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WARREN -- Trumbull Commissioner Niki Frenchko, during the first board meeting after commissioners approved a $370,000 lawsuit settlement with clerk Paula Vivoda-Klotz, took every opportunity she could Wednesday to complain about staff.
She accused workers of not following up on requests for information she needs to make decisions on agenda items.
Frenchko abstained from voting on 14 of the 25 agenda items -- arguing that interim clerk Lisa Denunzio Blair would not print a package for her with all related documentation needed by commissioners to make informed votes.
Blair was selected as interim clerk by 2-1 vote during the meeting, replacing Vivoda-Klotz as clerk of commissioners. With the new title, Blair will be paid $34.51 per hour.
Prior to the interim clerk vote, Frenchko asked for a vote to advertise for the clerk of commissioners position and to rewrite the job description.
Once that voice vote failed to get a second from Commissioners Mauro Cantalamessa or Denny Malloy, Frenchko sought to have the position of interim clerk posted internally, so other county employees could apply for the position.
Human Resources Director Alexandra DeVengencie-Bush reminded board members that the interim position is only for up to a year.
"We still have a person in the position of clerk," said DeVengencie-Bush. "Who is going to bid on that position for a year? There is no conspiracy theory to slip her into the job."
Vivoda-Klotz is on paid administrative leave until July 5, 2024, as part of the lawsuit's settlement agreement.
In addition to the leave, Vivoda-Klotz will receive $250,000 from the county's insurance fund, $50,000 from the commissioners' fund, and her regular salary of $70,000 over the next year.
Frenchko attempted to read a statement into the meeting's record, in which she noted that the lawsuit filed by Vivoda-Klotz was against the Trumbull County commissioners -- not just against her.
While Vivoda-Klotz sued on some issues that occurred before Frenchko was elected commissioner, she is the only commissioner named in the text of the original 16-page civil complaint.
"I do not agree with the settlement to give a year paid leave plus the $300,000," Frenchko said. "We should have gone to trial. It's unfortunate that other commissioners are more interested in making sure employees obtain pay days, rather than making sure they do their jobs."
Malloy during the session repeatedly told Frenchko she was being disruptive. Two sheriff's deputies were in the room, with one periodically standing near the commissioners' dais.
PAPER AGENDA
Last week, Blair told Frenchko that she would not prepare for her a separate paper agenda packet with all the associated background materials unless she has time to do so without compromising her other responsibilities.
Blair noted she is new in the clerk's position and requested they give her time.
The commissioners' office is short of two positions, due to the resignation of one person and Vivoda-Klotz being placed on paid administrative leave.
Blair noted each commissioner currently is sent electronic copies of all material via email for review.
Frenchko argued the information she receives by email does not have the numbers needed to connect them with the items on the commissioners' agenda packages, which makes it difficult to match support documents with various agenda item.
Frenchko argued she had been receiving the kind information she wants since the beginning of this year, and said former Commissioner Frank Fuda also received the same type of printed agenda packets.
Blair responded that Fuda did not request the volume of material Frenchko has been seeking.
Agenda packets generally are prepared for commissioners the Monday prior to the board's workshops and, when necessary, new agendas are printed and distributed to commissioners after Tuesday workshop meetings, so they can be prepared for the regular Wednesday morning board meetings. Frenchko doesn't attend workshops held by Malloy and Cantalamessa.
Cantalamessa questioned why Frenchko could not simply print the documents she needs from the files electronically sent to all the commissioners.
"This is a commissioner that has a county-provided printer at her house and one in the commissioners' office," he said.
Cantalamessa added that the information is verbally provided to commissioners by department heads during the Tuesday workshops.
"We know you listen to the workshops," Malloy said. "We can see who is listening."
Frenchko emphasized she likes to see and read the information provided by county departments, not simply listen to it.
"I normally spend hours going over everything before voting on everything," Frenchko said.
COLLABORATIVE
SOFTWARE
She asked county Auditor Martha Yoder if her office is working to get software that would allow the commissioners' office staff to send information to all commissioners -- software that documents those who have read it, and can be responded to by the recipient.
"I've been asking for this almost since I've been a commissioner," Frenchko said.
Yoder noted she informed commissioners during a recent workshop that the county will be using Office 365, which will provide the kind of collaborative software Frenchko has been requesting.
Yoder said the county's information technology department, which operates from the auditor's office, is in the process of training county departments on its use.
rsmith@tribtoday.com