TRUMBULL COUNTY Gustavus trustees sue ex-fire group treasurer

By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- On the same day when a pretrial hearing was held in the criminal case against the former treasurer of the defunct Gustavus Volunteer Firefighters Association, she was sued by Gustavus Township trustees.
Tangi Day-Kopp, 44, of 475 York St., North Bloomfield, faces criminal charges of theft in office and tampering with records, both felonies, in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. She is free on $2,500 cash or surety bond and faces up to 6 1/2 years in prison if convicted. On Monday, the case was set for an Aug. 28 trial date.
Lawsuit
But Gustavus Township trustees also filed suit against her and the Gustavus Volunteer Firefighters Association Inc. Monday, saying Day-Kopp failed to account for levy money, failed to spend the money for lawful and contractual purposes, converted money to her personal use and failed to report receipts and expenditures of such money.
The suit, filed by James T. Saker, chief of the Civil Division of the Trumbull County Prosecutor's office, asks for damages of $23,208 for money spent in an unauthorized manner, $6,955 in findings for recovery and $3,993 for the cost of an auditor by the Ohio Auditor's office -- a total of $34,156.
The suit asks for those same amounts as damages from the Gustavus Volunteer Firefighter Association Inc. It says amounts required of the firefighter association should be reduced to the extent that they are paid by Day-Kopp.
The association was a nonprofit group that contracted with the township trustees to provide fire protection.
The lawsuit lists Robert Miller as president of the firefighters association and says the association was required to submit monthly reports to the township and to send a year-end financial accounting for all receipts and expenditures of the fire department.
It says the association was negligent by failing to account and report financial information to the township, by using or spending money for unauthorized and/or unlawful purposes and by failing to control and or properly train Day-Kopp.
In early December, the state auditor's office issued a finding for recovery of $6,955 against Day-Kopp and the firefighters association after a special audit of the association's finances.
Township Trustee Robert S. Phillips said that after discrepancies came to light, the township refused to continue its contract with the association and the township took over firefighting responsibilities.
Miller said he would not comment on the case until he had seen it. No listing could be found for Day-Kopp. The case is assigned to Judge Andrew Logan.