A man living in North Carolina has been doing consulting work for the Trumbull County Health Department, and one health board member wants that to change.
Pat DiTommaso has concerns the long absence from the area of Rocky Riviella, former controller / administrator for the county Engineer's Office, is limiting, so DiTommaso wants the county's health commissioner to find someone else local to do the work.
''My concern is not with Rocky, he has always done an excellent job,'' DiTommaso said Thursday. ''I think someone from Trumbull County should be doing the work, that lives here, that was my point. It was in no way meant to disparage Rocky.''
A motion approved by the board Wednesday gives health commissioner Dr. James Enyeart the authority to locate a local accountant or accounting firm for the department by October.
Riviella also does some work related to human resources issues, Enyeart said. He's being doing both since 2004.
''He is a consultant, he wasn't an employee,'' Enyeart said. ''He didn't function for us as he did in the Engineer's Office. I was perfectly happy with his services, before and now. If somebody has a different idea, I have no problem with that.''
Enyeart said Riviella provides a ''very elegant'' report weekly and the two talk over the phone almost weekly. Also, when Riviella returns to the area, they meet, Enyeart said.
DiTomasso said there also have been Internet video chats, but ''I like to be able to see someone and talk to them face to face.''
Enyeart said Riviella accesses the county accounting system remotely. There is a consulting contract between the Health Department and Riviella, however, Enyeart Thursday was unable to say for how long or how much Riviella is paid.
A message seeking comment was left with Riviella.
Riviella last worked at the Engineer's Office in April 2009. It's unclear when he moved to North Carolina. According to his Linkedin account, he works as business manager at the University of North Carolina McAllisster Heart Institute.