Ford City’s Board of Health Future in Jeopardy
Ford City Mayor Marc Mantini called for the disbandment of the local Board of Health agency, calling it “improper and illegal” at last night’s Borough Council meeting.
by David Croyle
Ford City Mayor Marc Mantini told Borough Council last night that the local Board of Health is operating improperly and illegally and called for its termination as a borough agency.
His discovery came during a recent meeting he had with the Pennsylvania Department of Health officials several weeks ago.
According to the Mayor, a letter was sent from the Pennsylvania Department of Health in July 2010 requiring the appointment of an approved inspector. According to Mantini, the council at that time ignored the request.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Southwest Division Executive Director Charles Kritko confirmed the correspondence.
“Since 2010, we actually have documentation that they had requested information on what is required for their Board to have a certified person go out and inspect restaurants. We provided this documentation to them dating back to 2010. There is a test that one has to take, there is an associate degree, there are some science courses that this person has to have, and that there is a course that they need to pass, none of which has occurred in Ford City,” he said.
Mayor Mantini stated there was an issue within the borough last year, in which the local Board of Health was contacted and failed to respond.
“When they finally reached two members of the Board of Health, after many attempts, they learned that our inspectors has absolutely no knowledge of the food code, despite the fact they were regularly sent out updated information on the Pennsylvania Food Code,” Mantini told council members last night.
According to the Mayor, who is charged with oversight of the safety of the residents, neither he nor his police department was notified of the situation.
“The Ford City Board of Health is operating illegally and improperly. The potential liability to this borough is far too great a risk. The quote from, I believe, Mr. Kritko, said the risk being open to a liability – a humongous lawsuit waiting to happen.”
Mantini called for council to disband the local Board of Health and turn the duties over to State inspectors.
Council woman Kim Bish said she had also spoken with Kritko and concurred with Mantini.
“We do not have any certified health codes officer in town nor do I see anyone stepping up to do that, because who would do that unpaid. I think it is a conundrum and we are going to have to turn it over to the State.”
No one called for a motion to disband the agency. Council President Lou Vergari said later he wanted to wait longer to see if anyone would volunteer. Since Ford City Heritage Days is right around the corner, Vergari was concerned about the ability to certify the food vendors this year.
“Do you sign an agreement with the State that says, okay, you now take over in perpetuity forever, or can they come in and take over and do Heritage and then we could still say we want to have our own health department. If no one steps up and we can’t have it, then we can’t have it!”
Both Vergari and Councilman Rob Mohney stated they could not remember seeing the July 2010 letter from the Pennsylvania Board of Health. Councilman Paul Harmon, who also served on council at that time, was absent from last night’s meeting.
Councilman Jerry Miklos formerly served on the Board of Health. He was ousted in late 2009 for what Board of Health Secretary Colleen Marcinek called “too much tension”.
Ford City Council President Lou Vergari (right) accuses Councilman Jerry Miklos (left) of a vendetta against the local Board of Health because they ousted him from that agency in2009. Council woman Kim Bish is caught in the middle of the verbal brawl.
Vergari said he did not take Miklos’ concerns seriously because he felt it was just retaliation for being removed from the Board.
‘I was under the impression that the reason you caused so much turmoil about the Board of Health was because you were removed from the Board of Health. I didn’t know anything about the Board of Health. Anything I learned about the Board of Health I learned from Councilman Miklos. You (Miklos) told me one time before I was even elected that those guys took you off the Board of Health and you were gonna give it to them.”
Miklos denied Vergari’s recollection of the discussion.
“You guys continue to try to discredit me because I’m trying to bring this issue to light. I was concerned about being on the Board of Health because I asked Mr. Wolfe to give me an assurance that I would be covered under the Borough’s liability (coverage).” Mr. Wolfe answered “That is correct.” Miklos continued. “So I had grave concerns about this Board of Health for a long time. I was not concerned about being removed. It was the manner in which I was removed. It threw up all kind of red flags.
What were you guys trying to cover? And I think we have enlightened the public
thanks to the Mayor because we have learned that there have been cover-ups.”
Vergari vehemently denied there was ever a cover-up.
Miklos, since 2009, appeared before Council prior to his election as a councilman, and almost monthly stated his concerns according to the Borough Code:
Section 3101: “Such health officers shall not enter upon the performance of their duties until they are certified so to do by the State Department of Health.”
According to Borough minutes of June 14, 2010, then-Council President John Lux told Miklos that certification was not necessary because the current board was “grandfathered”.
Section 3102: “The members of the board of health shall serve without compensation.”
In the same June 14, 2010 meeting, Council member Ron Dillard stated that the Board of Health members were receiving payment from the Borough. Last night, Vergari said that the Board was paid for the first quarter of 2012, but that payment has been withheld for the second quarter.
Section 3104: “The secretary shall keep accurate accounts of the expenditures of the board; shall draw all requisitions for the payment of moneys… shall prepare under the direction of the board, the annual report to the borough council…”
Miklos indicated at several meetings during 2010 that the Board accepted cash payments from restaurant owners for performing inspections, but that no financial record was submitted to the Borough to substantiate the transactions.
Administrative Code 141.08 – “The Board of Health shall meet regularly at a stated time and place at least once each month…”
In Borough minutes of April 11, 2011, Lux stated that the State told him the Board of Health may meet quarterly. As of March 2012, reports made to Council indicated no meeting had been held in 2012.
At one point, Miklos asked for an investigation from the District Attorney’s office. According to District Attorney Scott Andreassi, the case is continuing into any improprieties that would result in legal action.
“We conducted an investigation through my office . I know some interviews were held. I would have to check with Detective Rearick to find out if that was completed or not. I would characterize it as ‘continuing’” Andreassi said in a telephone interview.
Kritko said the State’s position still stands.
“To my knowledge, the State does not recognize anyone at Ford City doing restaurant inspections because no one in Ford City has brought forth a candidate who has been qualified to take a civil service exam, and have the qualifications of an associate degree, and some science courses.”
Vergari said another meeting would be called for Council to discuss the final decision.
“What we have to do now is get together and converse and find out what are the procedures to move forward,” he said.
Ford City Borough Council President Lou Vergari said Council will hold another meeting to determine the fate of the local Board of Health following allegations of improprieties from Mayor Marc Mantini at last night’s meeting.
Ford City Borough | David Croyle May 15, 2012 | 
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