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Mahoning officials reorganize
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Mahoning County Auditor Michael Sciortino
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Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally
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Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning County commissioners are preparing to face several fiscal challenges in the new year.
County Auditor Michael Sciortino told commissioners to brace for decreases in state funding.
“The past few years have been difficult for the county financially, and that is no different moving into 2011,” he said. “If the state gets their way, we are looking at a 25 percent decrease in local funding. You can do the quick math. ... You have another hit to our local government-funding stream.”
Commissioner John A. McNally IV said state funding may decrease but mandated programs the county must cover will not change.
He said commissioners must be savvy in setting budgets and dealing with labor unions to make up for state-funding losses.
“When they [the state] are cutting funds that have historically come to county government, they are doing that without saying that we don’t have to provide these services,” he said.
At the commissioners’ reorganizational meeting Monday morning, they unanimously voted to install McNally as board president. Commissioner Anthony Traficanti had served the last two years as board president. He now will serve as vice president.
McNally’s appointment came despite an ongoing legal battle over issues concerning the Oakhill purchase. McNally also has been indicted and charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity along with Sciortino and several others in the Oakhill controversy.
A 73-count indictment alleges a criminal conspiracy among defendants to prevent or delay the relocation of Mahoning County’s Department of Job and Family Services from the Cafaro Co.-owned Garland Plaza on the city’s East Side to Oakhill Renaissance Place.
Nancy Laboy was re-appointed as board clerk. James Fortunato, purchasing director, was reappointed first acting clerk, and Judy Tesone, office manager, was reappointed to second acting clerk.
New Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti, after her first meeting, said she plans to completely learn about each county department by spending time visiting them over the next few weeks.
She said she has devised a form that can be taken to each department head to assess that department’s needs.
“I look forward to working with this board,” said the former Youngstown councilwoman. “I will be visiting with each [department] as the new member of this board. We will work together in a collaborative effort. As I have said, my door is open.”
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Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti