Ohio University Student Senate parliamentarian Dominic Barbato¥ will not be dismissed from his position, despite pleading guilty on drug charges, senate executives recently decided.
Because the parliamentarian is not an elected position and does not have voting rights, the senate executives determined Barbato had not violated the senate constitution.
Good conduct or conduct unbecoming of a senate member is very subjective
Senate Vice-President Jen Price¥ said. Staff members can be fired at the discretion of senate executives.
President Kristen Jensen¥ said that staff members would be fired without exception for discriminatory behavior, but no other behavior is explicitly stated as cause for termination of staff in the constitution.
Barbato was indicted on a felony count of aggravated possession of drugs June 14 after being arrested by Ohio University police officer Josh Durst¥ for possessing psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He entered a plea of guilty to the charges Oct. 6, according to Athens County Common Pleas Court records. With the plea of guilty, the state agreed not to oppose intervention in lieu of conviction.
He was sentenced Jan. 10 and will receive treatment and intervention with Hector Flores¥ and Associates. He also will pay court costs.
Barbato said he was grateful for the opportunity to retain his post. The way I look at it is I am proud to be a member of the organization Barbato said. I've had my personal troubles but senate as an organization is helping me get through it. It gives me something to do
so I am glad they allowed me to remain with them.
Barbato's job as parliamentarian requires him to be present at all the general and rules and procedures meetings and make sure the rules of order are followed, Jensen said.
Price commended Barbato for his work ethic. Based on his job as parliamentarian
he only has to be in the senate office three hours a week
she said. But he's always there between classes -studying
talking to people about issues
going over rules and procedures. He goes beyond the call of duty in terms of our rules.
Barbato ran for president of senate last year as a member of the K.E.G. party.
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