Council after the ‘truth’

By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

May 05, 2008 11:41 pm

— ASHTABULA — Another controversial Web site and charges of impropriety in the city solicitor’s office sparked a hailstorm at Monday night’s City Council meeting.
The anonymous Web site, called www.ashtabulatruth.com, appeared on the heels of the Star Beacon’s recent 10-part series regarding the condition of Ashtabula County. It provides the creator’s view of why the city is in the condition it’s in, which includes criticism of former city solicitor Thomas Simon.
Ward 3 Councilwoman Ericka Severino broached the subject of Website under new business. She asked City Solicitor Michael Franklin if he provided any of the public documents that appear on the site.
“I have no control, no knowledge ... I’m uninvolved in such a website,” Franklin said. “I don’t know how else to say it.”
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Simon said the site was full of “misinformation and lies.” He urged council to conduct an investigation.
Severino made the motion and Vice President Betty Kist seconded it.
Ward 5 Councilman James Trisket said, “If we’re really going to do this, we need to hire a computer forensic engineer.”
Council unanimously approved the motion to investigate the website.
Marlene Cornelius, wife of Ashtabula Police Capt. Gerald Cornelius, said she was upset because itemized bills for her husband’s motorcycle school appear on the site. As the former head bookkeeper for the county, Marlene Cornelius charged the leak had to be in the solicitor’s or manager’s office.
“It’s a coincidence but there’s leaks in both of those offices,” she said.
Franklin said, “To my knowledge, nothing left my office.”