NEW SPRINGFIELD Unionization bid withdrawn

Trustees also heard from residents opposed to a road near Carousel Corners.
BY MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- A bid to unionize Springfield Township's Road Department has been withdrawn by the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Springfield Township Trustee Chairman Shirley Heck read a letter from Joseph Beasley, business representative for the union, at Wednesday night's township trustees' meeting. In the Aug. 13 letter, Beasley states he is withdrawing a petition the union had filed for representation election. A hearing on the matter had been set for Aug. 20 but was canceled after the petition was withdrawn.
Heck said the action does not prevent the Operating Engineers or another union from filing at a later date, but said she hopes the two township employees involved will not find that necessary. She said she hopes she and the other two trustees can sit down for a discussion with those workers sometime soon.
Township Road Superintendent Richard Kennedy and road employee Eric Mace had signed cards with the union after they failed for the first time in years to receive the same percentage pay increase as township police. Instead of the 4 percent given police this year, Kennedy and Mace got only 2 percent, and Kennedy said they were told that next year they would be put on salary. He said this would mean a loss of overtime pay.
IOP had also filed an unfair labor practices charge against the township, claiming Kennedy and Mace were threatened with losing their jobs if they didn't take a pay cut. That charge was later dismissed by the Ohio State Employee Relations Board, and an appeal by the union was pending.
No reason was given for the IOP's petition withdrawal. Kennedy did not comment during the meeting and could not be reached to comment afterward.
Other actions
Also Wednesday, Heck announced trustees will meet Sept. 23 in Columbus in the Columbus office of state Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, with representatives from Mahoning County and Waste Management to learn what type of help Waste Management will commit to the Petersburg sewer project.
Trustees also heard two representatives from the Carousel Corners neighborhood ask for help to prevent a road from being built along the back property line of several Carousel Corners homes. Trustees were sympathetic but said they have no say in the matter because the road would be in New Middletown. The men said they are trying to determine whether enough land is available to provide legal widths and right-of-ways for such a road.
The access road off Sandy Court would be part of a government-subsidized development in the village adjacent to the township. Several residents of Carousel Corners have voiced opposition to that development.
Other action
Fire Chief Brian Hughes said the Ohio Department of Public Safety has awarded an $8,236 grant to the township EMS service. The money will be used for training and equipment.
Walter McKinney was hired as a temporary part-time worker for the recycling program at $8.13 per hour, and Molly Haney was appointed to the township fire department pending a background check and a physical.
Heck announced that the Ohio State University Extension service is offering help to residents who had damage to water wells, septic systems or other property damage in recent storms. Claims must be made by Sept. 30. More information is available at the township office.