43
MVSD places operations manager on paid leave
By Jordan Cohen
MINERAL RIDGE
The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District board has placed Anthony Vigorito, its plant operations manager, on paid administrative leave effective today after his indictment last week in Mahoning County on six felony counts.
The board’s unanimous vote followed a 90-minute executive session Wednesday.
Vigorito, of Niles, is charged with falsifying training records of 25 Youngstown Water Department employees and a former city department worker in 2013 and 2014 who were taking continuing-education courses he was teaching for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
A grand jury indicted him on two counts each of forgery, criminal noncompliance with the state’s safe drinking-water law and tampering with records.
Investigators from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office contend the workers either never completed the courses or did not take them.
Earlier this month, the 25 along with the former employee pleaded guilty to falsifying their contract hours. As part of their plea bargain, the group agreed to testify against Vigorito.
Atty. Matt Blair, board president, said the leave is indefinite pending the outcome of the criminal case.
“He cannot hold his Class III license under the Ohio Administrative Code,” Blair said after the vote. The code contains provisions covering license suspension during criminal proceedings.
Vigorito’s yearly salary of nearly $77,000 will be reduced by $320 monthly with the loss of his license. Blair said Vigorito will not be permitted to accrue either vacation or sick time while he remains on leave.
“It’s unfortunate, but as a board, you have to look at it and do what you have to do,” said Richard Hale, who along with Blair represents the city of Niles. “This will give us time to evaluate things to see what comes next.”
Vigorito is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. His attorney, Martin White of Warren, said his client will enter not-guilty pleas to all counts.
Blair said Vigorito’s now-vacant position will be jointly filled by MS Consultants of Youngstown, the company providing chief engineering services, and an MVSD staff engineer. The board already is paying MS Consultants $7,200 weekly, but Blair said the amount will not be increased despite the company’s added responsibilities.
Vigorito had served as chief engineer for 18 months, but was unable during that time to secure certification as a professional engineer mandated by MVSD or his Class IV license required by the EPA for operation of a water purification facility. He subsequently was removed from the top post and relegated to the operations manager position.
Hale described Vigorito, who has been with the district for 19 years, as “a good person.”
Vigorito was not at Wednesday’s meeting. His father, the Niles building and zoning inspector, attended the meeting but had no comment.