Youngstown to pay firefighter improperly fired for leaving the city

YOUNGSTOWN — City council will consider legislation Wednesday to pay $171,024.91 in back pay and other benefits to a firefighter improperly fired three years ago.

The city fired Joseph P. Wrenn three years ago for violating the city’s residency requirement.

Wrenn moved to Poland after the state Legislature voted in June 2006 to overturn residency requirement laws in cities, villages and counties in Ohio for their workers as a condition of employment.

The city fired Wrenn and then-police Patrolman Daniel Tickerhoof, who moved to Canal Fulton in Stark County. City administrators said the two violated the city’s residency law that required all city employees hired since 1986 to live in Youngstown.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in June that the state law was constitutional and didn’t violate cities’ home-rule authority.

Youngstown was forced to reinstate Wrenn and Tickerhoof after the court decision.

Tickerhoof took a $70,000 settlement from the city a few months ago and agreed to resign.

Wrenn is staying, however.

The $171,024.91 is back pay and other financial benefits Wrenn would have received if he wasn’t fired, minus the amount of money he earned from a part-time job he took when the city terminated his employment, said Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com