Trumbull commissioner upset after vote to close offices at 2 p.m. on day of solar eclipse

A Trumbull County commissioner is speaking out after the board voted Wednesday to close county offices early on April 8 so nonessential county workers can watch the solar eclipse.

Commissioners Denny Malloy and Mauro Cantalamessa agreed to end the work day at 2 p.m. on April 8, while Niki Frenchko argued the workers should use a vacation day if they want to take off.

“I voted NO,” Frenchko posted on her Facebook page. “The 2 other commissioners are just awful and need to go. Watch the meeting to see. Our duty is to protect taxpayer funds, not find creative ways to waste it. This is similar to the other two deciding to allow comp time for going to the fair and sitting at festivals. What’s next, Christmas bonuses? County employees enjoy up to four times more vacation time than the private sector worker and already work 6.5 hour days and get paid for 8.”

“Most of the counties that are in the line of full eclipse are shutting down for the day,” Malloy said during the meeting. “Most of the counties are using calamity days or snow days.”

Trumbull County human resources director Alexandra DeVengencie-Bush reportedly said managers of county officials with essential workers will determine if workers will be able to be off, adding other departments including county 911 and the sheriff’s office, won’t be able to let their workers off due to their work.