Panel to expand MVSD applicant pool

Youngstown council has appointed one person.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- After getting applications from only three people for a vacant seat on the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, Youngstown City Council's Public Utilities Committee will advertise in local newspapers for the post.
Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, utilities committee chairwoman, had asked members of council in January to ask constituents whether they were interested in serving on the water agency's board of directors.
Three people applied for the position:
Terri A. Simmons, a certified public accountant who owns Tabs Accounting and Tax Service Ltd.
Atty. Jack R. Vaughn, who recently finished serving 16 years on the city's Civil Service Commission.
Paul Drennen, a sales professional for Paychex.
Wanting to expand the search, the committee agreed to advertise for the position in local newspapers beginning Sunday. Also, those interested in obtaining more information about the job's responsibilities can call the city council office at (330) 742-8709.
Council members and some city officials said they weren't comfortable choosing its MVSD representative from only three people, and the utilities committee voted Thursday to advertise with the hope of getting a larger pool of applicants. Council wants to make an appointment sometime this month.
Changes under law
State law changed the makeup of the MVSD board after a special state audit of the agency in 1997 sought $2.7 million in findings for recovery, claiming that money was misspent. Only a fraction of that money was collected.
The law, which took effect in 1998, doubled the number of MVSD board members from two to four, and took the appointment power away from common pleas court judges in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Instead, the mayors and city councils of Youngstown and Niles, the MVSD's member cities, each get one appointment to the board.
Harry L. Johnson III was the only person ever appointed by Youngstown council. After eight years on the board, Johnson resigned in January to become the auditor/office manager of the city's water department.
"There's a stigma attached to the MVSD," Johnson told the utilities committee in reference to the 1997 state audit. "I'm not sure you'll get more people by advertising."
But Councilman Michael Rapovy, D-5th and a utilities committee member, said it can't hurt to advertise.
MVSD board members receive $200 a meeting, up to $2,400 annually.
The MVSD provides water to its member cities and the village of McDonald from the Meander Reservoir. The member cities sell the water to about 300,000 residents.
skolnick@vindy.com