Mahoning County employee gets job back after being wrongly terminated
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A Mahoning County employee who was fired within his probationary period has been reinstated to his position Tuesday.
Ricky Morrison began working for the county maintenance department on September 12 and was terminated in early December after he was allegedly seen sitting with Republican challenger Geno DiFabio during a November 28 elections board meeting. After Tuesday's final recount for the commissioner's position, incumbent Democratic candidate Carol Rimedio-Righetti won the race for Commissioners by 130 votes.
On December 9, attorney Subodh Chandra issued a letter on Morrison's behalf demanding his client be reinstated by December 16 or face an unconstitutional termination lawsuit.
Gina DeGenova, acting Mahoning County Prosecutor, reviewed Morrison's termination and reversed the termination decision on Tuesday. DeGenova stated that the firing was initiated by the county administrator, not the Board of Commissioners, which includes Rimedio-Righetti, but the firing was not politically motivated.
DeGenova said because no board action was taken, his termination is void.
The letter from the Mahoning County Prosecutor's office by Gina DeGenova reads:
Mr. Chandra:
“While it’s a relief that, after our demand for his reinstatement, Mr. Morrison—after enduring terror for 11 days—will apparently have his health insurance and cancer treatment restored, the emotional harm will be hard to recover from. And the chilling effect on freedom of speech continues. Mr. Morrison didn’t attend the county elections board meeting today because of that effect,” Chandra added.