The Star Beacon; Ashtabula, Ohio

Local News

October 18, 2009

Coroner says staff will be working without pay

Office will run out of cash after the Nov. 13 payroll

Ashtabula County Coroner Dr. Robert Malinowski says he will keep his office open, even though it could mean his deputy coroner and two full-time investigators will be working without pay the last six weeks of 2009.

A report issued by County Auditor Roger Corlett this week showed that with six county pay days left in 2009, including Friday’s payroll, the coroner will run out of salary money after making the Nov. 13 payroll. County Administrator Janet Discher said the coroner had 5.88 payrolls in the line item for his salary.

The coroner requested commissioners transfer money from his contract-services line item to salaries, but Discher said Friday afternoon that request had been denied because the money left in that line item already is encumbered.

“That money is fixed to pay for the autopsies. It’s our fourth-quarter payment to the Cuyahoga County Coroner,” Discher said.

In a press release issued Friday by Malinowski, the coroner said he will be undergoing surgery in early November and will not be able to perform the duties of coroner for approximately six weeks. He said he should be “more than capable of performing my job, as required by law” after he has healed from the surgery. During his absence, Dr. Pamela Lancaster, deputy coroner, will fill in for Malinowski. Lancaster is paid out of the salaries line item. Malinowski said her pay won’t be increased during his absence.

“We’ve done this for years, anytime I’ve been on vacation, out of town, in the hospital,” Malinowski said. “The office is covered. That’s the way we work. It’s not going to be any different, except (the staff) won’t be getting paid for it because the commissioners have decided not to give the coroner’s office money for employees. The coroner’s office has two full-time employees and one part-time, but the commissioners have nine employees to do the work of three commissioners.”

As with all other elected officials and county offices, the coroner has seen his appropriations reduced several times during 2009. Discher said budget analyst James Hardin, when issuing his financial report to elected officials at the end of each month, repeatedly warned them that finances throughout the year would be extremely tight and they should take measures to reduce expenses early on.

“That message was sent all along,” she said.

Malinowski made some adjustments in spending, but salaries were not among them. He requested commissioners provide him with more money to pay his staff, but Malinowski said Friday that his request had been denied.

In the press release, Malinowski said he can’t lay off his investigators, Rich Mongell and James Baehr, because the office cannot be shut down.

“These people are truly professional and very dedicated to their job, and they have told me that they will continue to work,” he stated in the press release. “They indicated that it would not be fair or proper that the families of the deceased should have to suffer because of the inaction of some politician. We have an obligation to see that the deceased are treated with respect and dignity and that the truth be told about the circumstances of their death.”

Mongell said Malinowski told his staff he has the money in the salary account and “we will continue to work.”

“He’s not laying us off. We’re continuing to work,” Mongell said.

But the coroner said it probably will be uncompensated work after the middle of November unless the commissioners come up with more money.

“They are such idiots. They will say: ‘That’s fine. We’ll let them do their jobs for nothing,’” Malinowski said.

Text Only
Local News
  • Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job

    The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.

    May 25, 2012

  • fridaySchool Shooting Ohio.jpg Shooting suspect to be tried as adult

    A 17-year-old will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday after hearing a sheriff’s deputy describe how the teen wore a T-shirt with the word “Killer” and admitted shooting people.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ohio EPA takes AIM at site of hazardous wastes

     Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staff members returned this week to the site of the now-bankrupt Ashtabula Iron and Metal on West 30th Street to take samples of the unknown liquids and analyze hazardous wastes, asbestos and other potential health and environmental concerns.

    May 25, 2012

  • Commissioners look at selling nursing beds

    Commissioners have retained the services of a law firm that specializes in the sale of excess nursing home beds as the board looks at ways to raise additional revenues.

    May 25, 2012

  • Conneaut looks at demolition funds

    The city is making preparations to secure its share of nearly $692,000 in demolition funds expected to be Ashtabula County’s portion of a multi-billion dollar settlement with national mortgage lenders.

    May 25, 2012

  • MT Friday Key bank .jpg Volunteers get more help than needed at rescue spot

     Despite their good intentions, Edward and Mary proved more hindrance than help to the Conneaut KeyBank employees lending a helping hand Thursday to a farm animal rescue operation in Kingsville Township.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • wd friday lakeside grad 2 .jpg 220 graduate at Lakeside

    Thursday night was a time of pomp, circumstance and smiles as 220 seniors graduated from Lakeside High School.

    May 25, 2012 2 Photos

  • Lost money?

    There is no map, and “X” may not mark the spot, but hundreds of Ashtabula County residents may have unclaimed cash ready and waiting for them through the Ohio Department of Commerce.

    May 25, 2012

  • Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting

    A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday.

    May 24, 2012

  • Happy Hearts Graduation Happy Hearts School holds commencement for its Class of 2012

     As commencement exercises go in Ashtabula County, the one at Happy Hearts School was small, with just five students.

    May 24, 2012 3 Photos

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
House Ads
AP Video