Thursday, May 8, 2008
A councilman said he had tried to resolve the dispute.
SALEM — David Johnson was not pleased by city council’s refusal to pay its safety director.
“It’s typical incompetence,” Johnson said Wednesday. “It’s one of the most incompetent city councils I’ve seen in Salem in my life.”
Johnson, a lifelong resident of Salem and the chairman of the Republican party in Columbiana County, spoke after council refused Tuesday to pay Greg Oesch. The new mayor, Jerry Wolford, and Oesch are Republicans.
Wolford could not be reached to comment. Wolford appointed Oesch, but council had refused to pay Oesch and also abolished the safety director’s post.
Wolford then created a new position with a new title for the same job. The job would have paid $704 a month.
Councilman Earl A. Schory II, and fellow Democrats Dennis Groves, Mary Ann Dzuracky and Clyde Brown voted not to fund the post.
Democrat Councilman Justin Palmer dropped his opposition to Oesch so council and the administration could focus on economic development.
Johnson, a businessman, said that companies won’t invest in communities where city officials are fighting.
Palmer asked Schory to reconsider the move during the council meeting. When contacted Wednesday about whether he might try to resolve the issue, Palmer said, “I gave it my best shot.”
Oesch was working in city hall Wednesday. He referred all questions to Wolford.
wilkinson@vindy.com