By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
ASHTABULA — The Ashtabula Police Department’s detective bureau is investigating the city’s housing department, the Star Beacon learned Friday.
Separate letters sent a month ago from housing inspectors James Del Priore and Vincent J. Iarocci to city and union officials sparked the initial investigation by council, but council members are not completely satisfied with the way it’s going, Ward 3 Councilwoman Ericka Severino said.
“City Council is trying to further investigate the housing department with the help of (city solicitor) Michael Franklin who has not responded to our request,” Severino said. “If (City Manager) Tony Cantagallo is investigating, he hasn’t informed council.”
Council also asked for an inquiry of Jason Strong, director of housing and community development.
“If (Cantagallo) doing an investigation of Jason Strong, why is he not on administration leave?” Severino said.
Cantagallo said he could not comment on a pending investigation.
Iarocci and DelPriore charged their names were written on inspections they did not perform. The inspections reportedly were performed by temporary employees or other department employees, according to copies of the inspectors’ letters. The men said these actions have occurred throughout the past three months, according to the letters.
In his letter to city officials, Iarocci said, “It is my belief that any inspection performed should be the responsibility of the person performing the inspection.
Iarocci refuses to issue any more citations in cases in which he did not perform the actual physical inspection, he said.
In Del Priore’s letter to city officials, he said inspections were performed by temporary employees and this was a problem because:
n He and Iarocci should have the opportunity to work overtime if there are that many inspections to be done;
n He and Iarocci are trained and knowledgeable; and
n The temporary employees are doing inspections and using his name as the inspector.
Severino, who made the original motion to council to investigate Strong and his department, said it’s mandatory council probe this matter because Cantagallo’s biggest campaign supporters included Strong’s family. Severino’s motion passed 4-2, with Ward 4 Councilwoman Julie Lattimer and Ward 5 Councilman James Trisket casting the ‘no’ votes.
City Solicitor Mike Franklin and detective Sgt. Joseph Cellitti each said they could not comment on the investigation.
