Commissioner’s lack of virus test concerns county staff

Frenchko’s vax status also questioned following return from vacation in Mexico

WARREN -- After Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko returned from a Caribbean island vacation, Tuesday's discussion at the weekly workshop meeting turned to vaccination status and following federal guidelines.

Frenchko did not state whether she has received a negative COVID-19 test upon returning home and before heading unmasked to the county building for the meeting. She also did not answer follow up questions about her test status and quarantining.

International travel guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state unvaccinated people should travel with a mask, receive a negative COVID-19 test before returning to the United States, take a viral test three to five days after returning, "and stay home and self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel," even with a negative test. Without testing, international travelers who are not vaccinated are supposed to "stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel."

Mexico is listed as a "level three, high" threat under CDC traveling recommendations. Level four is the highest threat.

The issue came up when a staff member brought a document into the meeting. Frenchko asked what it was and questioned who requested the document. It was CDC guidelines the Warren Health Department sent a staff member.

"It doesn't matter who it is. If someone is uncomfortable, they are going to seek out the information. Do you not want them to protect their own health?" Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said.

Commissioner Frank Fuda said many people in the building are uncomfortable.

Frenchko asked who was uncomfortable.

"I am uncomfortable; you asked if anyone was uncomfortable. I'm sitting next to you, I have an elderly mom who has emphysema and I'm not comfortable being within 6 feet. No disrespect, it doesn't matter who it is because you don't have vaccinations and I'm worried that my mom could get COVID just because it is getting worse," Paula Vivoda-Klotz, the county's interim clerk, said.

Frenchko said Vivoda-Klotz was speaking out of turn. Cantalamessa said she wasn't and told her to let Vivoda-Klotz speak.

"She is the clerk in charge of office personnel, and she is telling you that there's several people in the office that are uncomfortable," Cantalamessa said.

"You don't have any right to my personal information; why would you say that?" Frenchko said to Vivoda-Klotz.

"I'm just saying, you're not wearing a mask right now, and I'm uncomfortable," she answered. "I don't want to get someone I love sick."

Cantalamessa said he and Fuda sat away from Frenchko at the meeting because of the same concerns.

Richard Jackson, director of human resources, asked Frenchko to follow the guidelines and get a test.

"So often, the board and even staff is coming out and making statements about people's health that they are not aware of," Frenchko said.

"You told everyone that you don't believe in getting the vaccine. You've said that. You've discussed it," Cantalamessa said.

Fuda and Cantalamessa said Frenchko discussed her anti-vaccination position with them and staff before. On April 27, her Twitter account shared a tweet containing a video titled "The vaxx could be preparing the world for a mass death event," which contains vaccine conspiracy theories.

Frenchko said she didn't tweet the post, doesn't use Twitter much and doesn't agree with the post. She said someone she gave access to her Twitter account during the campaign last year must have tweeted it.

She deleted the post after she was asked about it.

Frenchko said her health choices shouldn't be a matter of public discussion.

"We're not going to be discussing my personal health business," Frenchko said, if they weren't going to talk also about Fuda's "cancer" and a medical condition she accused Cantalamessa of having. Cantalamessa later said he does not have the condition.

Cantalamessa said she brought the issue up and brought their health into the discussion, too.

"I am not a second-class citizen and I'm tired of you commissioners treating me like I'm less than (you). You are not going to bully me ... " she said.

Cantalamessa asked if asking for CDC guidelines amounted to bullying.

Frenchko said people shouldn't "jump to conclusions" and speculate about her health decisions.

Following the meeting, Cantalamessa said Frenchko "completely crossed a line" by bringing up medical conditions.

"On behalf of all those individuals that are fighting private battles, physical or mental, I want to apologize for the ignorant and inexcusable behavior of Ms. Frenchko," he said.

He said a "reasonable person can see" there is a difference between discussing someone's cancer and their vaccination status.

"Knowing a co-worker's vaccination status in a confined office setting during a pandemic is totally different than cruelly bringing up someone's private battle with a life-threatening disease. You can't equate the two in my opinion," he said.

After the meeting, Frenchko said people shouldn't make assumptions about her vaccination status.

"I believe in personal freedom, medical freedom and everyone's right to privacy relative to any testing or pharmaceuticals they receive -- including vaccines," she said. "This is as ridiculous as demanding and publishing (sexually transmitted disease) tests for all staff who share a bathroom because of rumors and fear."

"Vaccinated and masked people should have nothing to fear. Right?" she said.

It is possible for vaccinated people to spread the virus, though they are less likely to than unvaccinated people, according to the CDC.