so they can get public water from Cortland and tie in to the city's sewage system rather than upgrade the septic system on the property.
Atty. George Gessner, who represented the Lauers, said the property, which is adjacent to Cortland, is an island in the sense that it is a long distance from Bazetta fire and police protection and would be better served by Cortland services.
No one attended the hearing to speak against the annexation. Commissioners have 30 days to rule on the request.
During the commissioners' regular meeting Wednesday, they approved a resolution to sell notes in anticipation of issuing bonds in the amount of $600,000 for renovation of various county buildings such as the courthouse and Family Court building.
They also approved advertising for bids for the North Road construction project, which will involve resurfacing and widening the road a couple of feet in each lane from U.S. Route 422 to East Market Street. The county expects to start construction in September.
runyan@vindy.com