LORAIN — An investigation of Chief Building Inspector William Desvari remains open two days after he was escorted out of his office and placed on paid administrative leave, Mayor Tony Krasienko said.Lorain police plan to pore over Building Department records as part of the probe, but neither Krasienko nor

Safety Service Director Robert Gilchrist will say what they are looking for.

Desvari did not return several calls Friday and Saturday seeking comment.

Krasienko said Desvari has been under police scrutiny for several issues since early January, which culminated in his mandatory leave Friday.

“The police thought it was prudent to have him leave the office until the investigation was concluded,” he said.

Krasienko said he does not know how long the inquiry will continue.

Desvari has worked for the city since 2003, and Lorain Council had asked in September 2006 to have him fired based on allegations that he used city-owned vehicles for personal business, was ineffective as a manager, misrepresented his education on his resume and has felony convictions for theft and forgery.

In April 2007, he was reprimanded after complaints he intimidated another city employee. A month later, he received a written reprimand for approving a contractor’s registration license that used President Bush as a reference.

Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7148 or jhawk@chroniclet.com. 

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