City OKs severance packages

YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s board of control approved severance packages for three employees, including a fired firefighter facing felony drug trafficking charges.

The city is required to pay severance packages to all employees leaving its service regardless of the situation. The board approved the severance proposals at its Thursday meeting.

Andre Johnson will receive a $1,646 severance package, primarily for unused vacation hours and hazardous duty pay. He was earning $9.43 an hour with the city. The city paid him 6 cents for unused sick time.

When a person no longer works for the city, they are paid 100 percent of their unused vacation and longevity pay, and 35 percent of their unused sick time.

Johnson, a firefighter since June 2006, was fired Dec. 8 by the city because he was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury on marijuana possession and drug trafficking charges with forfeiture specifications.

For more, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com