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WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners spent at least a half hour during the public discussion of the weekly commissioner workshop debating whether one or more of the commissioners could attend a meeting in Warren Township tonight in which trustees and a resident group will discuss efforts to prevent the elimination of the Leavittsburg Dam.
The meeting is set to take palace at the Warren Township administration building at 6:30 p.m.
Commission President Denny Malloy and Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa each said they intend to go in order to collect information about the residents’ concerns of how the removal of the dam could effect the community.
Commissioner Niki Frenchko, who officially was not attending the workshop, argued the commissioners could not attend the meeting in any official capacity because they had not publicly announced their intention to attend through their office.
Frenchko said they could not participate because any discussions by the commissioners would represent an illegal meeting according to the state's Sunshine Laws. She noted discussions at a non-commissioner sponsored event that may lead to later actions by the commissioners would be illegal.
Commissioner Denny Malloy emphasized tonight's meeting has been called by township trustees and residents. Malloy and Cantalamessa each noted they intended to be there as observers to learn what the residents believe can be done.
Malloy noted that he may ask some clarifying questions, so he can understand the residents’ concerns.
Malloy said he had discussions with commissioners in other nearby counties, as well as the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, and was told their attending a meeting at the same time would not be a violation of the law.
He encouraged all of his fellow commissioners to attend the meeting, so they would have the most up to date information about the dam issue.
Frenchko did not publicly say whether she would or would not attend.
In December, Trumbull County Metroparks entered into an agreement with RiverReach Construction Design Build Team at $645,532 for the removal of the Leavittsburg Dam, which is set to begin in 2025.
A Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program grant worth $3,203,500 will cover restoration activities and the long-term management of the project site that satisfies Ohio EPA requirements.
Zachary Zvette, the Metroparks Executive Director, last year said the dam's removal could take a year to complete depending on the sediment.
Malloy asked Zvette to attend tonight's meeting to ensure the correct information was provided to township officials and residents about the Metroparks plan.
Zvette does not intend to attend the meeting due to a conflicting situation. He noted that John Brown, a member of the Metroparks Board, is planning to attend the meeting.
The work on the dam in 2024 will include all the preliminary stage work, which includes project design, testing of sediment and other work.
The Leavittsburg dam near Canoe City MetroPark is expected to be the final dam slated for removal along the Mahoning River. The Summit Street Dam will be removed first.
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