Trumbull officials ponder action on SCOPE funding
Heltzel
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Trumbull County commissioners say they still have legal questions after an opinion from the county prosecutor’s office saying they should suspend any further payment of county levy funds to SCOPE Inc.
The opinion follows the Ohio Department of Aging finding last week that SCOPE failed to perform criminal background checks on 22 employees who provide direct care to clients, and on 29 others within the five business days of his or her hiring.
The ODA also said SCOPE had hired two people with criminal records — one in 2008 and one in 2010 — to work directly with clients when the offenses should have prohibited them from being hired.
A SCOPE board member said Monday that the agency plans to appeal the ODA’s findings. SCOPE is a 50-year-old nonprofit organization that uses local, state and federal money to operate six senior-citizen centers and provide services in the homes of seniors.
The state’s findings result-ed earlier this month in suspension of funding for two programs that paid SCOPE $487,890 in 2011.
The commissioners control funding for the countywide senior-citizens levy, from which SCOPE has received about $700,000 per year since 2007.
Commissioner Frank Fuda said Wednesday the commissioners still have “to make legal decisions” regarding SCOPE.
“The prosecutor says it has concerns, and we should not fund any more money to SCOPE,” Commissioner Paul Heltzel said Wednesday. “The prosecutor wants to make sure the problems are cleared up before we start issuing more funds.”
Heltzel said he doesn’t know whether the legal opinion means the commissioners should take immediate action or whether the suspension will be focused on the next round of funding expected to be awarded May 16. SCOPE’s current contract, which runs through June 30, awarded SCOPE up to $175,200 to provide in-home services and up to $457,525 to operate the community centers, a total of up to $632,725.
Two members of the Cortland SCOPE center spoke at the commissioners meeting Wednesday to express their hope that commissioners won’t shut SCOPE down.
“People have said, ‘I don’t know what I’d do without SCOPE. They saved my life,’” said Casey Clutter of Southington. “SCOPE is so important to this community. People not of that age can’t fathom what it means to them.”
Cyndie Hammers of Southington said she hopes the management problems SCOPE has had won’t be used as a reason to give the levy funding to a different organization. “It can be saved,” Hammers said of SCOPE.
SCOPE’S executive director, Janet Schweitzer, resigned in a letter dated Saturday. The SCOPE board of directors is seeking a new leader.
“I think everyone realizes [SCOPE] is important, and they can get back to doing what they do,” Fuda said.
“I know of the good work they’ve done through the years,” Commissioner Dan Polivka added.