Ohio: Controlling Board

In a bipartisan 6-1 vote, lawmakers slammed the door after realizing that Miami officials decided to purchase the most expensive office chairs available -- the Aeron stretched-fabric brand. Of the 333 chairs purchased, 245 of them designated for staff and faculty offices cost $522 apiece. Chairs for conference rooms ranged from $397 to $446 each.

As members including Sen. Ray Miller, D-Columbus, grilled university architect Robert Keller about the purchase, lawmakers said they were not satisfied with the responses.

"They didn't give a solid explanation as to why" they purchased the most expensive chairs, said Sen. Mark Wagoner, R-Toledo. "In a difficult financial environment, we have to be fiscally responsible.

The four-city rail idea -- which would bring passenger trains to Columbus for the first time in a generation -- is a key component of Strickland's plan to lessen Ohio's dependence on highways.

Strickland and rail proponents have run into skepticism and outright opposition from some Republicans, who have dismissed the idea as "romantic" in tough economic times.

In a hearing in the House Finance Committee that extended into the late night yesterday, some Republicans said the Strickland administration was trying to steamroll through the rail plan without proper oversight.

"They are very clearly taking away power that belongs to the General Assembly and giving it to themselves," said Rep. Matthew J.

Democrat Richard Cordray said his office is looking into whether Dann and Gutierrez can be held personally liable for some of their behavior as state officials in 2007 and early 2008. Gutierrez was fired in May 2008, about two weeks before Dann resigned under pressure.

The office also is looking into whether part of its legal settlement with two ex-employees could be paid by a bond that Dann submitted upon taking office or other bond funds that generally cover state employees, Cordray said.

Cordray made his comments as a panel of legislators approved the $495,000 in payments to Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, who were regularly subjected to crude sexual comments and advances from their boss, Gutierrez, in late 2007 and early 2008.

Cordray said his office cut checks to the two women, Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, and
their lawyers before going to the state Controlling Board because that's standard procedure in such
cases.

Some members of the Controlling Board -- a panel of legislators that approves unbid contracts
and large expenses -- expressed surprise that the legal settlement with Stankoski and Stout was not
presented to them for approval.

Speaking on ONN's
Capitol Square television program that aired over the weekend, Cordray said the
payments were issued shortly after the Ohio Court of Claims approved them, without having to go
through the Controlling Board.

He said the payments will go to the Controlling Board on Feb. 23 as part of a larger discussion
of legal claims. Cordray did not say, however, what would happen if the legislators were to reject
the payments, which already have been handed over.

-- James Nash

jnash@dispatch.com