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WARREN -- The new Trumbull County administrator, purchasing director and transit administrator said she looks forward to using her analytical skills to help "right size" county government and streamline operations.
Rebecca Gerson, scheduled to begin working for Trumbull County on Monday, said the county, like others in Ohio, needs to be "realistic about their population, the amount of taxes coming in and expenses."
"Trumbull County is dealing with a shrinking population and we need to right size the government to reflect that, but at the same time, avoid cutting services or leaving anyone behind," Gerson said.
To the outside world, it may seem like she is taking on three jobs for $85,000 a year, but Gerson said there is already a lot of overlap in the positions.
"Streamlining in this day and age is as important as ever. Working with commissioners, we are going to try and identify other positions with similar overlap, and find ways to streamline in those areas," Gerson said.
The county hasn't had a full-time administrator since Anthony Carson left the position in 2006 after serving for two years in the role, which was combined with purchasing director. He was earning about $61,000 for both positions. Before Carson, Roselyn Ferris was a dual clerk and administrator, earning $71,081 a year after 39 years with the county.
Commissioner Dan Polivka said having an administrator was useful because Carson met with the department heads weekly and coordinated between commissioners to help make decisions faster. The position wasn't filled because the county was struggling to save $1.2 million a year, Polivka said. But adding the position now, at a time when the county is facing a tighter budget due to the loss of local government funds and some tax revenue, makes sense because the position could lead to savings in purchasing and other departments, Polivka said.
The Trumbull County Citizen Budget Review Committee last summer recommended the county hire an administrator and a purchasing director to save money with centralized purchasing and decision making.
Polivka said the move to hire Gerson doesn't only combine the two positions recommended by the committee, but saves money because Gerson was willing to take on the job of transit administrator too, a position the county needed to fill by the end of March when Mark Hess retired. Hess was earning $65,000 a year.
Commissioner Frank Fuda argues creating the position will not save the county money, just cost taxpayers another top-tier salary.
Gerson, a lifelong resident of Liberty, said she has already delved into some county issues, including reports on the transit system, a part of the position she does not yet have experience in. On Monday, after spending the morning in the county, Gerson is driving to Columbus for a transit conference that happens to coincide with her start date.
"I feel like I am part of a team. I haven't even started yet, but I feel like I am joining a team. The commissioners are urging me to use my analytical skills to take a look at the how things are done, to break it all up and take it apart, and then put it all back together. I don't know yet what the changes we make will be. But I know there will be changes coming," Gerson said.
Gerson was most recently the assistant law director in Youngstown and graduated in 1992 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, according to her resume. She earned her undergraduate degree in American studies from Youngstown State University.
Gerson has experience in contracts and labor law, management in the private and public sectors, and handled purchasing, bidding and procurement for Mahoning Lumber Center of Florida, a family-owned company that she serves as legal adviser now.
For about 10 years, Gerson was an assistant prosecutor in Mahoning County, where she handled legal issues in county departments, including building inspection, the delinquent tax division and the county's treasurer and auditor. She has also been involved in the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.
Gerson has received recognition for her work with the 2017 Youngstown CityScape David and Pat Sweet Grass Roots Award, was honored in the 2015 Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber ATHENA Awards and was a 2005 40 Under 40 honoree.