Franklin Township residents hurl criticisms at Vicites
Franklin Township residents Ralph and Geraldine T. “Jerry” Mazza assailed Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites Thursday on a variety of topics, including alleging that he was improperly trying to influence authority members and participated in unauthorized use of a county vehicle. Ralph Mazza was the first to speak during public comment at the conclusion of the monthly commissioners meeting, first criticizing Vicites for calling members of authority boards, calling the action “atrocious if not criminal.” Ralph Mazza said he didn’t believe Vicites’ assertion that the calls were not to influence the outcome of zoning hearings.
Former Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board member Leon Evans recently resigned from the board and claimed that Vicites called him on more than one occasion to discuss zoning cases.
Vicites said he did nothing improper. “I didn’t try to make a person vote a certain way. I call people because I care and am concerned about this county,” Vicites said.
Ralph Mazza also alleged that Vicites took part in the last union contract for the county by meeting with and telling the union they could get more money. Ralph Mazza said everything Vicites does is “politically motivated or expedient.” He said in non-election years, Vicites didn’t give raises and then upped the county employees’ salaries in a contract negotiation during an election year. “I thought this was reprehensible,” Ralph Mazza said.
Vicites said he supported higher wages for the county employees but was unable to give more money for years because of the county’s financial situation. He said Fayette County employees were some of the lowest-paid in the state. “We can’t have people making minimum wage,” he said. Vicites said he didn’t sit in on union negotiations; he merely went to talk to them after the union requested to speak to the commissioners.
Ralph Mazza also criticized a decision Vicites and Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III made to approve an indemnification request for a Dollar General Store in Masontown. Ralph Mazza said he supported Zimmerlink’s stand to not make exceptions to the county’s normal procedure.
Vicites said he did what he felt was right regarding his decision, saying he was told that the development would be lost if action weren’t taken.
“You and Mrs. Mazza have attacked me for years and are not a supporter of me. It’s America and I’ll take it, but I won’t let you twist the facts around,” Vicites said.
Geraldine Mazza then took the floor and began by asking general questions about the use of county-owned vehicles. After hearing several of her inquiries about unauthorized people riding in county vehicles, possible accidents and liability concerns, county solicitor Joseph E. Ferens Jr. said, “You have a point, get to it.”
Geraldine Mazza said a county commissioner has been driving his family around in a county vehicle and she wondered who would be liable if anyone were injured.
Ferens said that situation would be taken on a case-by-case basis.
Vicites then responded that he has a county car for use on county business only. He said he doesn’t have his children in the car.
When Geraldine Mazza said Vicites has been seen driving his children in the county car, Vicites responded by saying that is false and a smear tactic. “That’s ridiculous,” he said.