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Trustees suspend 3 road workers
POLAND
Township trustees have suspended three road- department employees indefinitely without pay.
The following employees were suspended unanimously during a Thursday special meeting for these reasons:
Road Superintendent Joe Juillerat, a 26-year township employee, was suspended for personal use of township property and failure to supervise employees. Juillerat has been road superintendent since 2010 and draws an annual salary of $60,486.40. He plans to retire at the end of this month.
Assistant Road Superintendent Steve Cramer, a 27-year employee, was suspended for unauthorized disposal of township property and failure to supervise employees. Cramer served as road superintendent for one year before stepping down in 2010. His annual salary is $54,600.
Darren Goodin, a seven- year employee and department truck driver, was suspended for personal use of township property. His annual salary is $47,611.20.
Goodin is the brother of township Police Chief Brian Goodin, who is planning to run for Mahoning County sheriff in the Democratic primary.
“We have an indefinite suspension so we can continue the investigation. We’re confident right now that we need to do this right now,” said Trustee Mark Naples.
Trustees would not discuss specific allegations because of the ongoing investigation, based on the advice of legal counsel David Shepard.
Trustees began looking into the conduct of the three employees about six weeks ago. Officials asked the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation to assist in the investigation, but that request was denied in a letter dated Nov. 2.
The township police department conducted its own investigation — with the chief kept out of all aspects of the case per the order of the trustees, Naples said.
“We haven’t had any problem with our police doing what they needed to do. I feel there was nothing pushed aside. They gave us everything they could get us,” Naples said.
Naples said that based on the information gathered, he does not believe charges will be filed but stressed that the investigation is ongoing.
“I don’t think this is going to be as huge as it may appear, but I don’t think we’re going to let it go even though it’s little. ... These trustees aren’t going to put up with it,” Naples said.
Tom Monus has been named acting road superintendent, and the trustees are beginning the process of hiring a new road superintendent.