Austintown road worker still on job after DWI charge

efranco@vindy.com

Austintown

Township officials are taking a wait-and-see approach with the employment of a probationary road department worker charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Douglas S. Estok, 51, of Austintown, was picked up about 3:30 a.m. Oct. 31 by township police near Penny Lane and Kirk Road. He was in his personal vehicle and not on the job.

Police Chief Bob Gavalier said police records show Estok blew a 0.118 on the Breathalyzer. The legal limit is 0.08. He pleaded not guilty Nov. 1 in Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown to one count of OVI.

Michael Dockry, township administrator, said Estok was hired Sept. 8 on a 90-day probationary basis. Dockry said because the incident happened within Estok’s probation period, the township is holding off on taking action against him.

“Once his probation ends, it will go before the board of trustees to decide his employment,” Dockry said.

Dockry said Estok is unable to drive township vehicles but still is able to perform his daily road- department duties.

“The other employees he’s working with are driving the truck to the sites they have to go,” he said.

Trustee Chairman David Ditzler declined to comment on the situation until the court proceedings are resolved.

Estok is scheduled for a pretrial hearing at 6 p.m. Jan. 10 before Judge David A. D’Apolito.

Estok’s attorney, Sam Amendolara of Youngstown, didn’t return calls to comment Tuesday afternoon.

Dockry said the township could extend Estok’s probation another 90 days until the court cases is concluded, so trustees can make a fair decision.