Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Of Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners question board of elections health coverage for members; prosecutor to research past lawsuit
Summary
Commissioners asked staff to research whether the county is required to provide health insurance to board of elections members after hearing the practice is unusual among Ohio counties; the prosecutor's office said it is pulling court records from a prior dispute to determine whether a court order or settlement affects current authority.
Trumbull County commissioners raised concerns at a Feb. 28 workshop about the county’s practice of providing health insurance to board of elections members who attend one meeting per month.
Several commissioners said county peers told them that few counties still offer that benefit and that some removed it in recent years. Commissioner Bernard asked whether current members would be grandfathered if the board voted to stop offering the benefit to future appointees.
Bill Danso of the prosecutor’s office told the board he is researching local history: his office has located a civil case from about 2010 involving the board of elections and the commissioners and is attempting to pull pleadings to determine whether a court order or settlement governs current benefits. “I’m trying to get the court pleadings and see what was resolved in that because I don't know if there was any long term court order that would affect how this could work,” Danso said.
Why it matters: If a court order or statute mandates the benefit, commissioners may not be able to change it without triggering new litigation or violating an order. Staff said they would provide the legal record to both boards to reduce the risk of further dispute.
Commissioners said they do not intend to take immediate action; they asked the prosecutor’s office to return with whatever records exist and with guidance on potential legal exposure and options, including the treatment of current members versus new hires.
Ending: Prosecutor staff said they will produce the historical pleadings and provide guidance before commissioners take any formal step to alter board of elections compensation or benefits.
