Lorain/Elyria, OH
Battle begins over NOACA appointee
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ELYRIA — Angry township officials confronted the Lorain County commissioners Wednesday on their decision not to appoint LaGrange Township Trustee Rita Canfield to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency board because she had run against two of the commissioners.
The commissioners instead voted Jan. 11 to appoint one of their own economic development employees, Virginia Haynes, a Wellington Township trustee, to NOACA, which helps oversees the distribution of federal funding to this area. “This appointment has stirred up a hornet’s nest,” said Rob Scheithauer, president of the Lorain County Township Association. “Our association is very capable of appointing our own township representative.”
Other township representatives said the decision sets a bad precedent and begged commissioners to change their minds.
Because Haynes is a county employee, “There will be a perception her loyalty is divided,” Huntington Township Trustee Mary Beth Derikito said.
Neil Lynch, an Amherst Township trustee, asked point blank: “Why won’t the commissioners accept the township’s representative?”
Commissioner Lori Kokoski replied, “Come on, seriously, are you asking that question?”
Kokoski said Canfield is “an outstanding person and I consider her a friend, but she never ran against me.”
Commissioner Ted Kalo told township officials, “There could have been more sensitivity on your pick,” and said, “You need a certain trust level I don’t believe I would have with your pick.”
After the meeting, Kokoski said the earlier campaigns got a little rough, with Canfield raising the issue of taxes that Kalo owed that went unpaid for some time.
Commissioner Betty Blair, who defeated Canfield in her last re-election bid, told a reporter “No way” when asked after the meeting if she would reconsider and appoint Canfield instead of Haynes.
When asked if he would reconsider, Kalo, who also beat Canfield in his last reelection bid, said Canfield is, “a possible candidate for county commissioner who ran against two county commissioners and criticized what we have done.”
“She ran a negative campaign against me and Betty and that’s OK — that’s politics, (but) you’ve got to be able to have a working relationship,” Kalo said.
Canfield did not attend the meeting, but said afterward, “This involves a much bigger issue than me — the townships lost that right to appoint for themselves.
“That I ran against Betty and ran against Ted is a side issue — it’s sad they took that tact,” Canfield said.
Haynes, an economic development specialist in the Lorain County Community Development Department, said, “You know I would talk to you at any time, but this time I’m not allowed to because I’m a county employee.”
Meanwhile, the township association is considering taking its concerns about Haynes’ appointment to NOACA to determine if it was handled properly, said Jim McConnell, fiscal officer for Pittsfield Township.
McConnell said commissioners would never dare reject a city’s recommendation on an appointment to the NOACA board.
McConnell wrote Blair an e-mail stating that “your snub of our appointment and subsequent appointment of one of your employees to that position, without even so much as a phone call to express your concerns, will without question be viewed as an arrogant slap in the face to all of the township officials in this county.”
He begged Blair to change her mind, writing, “Don’t pass up a golden opportunity to improve relationships here rather than make a bad situation worse.”
Assistant County Prosecutor Gerald Innes said after Wednesday’s meeting that he was not able to immediately address whether the commissioners could legally appoint an employee whose job might depend on votes to bring funding to the county.
Kalo said Innes will research the matter. If Haynes cannot serve, commissioners would consider another recommendation from the township association, Kalo said.
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
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Duh…..In case anyone hasn’t noticed, the Lorain County Commissioners, which allegedly represent the ENTIRE county, rarely care about what happens in the townships. Case in point, down in the southern part of the county, we only see them at Fair time…just like the Sheriff’s department.
And lets really be honest, has anyone paid attention to how much garbage Virginia Haynes has stirred up in Wellington Township????? Wow….way to go Aunt Betty…don’t listen to the townships/residents…just take matters in your own hands….I am sure thats why these knuckleheads kept re-electing you !!!
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While I am ranting……It should come as no surprise what the Commissioners did. Virginia Haynes is a Democrate…as are ALL of our commissioners. Haynes has been attached to Blair’s hip for years….most likely how she got her job, since she never had any experience in economic development, unless you count her non-compliant home business that the township had to take her to court for. Why did all the county agencies cut people…but Haynes, who has only been in that department for 18 months or so, didn’t lose her job????? Can you say, “I want to be a commissioner.”, Virginia……oh yea, wasn’t enough to screw up Wellington Township, now you want to take a shot at mucking up the whole county and beyond……
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bah, there’s plenty of that favortism to go around in dems and reps. its not a surpise voters get what they vote for. and voting all republican isnt the ansswer eihter. the answer is to vote for decent poeple with morals and values. and if you know poeple like that then encourege them to run and help them get known in there area. stop letting money rule the system
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Eatown….couldn’t agree with you anymore…I wasn’t indicating we should all vote for one party, just cuz. Its just sad to see the blatant favortism/chronism that is taking place. I am all for throwing out every politician and starting over !!!
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Well I hope there will be a Tea Party coming to our neck of the woods soon. Kalo & Kokoski was reelected on the Shirt Tail of Presdent Obama plain and simple. Who is Kalo to judge about some ones trust level? Did Kalo pay his taxes? Or didn’t he? What say you folks?
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Haynes, an economic development specialist in the Lorain County Community Development Department, said, “You know I would talk to you at any time, but this time I’m not allowed to because I’m a county employee.”
What’s that mean? County employees aren’t allowed to talk to the media?
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Loving Life Check your messages please
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Sounds like another bobblehead that will just go along to get along (or to move ahead in county politics).
To not select someone to a committee because she doesn’t necessarily agree with the current status quo (so she called out some of the current commissioners during the last election), against the will of those representing the townships is SHADY and is nothing more than the County Commissioners STACKING THE DECK…
At this point, I would like to make a call of SHENANIGANS on them!
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Virginia Haynes is a very qualified official to be appointed to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency Board. Virginia is the 2009 winner of the Mike Whitmore Award for Outstanding Public Service and is the Administrative Coordinator for the Lorain County Community Alliance. Virginia is also Economic Development Specialist for Lorain County. As Wellington Township Trustee, Virginia Haynes has always represented the township residents with integrity and sound leadership. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency Board and the Lorain County Townships will benefit from Virginia’s leadership skills and knowledge. I think Virginia’s appointment was a very positive and smart decision.
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Positive Wellington Resident….Is this Betty Blair?? Lori?? Well anyway, anybody that has ever witnessed the circus that WAS a Wellington Township meeting, would certainly not agree with you Positive. The nice thing is that Mrs. Haynes’ 2-1 vote stranglehold on our township is now gone. For years, her and her lapdog CW “ruled” the township as Dumb and Dumber….not so much anymore though. She will get to see what it is like being the ONE vote in the 2-1 vote. Much peace, love.
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Henry the Seventh, you do not have enough courage to give your name, so it is very easy for you to rant, as you put it, and not be required to provide any facts. You might as well be at a bar, knocking back a couple of beers somewhere, just ranting to the other patrons. That is the level of creditability your opinion has, none. The only circus member is you, the circus clown. We all need to see passed the dirty stagnant watters and have hope for clear sunny days.
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Not enough courage to give my name???? Really, Mr. Wellington for the facts???? First of all…the facts are this..I have attended 80% of the meetings in the last 10 years….Fact: I have personally been affected by the vindictiveness of Wellington Township Trustees….Fact: I most certainly have hope for clear, sunny days now that a new group of trustees is ruling the roost…..Again, much peach and love to y’all…..Now where did I put that big red foam nose????
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