Meeting will address coverage for part-timers

WARREN — Two members of the Trumbull County Board of Elections are to meet with the county prosecutor’s office to determine if the prosecutor has a conflict of interest in determining that health insurance should not be provided to board members.

Kelly Pallante, elections board director, said board members Christ Michelakis and Craig Bonar will set up a meeting with Prosecutor Dennis Watkins to determine if the county commissioners acted properly. Commissioners did not renew health benefits for Bonar as he began a new four-year term as a part-time member.

Since three board members are not seeking insurance coverage, it only applies to Bonar because he began his term March 4.

The board received a Feb. 4 letter from James Keating, county human resource director, who wrote that effective Feb. 29, health coverage was to cease.

In a written opinion, James Saker, an assistant county prosecutor who provides legal advice to the board, wrote that state law had allowed board of election members to receive county-paid health coverage.

In 2005, state law was changed and county commissioners had to approve the health benefit.

Saker wrote that since commissioners didn’t vote to approve coverage, “then no insurance could commence or begin or continue for Mr. Bonar.”

Since the prosecutor’s office represents the county commissioners and election board, Bonar is raising a possible conflict-of-interest issue.

Bonar has told the board that hiring an outside attorney would cost between $5,000 and $8,000.

Rokey Suleman II, deputy director of the elections board, said board members Michelakis and Ralph Infant have told him that part-time employees should not receive public-paid health coverage.