Treasurer is criticized over firing method

A second deputy in the
treasurer’s office quit after being there a month.

By JEANNE STARMACK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

NEW CASTLE — The county treasurer has been criticized for the way he dismissed an employee in his office.

Megan Caffro, who had worked in the treasurer’s office for about seven years, was terminated from her position by registered letter Feb. 9.

Caffro said Tuesday her union has advised her not to comment on the termination.

Her mother, Kiley Cozza, was one of several people who protested the firing and how it was handled to county commissioners at their Tuesday meeting.

Cozza told The Vindicator her daughter was a bookkeeper for the treasurer, handling dog, hunting and fishing licenses.

Caffro’s union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local No. 2902, filed a grievance over the dismissal with the treasurer’s office last week, Treasurer Richard L. Rapone confirmed. He would not immediately release a copy of the grievance to The Vindicator, saying he wanted to check with legal counsel first.

Rapone would not say why Caffro was fired, citing the need to keep personnel matters confidential.

Cozza also said she did not want to discuss details.

But Cozza told the commissioners she hoped that the firing would be dealt with openly.

“I’m not going to let this be swept under the rug,” she said. “My daughter was wrongly accused and fired.”

Other residents at the meeting also spoke out about it.

Donna Stickle said she did not approve of the way the termination was handled. “She should not have been sent a letter on a Saturday,” Stickle said.

Rosemary Henderson said Rapone has “cast a shadow” with the firing.

Commissioners told those who spoke that they’ve had some e-mails and phone calls over the firing.

Commissioner Dan Vogler commended Stickle, who said she’d spoken with Rapone about it.

“You have to go to the treasurer — he needs to hear it from taxpayers,” Vogler said.

“We’re going to follow the letter of the law to protect the interests of the county and all its employees,” Commissioner Steve Craig told Cozza.

Commissioners also approved an independent contractor agreement with a former deputy in the treasurer’s office who quit last week after only a month on the job.

John Curran will now perform fiscal duties for the county’s mental health/mental retardation program.

Curran came to the treasurer’s office as its second deputy after being let go when Huntington Bank took over Sky Bank, Rapone said. Curran never gave a reason for his resignation, he said.

Commissioners said that Curran’s salary in the treasurer’s office was $33,000 a year. He will make almost $38,000 under his new contract, which runs thorough Dec. 31.