Council president wants policy for appointments

A spot is still vacant on the New Castle Area Transit Authority.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Council President Rob Ratkovich would like to see the city initiate a policy that would govern how individuals are appointed to various authorities.
Specifically, the procedure would require candidates to submit to a criminal background check, Ratkovich explained at a council meeting Thursday.
Additionally, authority openings should be announced publicly and posted in a local newspaper, he added.
When an opening on a city authority occurs, the mayor recommends a candidate to council. Council must then vote on whether to appoint the individual. Council recently started asking candidates for r & eacute;sum & eacute;s.
"Now we just see a r & eacute;sum & eacute; and a face now, but that doesn't tell us everything," Ratkovich said. "I think we need to look into this. We could do something similar to what the county is doing."
Last year, the Lawrence County commissioners enacted a measure that requires criminal background checks to be completed on all individuals seeking to serve on county authority boards.
On back burner
In a related matter, council tabled a resolution to name Carmen Rozzi to the New Castle Area Transit Authority until Ratkovich has an opportunity to review Rozzi's r & eacute;sum & eacute;.
Ratkovich and council members Chet Orelli and Christine Sands voted to table the resolution. Councilman Will Quimby voted against the delay. Ratkovich said the item would be discussed again at council's May 9 work session.
Mayor Wayne Alexander submitted Rozzi's name to council for consideration to fill Donald Conti's term, which is to expire Aug. 31, 2008. Conti pleaded guilty to a gambling device violation earlier this year.