2 police officers leaving payroll

The city paid $70,000 to an officer for back pay and damages.

YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s board of control agreed to pay close to $100,000 to take two police officers off the payroll.

The board voted at a special meeting Monday to pay $70,000 in back pay and damages to Patrolman Daniel Tickerhoof, improperly fired by the city in September 2006.

As part of the settlement, Tickerhoof is leaving the Youngstown Police Department. He works for the police department in Canal Fulton, where he’s lived for about three years.

The city fired Tickerhoof because he moved from Youngstown a few months after the state Legislature overturned residency requirement laws in cities such as Youngstown.

Youngstown rehired Tickerhoof in July after the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the Legislature’s decision.

The board of control also approved a $24,744.58 severance payment Monday to former Lt. Thomas Mylott for unused sick and vacation time.

Mylott was among seven ranking police officers in Youngstown to take an early-retirement buyout. The deal is a year’s base salary paid equally over five years.

Overall, seven ranking officers took the buyout from the city, which is facing a budget deficit of more than $1 million.

The other six former officers received $225,668.73 in severance payments combined earlier this month.

The buyouts won’t save the city any money this year because of the large severance packages.

But city officials say taking officers off the payroll — their annual base salary alone ranges from $62,541.30 to $82,710.87 — will save the city about $700,000 next year.

The board of control consists of Mayor Jay Williams, Finance Director David Bozanich and Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello.

The city sent layoff notices Friday to 18 of its workers, seven full-time employees and 11 part-timers. The last day for the 18 workers is Sept. 4.

Because of unemployment costs, the city will save only $101,041 this year.

The city is expected to save between $300,000 and $600,000 from these layoffs next year.

The severance payments to be given to the 18 workers being laid off shouldn’t amount to more than $25,000 combined, Bozanich said.

Further layoffs are quite possible, city officials say.

skolnick@vindy.com