43
Mahoning leaders shield sheriff from budget liability
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning County commissioners approved exempting Sheriff Randall A. Wellington from the risk of being held personally liable if he exceeds 60 percent of his annual payroll appropriation by June 30.
The commissioners took the action Thursday because the federal court order that required the county jail to be fully open and staffed didn’t expire until May 17. That order settled an inmate lawsuit concerning jail crowding.
On May 21, the sheriff issued notices to 86 deputies and two civilian employes that they’ll be laid off June 6 in conjunction with closing half the jail on Fifth Avenue.
The commissioners took their action at the request of the sheriff, who told them that failure to do so would force much more drastic reductions in his staff and operations.
In a letter to the commissioners, the sheriff said he is working with Prosecutor Paul J. Gains to identify jail inmates who can be considered for alternative nonjail sentencing.
“The first 88 layoffs do not, as we sit today, balance his budget through Dec. 31. We need to meet with the union with respect to the continuation of concessions,” county Administrator George J. Tablack said.
The current concessionary agreement, under which deputies who belong to the Fraternal Order of Police union have been taking an unpaid floating holiday every two weeks, expires June 30.
Tablack said the layoffs in the sheriff’s department are solely due to the county’s recession-induced $15 million decline in annual revenue, and are unrelated to costs incurred in the county’s purchase, operation and maintenance of Oakhill Renaissance Place. “It is the recession, and the recession only, that is causing this,” Tablack said.
The sheriff’s budget this year is $11.8 million. The sheriff spent $17.3 million last year.
Other county departments need to take steps now to ensure they stay within their budgets, Tablack added.
Tablack made his remarks as a grand jury investigating potential conflicts of interest related to the Oakhill acquisition had its 10th known meeting with Oakhill special prosecutors. The extended grand jury’s term expires next Thursday.
The commissioners also agreed to close Lisbon Road between Garfield and Roller roads in Green Township on Wednesday and Thursday for a culvert replacement.