AUSTINTOWN 2 candidates for trustee discuss their priorities

One challenger said some township officials are 'arrogant and self-serving.'
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Township finances and economic development are primary concerns of at least two of the five candidates for trustee.
Richard E. Edwards and Lisa L. Oles both addressed those topics in response to questionnaires from The Vindicator.
Samuel Swoger, Donna Buzulencia and Linda Marie Roca, who are also on the ballot, did not return the questionnaires, on which this story is partly based.
Financial issues
Edwards, a trustee since 2001, said he is seeking re-election to complete the financial reorganization begun by trustees this year. That reorganization, he noted, involves wages and benefits of township employees.
"One of the problems that must be addressed for Austintown, and all other townships, is the current method of labor negotiation. This system is weighted in favor of government employees," he said, "and gives little room for townships to negotiate fairly."
Edwards suggested that all township officials in the county encourage state legislators "to bring about a fair negotiation process." As it is, Edwards said, the process is costly and does not provide a sense of urgency for unions to reach an agreement.
On another matter, he said, "We [township officials] have started an aggressive process to secure grants for township problems, and for township employees and services."
Continued township growth is also one of Edwards' primary concerns.
"The closing of Tamco warehouse and Phar Mor [and subsequent loss of tax revenues] exposed the limited amount of financial reserves the township possessed," Edwards said. "Implementation of portions of the Austintown Growth Foundation 20/20 growth plan will help in planning for future residential and business growth."
'Highly taxed'
Oles described Austintown as "a highly taxed community" that has suffered from a lack of planned growth.
She blames Edwards, who also sat on the Austintown Zoning Board for 17 years, for a lack of economic development over the past decade.
"Granted, our township has seen a recent spurt of growth," Oles said, "I attribute that, in part, to my opponent's no longer sitting on the zoning board."
Oles accused Edwards of voting against businesses and strip plazas because they would have been in competition with the Austintown Plaza. She said Edwards has a part in operating the Austintown Plaza.
"Now the property owners are the ones suffering with high property tax burdens because we should have been experiencing planned economic growth at an even, steady pace for more than a decade," she said. "As a trustee, I am going to change the way in which individuals are appointed to the zoning board. There will be fair and equal opportunity for all residents to apply for the zoning board and appeals board should a vacancy arise."
Oles also accused current township leadership of being "arrogant and self-serving."
"We are long overdue for diversity on the board [of trustees] and I am taking the stand that the good ol' boy network will no longer control our community, the people will."
She suggested forming a citizens advisory board to address township problems and set goals. Oles also suggested forming a grant writing committee to accomplish goals established by the advisory committee without placing the financial burden on residents.