SPRINGFIELD TWP. State board dismisses charge

The township will need a fill-in recycling coordinator.
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- The State Employment Relations Board has dismissed an unfair-labor practices charge against Springfield Township.
Township Trustee Chairwoman Shirley Heck read a letter from the township's legal firm when trustees met Wednesday. The letter, from Kastner, Westman and Wilkins, of Akron, states, "Consistent with the Township's arguments to SERB, it found that road department employees did not engage in any protected activity prior to any alleged action taken by the township."
Charge filed
In February, the International Union of Operating Engineers had filed the charge, contending trustees retaliated against road department employees who were trying to start a union. Road Superintendent Richard Kennedy had said trustees threatened to take away his overtime pay because he engaged in union activity.
Also Wednesday, trustees agreed to hire Dan Beniston of Salem as a full-time police officer effective June 28. Trustees said they didn't know how much he would be paid.
Two men were also added to the volunteer fire department roster, Joseph Malvestuto and Michael Hughes.
Trustees said they need someone to fill in for the recycling coordinator two Saturdays, Aug. 2 and 9. The replacement will be paid $8.13 per hour. Anyone interested should contact trustees.
They also approved purchase of a $713 radio from Youngstown Radio Service, Youngstown, for the new rescue truck and purchase of 20 sets of volunteer fire class books at $50 per set.