Township police chief considers job change

By Denise Dick

Trustees want the chief to stay, the chairman says.

BOARDMAN — Police Chief Patrick Berarducci is the only candidate from outside the Medina Police Department who was asked to take the civil-service test for police chief of that city.

Berarducci, 58, was hired by the township in February 2007 and given a three-year contract. It runs out in February 2010. He earns about $103,709 annually.

“The issue to me is my contract,” he said.

In Medina, the police chief job is civil service. The Medina job pays between $71,988 and $91,894 annually although that city also pays the chief’s contribution to the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund, which amounts to about 10 percent more pay.

“I would be there until I decided to retire,” Berarducci said. “The job in Boardman is essentially at the will of the trustees.”

Berarducci said he hopes to work for six to 10 more years before retiring.

The township has asked the state auditor’s office to review its books to determine if it faces a fiscal watch designation.

Berarducci said, though, the financial situation isn’t playing into his decision to apply for the other position.

“That’s not my personality,” he said. “I don’t mind doing the hard job.”

Berarducci, who worked as an agent for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, formerly lived in Medina and maintains a house there. His son also is buried in that city.

The chief rents a condominium in the township.

“Everybody has said they want me to stay, but nobody has been willing to write that down,” Berarducci said.

Larry Moliterno, trustees chairman, said the chief has done a good job under difficult circumstances, referring to low staffing and financial constraints.

But Berarducci is the only township department head who has a contract. When Administrator Jason Loree’s contract ran out in November, trustees decided not to give him a new pact but to keep Loree in the same job under the same terms.

The idea was not to have department heads under contract.

“I don’t think you need to have a contract,” Moliterno said. “If you do a good job, you’ll be there for a long time.”

Trustee Kathy Miller said Berarducci has done a great job for the community and was instrumental in helping to pass November’s 2.2-mill safety levy.

“He has been able to do more with less while being an advocate for the safety of our citizens and the police department personnel,” Miller said. “When the chief asked to extend his contract the majority of the board did not want to.”

She said she disagreed and broached the subject a few months later with her fellow trustees.

“It is my opinion a police chief should be an independent position that is not subject to political pressure,” Miller said, favoring a contract — and noting the chief had offered to reduce his pay if the contract was extended.

Moliterno said he understands Berarducci’s position in wanting a secure post.

“There’s never been discussion among the board of us wanting him to go,” Moliterno said. “All of the current trustees want him to stay.”

The former Medina chief, paid $100,000 annually, resigned effective this month after 26 years with the department and 13 as chief, to run for mayor. The sitting mayor’s term is up at year’s end and she has decided not to seek re-election, according to published reports.

Laureen Wilson, secretary of Medina’s civil service commission, said under commission rules, the mayor may ask up to two applicants for the police chief job to take the civil service test.

Berarducci is the only outside candidate who was asked. He will take the test July 8.

The other two candidates are from within the Medina Police Department. Provided all three candidates pass, it’s up to the mayor, who also is that city’s safety director, to name the chief.

The civil service test is an executive assessment and will be developed by ISSG Consultants of Akron. The test will include work online, on paper and in an interview.

denise_dick@vindy.com