County workers put off concessions vote

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

milliken@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Members of Teamsters Local 377 who work for the Mahoning County Engineer’s Office decided not to vote on concessions in a meeting at the union hall Thursday.

“The state is doing a performance audit. It’s a very thorough audit,” which won’t be completed until June, said Sam Prosser, union president.

The membership wanted to wait for completion of that audit of the engineer’s office and for a written guarantee that, if any concessions are taken, no more layoffs will occur, Prosser said.

“We think it’s important for not only the workers, but for the citizens of Mahoning County, to know where the money’s going,” in the engineer’s office, he said.

Earlier on Thursday, county Engineer Richard Marsico said the 11 layoffs scheduled to occur today would take effect regardless of any concessions vote or lack thereof.

Those being laid off today are a mechanic, five truck drivers and five laborers.

The union has appealed the layoffs to the state personnel board of review.

If the union were to take concessions at some point, management would “re-evaluate and try to reduce the amount of layoffs,” said Marilyn Kenner, chief deputy county engineer. She also said she hopes to recall some of the laid-off workers later this year for snow and ice removal work if the budget allows it.

Kenner said the layoffs stem from declining license-plate fee revenue and that she is not aware of any state or federal agency having launched a probe of the county engineer’s office beyond its normal review of the office’s operations.

Among the concessionary ideas discussed earlier by union leaders and engineer’s office management were taking one unpaid furlough day a month to save two jobs and giving up longevity pay and hazardous- duty pay to save two more jobs, Prosser said.

Prosser repeated his allegation that the engineer’s office is top heavy. “You have supervisors that supervise one person. It’s ridiculous,” he said.

Twelve supervisors have authority over 58 union members, from which the 11 will be laid off today, Kenner said, denying Prosser’s allegation that the department is top heavy.