City water department employees are accused of falsifying their credentials in an attempt to boost their pay

RELATED: Names of employees who had their Class 2 water distribution certificates revoked

Staff report

Youngstown

More than two dozen Youngstown Water Department employees are accused of falsifying their credentials in an attempt to boost their pay.

The employees were implicated in the wake of an investigation by the Ohio Attorney General Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Environmental Unit.

Water department employees attended only part of a training class for a state certification, a source familiar with the investigation said. The workers’ partial – or in some cases, total fabrication – of class attendance occurred in 2013 and 2014.

Three of the implicated employees are supervisors.

Michelle Nicks, a reporter for The Vindicator’s broadcast partner 21-WFMJ TV, first reported Wednesday on the investigation.

The employees are paid additional money by the city for certifications obtained for taking the courses.

As part of a deal reached with the state, at least some of the workers will plead guilty Monday in Franklin County Municipal Court to misdemeanors, pay a fine and make restitution to the city for the money that they improperly received.

The source said it’s doubtful any of the employees will be fired by the city because of these charges.

Mayor John A. McNally declined Wednesday to comment on the matter to The Vindicator, referring comment to Law Director Martin Hume.

Hume couldn’t be reached to comment.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency became aware of the fraudulent claims and alerted the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Workers implicated are charged with violating the Ohio Revised Code section that deals specifically with employee noncompliance with regard to Ohio’s safe drinking water.

Those involved in the fraud received letters from the Ohio EPA notifying them that the class 2 water distribution certifications they possessed are being revoked.

The workers can request a hearing to challenge the ruling after 30 days.

Two of the workers involved have died since the case was first brought to the state’s attention last year.

According to documents from the Ohio EPA, employees can receive a class 2 water distribution certificate after logging 36 months of work experience and passing a written exam.

Workers are expected to have experience in areas such as daily water plant management, laboratory work or industrial wastewater management.

In addition to revoking certifications, the Ohio EPA also has the option to pursue criminal charges against the workers.