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STEUBENVILLE – Jefferson County commissioners on Thursday again took issue with the county Community Action Council, this time after a resident complained the agency wouldn’t release when its next board of trustees’ meeting was scheduled.
City resident William Isaac informed the commissioners in a letter that he went to the CAC office on April 9 inquiring about the next board meeting. Isaac said he was informed by a CAC employee that the meetings are not public meetings. Isaac said he was told Barbara West, CAC chief executive officer, would contact him.
West, after the commissioners’ meeting, said she checked with staff and one person told Isaac the meetings are not public but then another staff member said the meetings are open. She said the CAC board meetings are public meetings. West said she had a message to call Isaac, but hadn’t called Isaac back.
Isaac said the county has contracts with the CAC.
“With Jefferson County tax dollars being earmarked to this public, nonprofit agency, I strongly believe I do have a right to attend any meetings that are not exempt, like executive sessions are exempt,” Isaac said in his letter to the commissioners.
“I petition the commissioners to please intercede at the level you can because for someone to simply ask when and at what time the next Community Action Council meeting takes place certainly is not a tough undertaking to accomplish,” he said.
Commissioners are scheduled to meet with West at next Thursday’s meeting concerning the commissioners asking that a third-party audit be conducted on how programs are run through the CAC. County Commissioner Tom Gentile said the commissioners approve about $3 million in contracts between the county Job and Family Services Department and the CAC every year.
County Commissioner Thomas Graham said Isaac being denied when the next CAC board meeting is scheduled is “another example of the CAC not doing what it should be doing.”
“I have deep, deep concerns about the agency, and this is another example of it handling it badly,” Graham said.
Gentile said, “The issues with the CAC are deeply disturbing. They run the place like they have no regard for the law and any correct things to be doing.”
County Commissioner David Maple said at the last CAC meeting West disclosed information that was discussed in executive session. Maple said he believes that is a violation of Ohio ethics laws.
Maple said, according to the CAC bylaws, the commissioners appoint one-third of the 15 members of the CAC board. Each of the commissioners has an appointment and two more jointly, who are elected officials. Maple announced he appointed Natalie Ulasiewicz of Steubenville, a former assistant clerk in the commissioners’ office, to the CAC board.
Gentile said he wants the commissioners to revisit all their appointments to the CAC.
He said it shows the board is not doing its job when issues concerning the CAC keep coming across the commissioners’ desks.
Maple added he is concerned about the CAC because the county is a customer. He said the commissioners need to be cautious about influencing the CAC board because it has contracts with the board.
In other matters, commissioners were informed the county coroner’s office already needs more money for contract services for autopsies and blood tests. The coroner’s office last year spent $23,000 on contract services, but the commissioners only allocated $13,000 this year. The coroner’s office has spent $18,000 on contract services so far this year, according to the county auditor’s office.
Gentile announced a meeting was held Tuesday with Smithfield officials, the Ohio Auditor’s Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture concerning the proposal for the county to take over the village’s sewage treatment system.
Smithfield defaulted on its loan payment to the USDA for the sewage treatment system. The village since has been placed in a fiscal emergency by the state auditor’s office.
Gentile said the USDA is “very interested” in the county taking over the system. He said a public meeting will be scheduled for resident input on the proposal. The county already has taken over the village’s water system.
Commissioners also:
Approved using data processing money to purchase six new computers for the county treasurer’s office at a cost of $4,975. County Treasurer Raymond Agresta said the current computers are at least 10 years old.
Were informed county Engineer James Branagan is purchasing a $127,359 piece of equipment that removes old asphalt during repaving work. Branagan said the asphalt removed is mixed with concrete to form a new base for the road. He said it will be used to fix the edges of a road, which tend to be the weakest part of a road.
Opened two bids for mowing services for the engineer’s department. The estimate was $37,000. Jerry Matthews Inc. of Wintersville had the apparent low bid of $35,100.
Opened only one bid received for a 2,500-gallon vacuum truck for the water and sewer department. Jack Doheny Cos. of Northville, Mich., submitted a bid of $166,039. The truck is used to clean out sewer lines and sewage treatment plant equipment.
Were informed the Jefferson County Law Library Resources Board again was awarded a $5,028 grant to purchase susbscriptions to three electronic databases available on computers at the law library in the courthouse. The legal resources are available to the bar association and the general public.
(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)