Trumbull County commissioners met for the final time this year. For two of the commissioners, this was their final meeting.

The meeting focused on allocating the remaining American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds before the deadline at the end of the year. With just weeks before the deadline to allocate the rest of Trumbull county's $38.6 million in ARP funds, all of the money is accounted for. 

“Most importantly, out of today's meeting was tying up loose ends with the ARPA money. We faced the deadline of December 31, and we were able to do that, and bring our ARPA balance to zero,” said Denny Malloy, Trumbull County Commissioner.

Much of the allocated funds went towards water, sewer and infrastructure projects across the county.

Some of these projects voted on today included money for the Healthy Hearts and Paws shelter, road projects, improvements towards the county fairgrounds and sewer improvements required by the EPA. 

Other funding went towards improvements in multiple cities and townships in the county.

“Small townships got their fair share that was necessary for safety and security in those areas. We help small businesses with grants and loans. We assisted nonprofits with programming and future programming, and we assisted the county,” said Mauro Cantalamessa, Trumbull County commissioner.

But just as they began, they also ended, with a show of bad blood. 

The often-volatile board remained at odds until the end, with commissioner Niki Frenchko imploring the county to use more stringent budgeting practices in the future. 

“It's been an honor to be a voice of accountability and balance on the board that otherwise was just rubber stamping,” said Frenchko.

Malloy was unmoved. During a speech he wrote about Frenchko leaving the board, he placed all blame for the board's troubles on Frenchko.

“You'd rather play gotcha than offer a solution or solve a problem,” said Malloy.

While excluding Frenchko, a small group of residents thanked Cantalamessa for his 10 years of work on the board. 

“No matter where I am in the future, I'll be Trumbull County's biggest cheerleader, and Trumbull county's biggest advocate,” said Cantalamessa.

As Cantalamessa spoke about his time as a commissioner, Frenchko spoke to her Facebook audience on a live stream, saying his legacy includes having her arrested and destroying evidence, a reference to her 2022 arrest. 

Frenchko said she is planning on rerunning for commissioner.