Tony Carson likely anticipated trouble, commissioner reports

Commissioner Heltzel said he demands accountability from county employees.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County Commissioner Paul Heltzel says he did not ask Tony Carson Jr. to resign as administrator -- though he concedes he has clashed with him.
Thursday, the day after Carson resigned with a single-sentence note handed to Paulette Godfrey, the commissioners' clerk, Heltzel recounted events that had occurred.
Heltzel said he had asked Carson early on Wednesday to research some issues pertaining to a recommendation from the Senior Citizens Advisory Council. The recommendation was that the commissioners give $151,000 to the Niles-Trumbull Transit System.
Heltzel had not received the information by later in the day and asked Godfrey to find Carson and ask him for it. Heltzel said he had intended to be in Columbus on Wednesday, and he believes Carson thought he could ignore the request because he would be gone.
Godfrey called Carson in the afternoon while Carson was in contract negotiations. Carson returned to the office and shortly thereafter submitted his resignation, Godfrey said.
The clerk said Carson didn't tell her a reason why he was resigning, only saying, "I will miss everyone here" and leaving, she said.
Heltzel said he believes Carson knew he was going to be in trouble with him for failing to complete the task -- even though the two did not talk personally Wednesday.
"He must have known I was p-----," Heltzel said. He added he believes Godfrey would have conveyed his mood.
"I would have given him a hard time. It's timely stuff," Heltzel said of the assignment. "When I ask for information or work, I expect it to be done right away."
Contacted in person at home in Cortland on Wednesday, Carson said he would not comment on his resignation.
Potential job opportunities
Carson said only that he has worked in business just as much as government, has a new master's degree and always stays watchful for new career opportunities.
Carson's 2006 base salary was set at $62,568. Adding his public retirement and a few other fringe benefits, the total is $72,714, the county auditor's office reported.
Heltzel added that Carson was supposed to take some vacation time starting Thursday and probably believed he wouldn't have to answer Heltzel's request until he came back in about 10 days.
Heltzel said he treats county employees such as Carson the way any business person would: "If he comes to me and says, 'I'm sorry. My kid had a softball game,' he's gone," Heltzel said.
The commissioner said Carson has applied for at least three jobs in recent months and has recently acquired his master's degree in business administration. "He'll land on his feet," Heltzel said.
Heltzel said Carson recently came to commissioners seeking a raise to cover the next couple of years and hoping to secure his position. Heltzel said he believes Carson was wondering whether he would be let go after his friend, Commissioner James Tsagaris, leaves the office at the end of the year.
Heltzel said he continues to believe that Trumbull County will need an administrator.
He noted that Carson may have also been under some personal stress because of family matters involving the recent arrest of his son, Adam Carson, on bank robbery charges.