Ohio’s education chancellor won’t probe YSU employee contract

YOUNGSTOWN — Ohio’s chancellor of higher education won’t be launching his own investigation into Youngstown State University’s handling of its employee contracts.

A spokesman for Eric Fingerhut said the chancellor has no authority in the matter.

Fingerhut is aware of the issues regarding YSU’s Association of Classified Employees contract, but investigating the university administration’s communications and actions regarding employee contract negotiations is beyond his purview, said spokesman Michael Chaney.

Fingerhut hopes the issues will be resolved quickly, Chaney said.

The chancellor did receive an anonymous letter from someone claiming to be a YSU employee with 29 years of public service, asking that he convene an immediate investigation by “a truly independent investigator” with no ties to the university, Chaney said.

The letter writer questioned what information was provided to the trustees by the administration before they voted

on the contract last July, and cited an e-mail purportedly written by Craig Bickley, then-YSU’s chief human resources officer and chief negotiator on the contract, that indicated there was a consensus of the YSU president’s cabinet to limit the level of detail to be presented to the board, although that detail would be available should it be requested.

Chaney said the chancellor was unable to respond directly to the letter writer because it was sent anonymously.

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com