Mingo police cuts stir heated debate

MINGO JUNCTION - Tensions rose inside Village Council chambers Tuesday when an emergency ordinance to repeal an Ohio Revised Code regarding police scheduling was discussed.

Council members by a 4-2 vote approved repealing the Ohio Revised Code which states "the chief of police shall establish a schedule to ensure there shall be no less than two police officers on duty at any time."

Council's decision could allow one police officer per shift.

Voting for the ordinance repeal were council members Judy Ruckman, Michael DiCarlo, Vicky Peckens and John Bracone, while Councilmen Jim Morrocco and John Fabian voted against the issue.

Morrocco said he voted against the issue because it "needs to be in emergency measure and I hate the fact of putting one man on a turn in this community."

Fabian said he "needs to study it further."

The need for the ordinance stems from having to lay off three of the eight police officers in the village, effective March 20, because of the current budget, which has seen millions of dollars lost since the closing of the Severstal Wheeling plant last April.

But audience and council members, along with police officers and their union representative Chris Taylor, on Tuesday spoke their minds when it came to the layoffs.

Morrocco claimed he did not know where the ordinance came from in the first place and stated "nobody else seems to know" either.

However, Peckens responded by telling him "not to act clueless here," and that all members knew about the ordinance prior to the meeting.

Mayor Domenic Chappano stated the ordinance has been part of past discussions and there was a need for the repeal because of the "emergency situation" the village is facing financially.

"It specifically states in our contract that they can't change the ordinance," Taylor said standing before council. "And no one seems to know where this ordinance came from. We are down to five officers and the safety of our force will be effected, as well as the safety of our citizens."

Taylor and Morrocco noted there "is more than $100,000 in the permanent improvement fund" that could be transferred in order to keep officers working for a while, but Peckens said doing so would not cover all the costs needed and would ultimately result in the village losing one-third of next year's budget.

"We wouldn't even have a police department next year," she added. "We have 3,500 citizens to provide services to, and we can't do anything differently. We started talking to (Taylor) last April and everyone was told by (former Clerk Rocky) Petrozzi that by 2010, we would be in the negative if something doesn't change. We talked to the police about concessions and working together. You were here. It's nobody's fault. We have to make our village survive. Do you want us to go into the negative?"

Chappano challenged Morrocco's statements, saying the councilman has reiterated since January, "These cuts may not be deep enough."

"Those were your words," the mayor noted.

Taylor then asked members and Bracone directly if he supports the idea of having just one officer per shift.

Bracone replied he did not support it.

"I don't want just one officer on duty per shift, but we have to do it until the mill starts back up," he replied. "But who knows, maybe the mill will start up next week."

"I don't care about the mill right now," Morrocco stated during the meeting.

Morrocco later explained he did not want his comment to be "taken out of context," and said he does care about the mill but is focusing on the layoff situation.

Resident Kathy Maguschak asked council why they haven't stopped activities in order to save money, such as the Aracoma Pool and the Mingo Senior Center.

"We have to provide the necessary services for the safety of this community," Maguschak said, adding she believes council should go to court in order to transfer money into the safety forces account.

Another budget meeting - the sixth to take place, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, council:

Noted the village has 130 tons of salt on hand and an additional 200 tons on order.

Stated officials are addressing the pothole situation in the village and anyone with any concerns should contact the administrative office at (740) 535-1511.

Passed a resolution marking March as Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Passed a resolution to authorize officials to look into offering a voluntary early retirement incentive plan.

Supported a resolution for the Columbus to Pittsburgh corridor. Regional officials are seeking to complete a four-lane highway between the two cities, with most of the roads already built. Work to be done includes a 28-mile stretch through Harrison County.

Scheduled a meeting to discuss road paving for 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Announced a water and sewer meeting will be held at 4 p.m. March 23.

Set up a recreation meeting for 5 p.m. March 23.

(Ghrist can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)