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STEUBENVILLE -- Anxiety about who the Jefferson County General Health District will have to perform its plumbing inspections was resolved Tuesday, with a new inspector gaining approval and ethical issues cleared.
The Jefferson County Board of Health approved Victor Dominic Cingolani to be an as-needed plumbing inspector for the county, beginning Jan. 4 at a starting wage of $25.51 per hour.
Historically, the board had contracted with Steubenville's plumbing inspector to do inspections in the county. When the current inspector announced his retirement, the board considered bringing him aboard par time, but he ultimately decided to pursue full retirement.
Cingolani, who owns Mister Plumber in Hopedale, has not taken out a permit from the JCGHD to install new plumbing in a few years and only does services to existing plumbing, which doesn't require a permit. Looking to Cingolani to fill the plumbing inspector role, the board first needed to amend its original 1994 resolutions that, generally, would bar certified plumbing inspectors from owning a plumbing business.
The original resolution reads: "Certified plumbing inspectors shall not be engaged in or finally interested in the plumbing business or sale of any plumbing fixture, metals or supplies and services, nor shall he act as an agent directly or indirectly for any person so engaged."
The board voted to amend the resolution to read: "The certified plumbing inspector shall not apply for a permit for commercial or residential plumbing within the jurisdiction of the (JCGHD), nor shall he provide service calls t buildings or dwellings that he inspected on behalf the (JCGHD.)"
Health Commissioner Andrew Henry said of the change: "That means that, if we hire Dominic, he will not be doing work that would require being inspected by a plumbing inspector, and ... since he would be our plumbing inspector, he cannot do service calls on buildings or dwellings that he inspected (on our behalf.)"
Henry noted later that Steubenville is still faced with having to replace its plumbing inspector.
Separately, the board voted to approve a 3 percent wage increase to cover 2025 cost-of-living increases for its employees.
Fiscal Officer Kelly Wilson said she feels "comfortable" with the increase, which would be financed primarily through grant funds and environmental programs with a built-in cost methodology, saving the general fund from a direct hit. Members of the board's administration/finance committee OK'd the move during a previous meeting.
Stating he would support an even higher wage increase, board member Terry Bell said JCGHD employees are the agency's "ambassadors," who have represented it exceptionally well to the public during the last several years. He thanked the late board member Dr. Pat Macedonia for his employment of Henry, as well as staff who have come since then.
"You win with people, and no one wins alone," said board President Anthony Mougianis. "We're blessed to have Andrew and a great team. What I've seen in my few years is there's respect among everyone, and that makes a huge difference. We'll have our trials and tribulations, but that can easily be rectified when everyone is together. I'm pleased and proud to be a part of that."
In other business:
• The board scheduled a special meeting for 9 a.m. on Friday to address year-end appropriations and accreditation contracts.
• WIC Director Stephanie Chester reported that her division will have an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, including snacks, crafts, activities, a photo backdrop and WIC card loads, as well as infant/child CPR, car seat safety and safe sleep demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Henry reported that the department has fully completed and uploaded three domains as part of ongoing progress toward obtaining mandated accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board.
• The board approved a mutual agreement -- with no financial obligation -- "to work together for the betterment of community health" with CHANGE Inc., in the words of Henry. Change has partnered with the JCGHD in pediatric home health meetings and COVID-19 vaccine distribution in local school districts.
• The board accepted the resignation of medical assistant Rachel Shorac, effective Friday. Shorac joined the department during the COVID-19 pandemic and has served in a number of roles, performing contact tracing and working with drug addiction prevention programs. The board will seek a replacement who can undergo training and focus on community health and social work roles.
• The board approved paying out unused 2024 vacation time to Henry, Wilson and Environmental Director Marc Maragos -- all of whom were unable to utilize that time due to a busy schedule associated with accreditation, new staff and fiscal obligations. The board discussed potential changes to the department's policy manual to only allot such payouts on a by-exception basis, going forward.