Engineer has busy first day
By RON SELAK JR. / Tribune ChronicleWARREN - Trumbull County's newest engineer, David DeChristofaro, on his first day of work Monday ordered the layoffs of five workers, most with personal ties to his predecessor, before embarking on the nation's capital to speak with federal leaders about county bridge and highway projects and to attend the swearing in of U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan.
The cuts of three clerical workers and two engineer technicians were made from concern that gasoline and license plate tax revenue needed to operate the office would be lessening as the cost of maintaining county roads increases, said DeChristofaro's director of administration and governmental affairs, David Rouan.
The decision to eliminate staff, Rouan said, was to combat the increased cost of road salt and diesel fuel to continue providing snow and ice control on county roads this winter. Additionally, Rouan said, it was determined the office was overstaffed with clerical workers.
The cuts made Monday will be effective Jan. 19. The savings, Rouan said, is unknown at this time. Rouan refused to release the names of those laid off, blaming collective bargaining obligations.
However, former engineer John Latell said Monday evening the eliminated staff are his son-in-law, Matt Dohy, a surveyor/engineering technician; his daughter-in-law, Amanda Latell, a secretary; Lisa Blair, who performed dispatching and payroll functions and who is the wife of his son's law partner; Nicole Klingerman, a bookkeeper; and Wayne Hickman, an engineering technician. He said Hickman was a recent hire and was still on probationary status and not yet part of the union.
Continuing the contentious relationship between the outgoing and incoming administrations, Latell said he left the office with no financial problems that would have led to the cuts.
"I was told the reason they were getting cut was a funding issue, but I met with commissioners as recently as Friday, and I was told the engineer's office ended 2008 about $500,000 in the black. We had salt left over from a purchase made at last year's prices, so I don't buy that these employee cuts were a fiscal issue. They were personal,'' Latell said.
Earlier in the day, Rouan attributed the cuts to finances.
''The problem is on revenue, it's an unknown quantity, we can't quantify that,'' Rouan said. ''We know numbers will be down, clearly, and we're trying to make adjustments ahead of that.''
DeChristofaro was heading to Washington Monday and could not immediately be reached for comment.
DeChristofaro previously said in a letter to the Tribune Chronicle the reason for the trip is to begin building relationships that will ultimately benefit Trumbull County. He echoed that in a letter to workers at the office.
''One of my priorities is to establish good working relationships with our Congressman Tim Ryan, as well as our State Senator Capri Cafaro, and our other state legislators,'' DeChristofaro wrote. ''A related priority is to aggressively pursue federal and state funds for our highways and bridges.''
In Washington, DeChristofaro said he would be meeting with the Federal Highway Administration to talk funding opportunities on county road and bridge projects.
Also Monday, DeChristofaro named the members of his management team - John Picuri, former bridge engineer for the office, has been selected as deputy engineer; Rouan, who will handle personnel and fiscal responsibilities of the office and work with township trustees on township projects; and Enzo Cantalamessa, will serve as attorney and counselor for the office.
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oldfireman
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01-12-09 6:31 PM
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Well, the Messiah has come!!!
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Tuff63
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01-08-09 6:05 AM
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Oh yeah I almost forgot a very important question. When was the last time Mr. Latell was in Washington D.C to speak with federal leaders. I'm happy he is going beyond the county and state level to help the Engineers Department and our safety!
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Tuff63
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01-08-09 6:02 AM
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Oldfireman, if you did your research you would know David is very well off financially. Look at his work history. He ran for engineer to bring change to the office. He is looking out for Trumbull County, not himself. Pull in one day and ask the employees what they think of David. I guarantee you will have a 99% positive response.
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oldfireman
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01-07-09 5:12 PM
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Now David DeChristofaro will add back his own incest of family and friends. The crooked politician beat in Trumbull County goes on. Say it again Grump, your on the money!!
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oldfireman
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01-07-09 5:11 PM
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"I also give him kudos for establishing a relationship with our congressman and senator!" Kudos? Are you people brain dead? He WORKED for CAFARO and Was endorsed by RYAN!! These are long time friends. David DeCAFARO isn't pulling for Trumbull County! Has anyone ever wondered why he would give up a job with Cafaro and go for a job with half the pay???
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Pandora
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01-06-09 1:11 PM
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I like this new guy already. We need more of his kind. How can you rush to judgement based on what you think he will do? All we can go by at this point is was he's already done.
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concerenedcitizen
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01-06-09 12:48 PM
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GREAT to see CHANGE finally at the Engineer's office. Kudos for eliminating all the relatives in the office.Shame on Latell...Additionally, it is nice to see proactive accountability.Cheers to DeChristofaro for starting out right on day one. It's good to know he's already begun to build upon his relationships in government, for we the people in the Mahoning Valley sure could use anything and everything to make things a little brighter here in town. Keep up the Good work David, we elected you to office, your up to bat. You know all will be watching. It about time to return integrity and honesty to the engineers office. It appears thats in progress.
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pahootaman
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01-06-09 11:54 AM
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Looks like he might grab a piece of the stimulus pie. Not bad. I guess it's as good as day as ever to head to DC for that kind of thing. Not good for sight seeing though, it's 54 and rainy out here today.
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LaidOffDrone
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01-06-09 10:46 AM
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He got rid of Latell's family so he can put his own in there...big deal, lol. And since they were obviously hired due to family ties, maybe they were let go because they weren't necessarily the most qualified for the job.
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SURV69
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01-06-09 8:49 AM
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The county engineer's office finally has the opportunity to become a credible office for the first time since before Fiorenzo. The outgoing administration made a virtual habit of ignoring laws or legal opinions(from Columbus). The must've enjoyed or thought it was "cool" to come up with screwy interpretations of laws or opinions either from the A.G's office the Ethics Commission or to break one law to better leverage and justify their warped interpretations of another. Hiring of direct relations is illegal in Ohio, but not in-laws, unless they actually live with the employer(John). With this "loophole", John saw fit to enhance his son's and daughter's life by hiring their spouses. Within the "letter" of the law, but most certainly way outside the spirit of the law. basically, there was no shame in the previous administration's way of doing things and it told in problems with the state and the worker's ever-declining morale at the engineer's comple
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OldManGrump2
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01-06-09 8:14 AM
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All David DeChristofaro did was get rid of Latell's incest relatives and friends. Now David DeChristofaro will add back his own incest of family and friends. The crooked politician beat in Trumbull County goes on.
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lbarmilt
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01-06-09 8:07 AM
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Excellent work on being proactive rather the reactive on the spending-vs-expcted revenue. While layoffs are difficult for those cut, it is great to see a government entity act as a citizen would to expected decreasing revenue. Less money coming in equals less to spend. All of this is above the appearances of "hiring of the family" that seems to have come to an end.
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jonathon
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01-06-09 8:05 AM
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Wouldn't you like to see a list of all Trum and Warren employees to see just what all their connections are to higher ups??I would bet there are more relatives working for the local government than any other employer in Trumbull County.Same ol Same ol!!!!!!!!!
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escaped
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01-06-09 6:39 AM
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"However, former engineer John Latell said Monday evening the eliminated staff are his son-in-law, his daughter-in-law, the wife of his son's law partner...." Civil Service law was created in the late 1800's to end the "to the victor belongs the spoils" problem. Apparently, word never got around to Trumbull County as this is SO typical...
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stockpile
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01-06-09 5:47 AM
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It appears that John Latell was having a field day hiring friends & relatives. Wonder if they had a picnic table back of the building.
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Tuff63
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01-06-09 5:06 AM
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Finally CHANGE has come at the engineers department. Kudos to David for going to Washington to meet with federal leaders about bridge and highway projects. I also give him kudos for establishing a relationship with our congressman and senator!
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