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MVSD will replace its chief engineer
By Jordan Cohen
MINERAL RIDGE
The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, which provides water for Youngstown, Niles and McDonald, will replace Chief Engineer Anthony Vigorito because he has not completed certification requirements.
The board voted unanimously Wednesday to advertise for a replacement.
According to Atty. Matthew Blair, a board member, the MVSD requires professional engineer certification while the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency mandates a Class IV license.
A Class IV license is required for operating a water purification plant, while the PE stamp is necessary for grant applications and engineering approvals.
Blair said Vigorito has yet to pass all the tests for both certifications even though he was given 18 months to complete them.
“The OEPA had given him a provisional Class IV license, which expires on Feb. 12, and they told us they would not renew it,” Blair said. “We have to have a Class IV in place by that date or we’ll be cited by the EPA”
Vigorito was promoted to chief engineer after the retirement of long-time engineer Thomas Holloway. Blair said that at the time of the promotion, directors gave Vigorito a 12-month contract followed by a six-month agreement to allow him more time to pass the tests.
Vigorito’s current contract, which expires Dec. 31, paid more than $80,000. “It would have paid around $110,000 if he had the certifications,” Blair said.
The attorney said, however, that the board has not given up on Vigorito. Blair indicated that the directors may consider a temporary chief engineer with a PE and Class IV license to give Vigorito more time to pass the examinations.
“If he is able to attain those certifications, we will revisit it,” Blair said.
He revealed that among replacements under consideration are Holloway and MS Consultants of Youngstown, an engineering firm.
Until then, the directors hope to keep Vigorito on the staff. “He’s been with us for 18 years and worked his way up from being a laborer,” Blair said. “He’s really a competent guy.”