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Niles council holds off on city hall security recall
By Jordan Cohen
NILES
City council chose to take no action on legislation that would have recalled a laid-off police officer to provide security for city hall.
Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia had pushed for the recall in the wake of what his administration believes to be threats against city employees.
The decision to hold off apparently resulted from a 20-minute executive session Wednesday in which council and the administration discussed the proposal, which had been drafted by the city law director for presentation at the meeting.
Councilman Barry Steffey, D-4th, finance committee chairman, said that council was influenced by Auditor Giovanne Merlo who provided members with a grim picture of city finances during the closed session. Niles has been in fiscal emergency since late 2014.
“The financial situation is bleak,” said Steffey who plans to have combined meetings with the finance and safety committees to see what can be resolved. “It’s not a dead issue,” he said.”
Capt. Jay Holland, acting police chief, did not hold back his feelings about council’s inaction.
“We had a chance to bring back a laid-off officer [that] was state auditor approved and we didn’t do it,” said Holland. “I’m very disappointed.”
The activities and social media postings of a McDonald resident, George Kuriatnyk Jr., have led to the security fears. Last week, a Trumbull County magistrate issued an emergency civil protection order against Kuriatnyk after Mark Holmes, a 29-year park maintenance employee, filed a civil stalking action.
Speaking to council, Holmes said he has been harassed, stalked and the subject of threats on Kuriatnyk’s Facebook page. Holmes, 52, said he did not know Kuriatnyk before the incidents began.
“The past six months have been very hard to deal with,” Holmes said. “If I have to be at every city meeting to keep him out, I will do so.”
The order prohibits Kuriatnyk from coming anywhere near Holmes or entering his place of business, in this case city hall. Holland said that didn’t stop Kuriatnyk from showing up in a parking lot across the street from the municipal court building shortly before the council meeting.
“He wanted to come in, and an officer told him to leave,” Holland said, indicating Kuriatnyk faces arrest if he tries again.
Service Director James DePasquale said Kuriatnyk once showed up “22 times” in one city hall office. “I have 30 girls in that building that are scared to death,” DePasquale said.
Residents in the packed council chambers seemed somewhat split over the use of a furloughed officer for building security.
“We need officers on the street because we have major drug problems,” said resident James Sheely, who said he is concerned about building security. On the other side, union leader Bo Marchionte said his people “are nervous and I’m looking over my shoulder.”
Scarnecchia called it “a serious situation” but said he hopes the two council committees can come up with a solution. “We’ll figure out something,” the mayor said.