Port Authority backs away from selecting director

VIENNA — The Western Reserve Port Authority did not select a new economic development director at today's port authority meeting but Chairman Ron Klingle suggested that an interim director could be hired soon.

The meeting began with a one hour executive session attended by Mahoning County commissioners Anthony Traficanti and Carol Remedio Righetti.

Righetti said "I don't think so" when asked whether the commissioners are still likely to cut funding to the airport as a result of concerns they have over the way the hiring of a director was handled.

Chairman Ron Klingle said Tuesday he was prepared to talk to his fellow board members today to propose hiring Girard Councilman and businessman John Moliterno to be economic development director for either four months or longer.

He said Moliterno was a good choice because of his previous experience as chairman of the port authority and president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, both in the 1990s.

When Mahoning County commissioners learned that Moliterno was being considered for the job, however, they reacted by

The chairman of the Western Reserve Port Authority says he’s prepared to talk to his fellow board members today about the possible hiring of John Moliterno as economic-development director.

Chairman Ron Klingle said the board will consider hiring Moliterno on a four-month basis or longer to replace Rose Ann DeLeon, who worked in that position until January, when she went on disability leave.

Moliterno was chairman of the port authority and president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, both in the 1990s, and is a current and former member of Girard City Council and current owner of a Youngstown printing company.

Moliterno also is one of 11 people under consideration for the vacancy as a Trumbull County commissioner. The Trumbull County Democratic Party Central Committee will fill the vacancy at a meeting Saturday morning.