Poland Township loses a chief, gains controversy

Poland Township loses achief, gains controversy
EDITOR:
Poland Township residents are being deceived by our current trustees, Annette DiVito, Mark Naples, and Robert Lidle. They have fired a well-liked, more than competent police chief, Carl Massullo, without explanation.
Trustees have led us to believe the selection process for a new chief will not be flawed because a selection committee has been appointed. Politics, favoritism, and the black cloud of corruption are set aside when those responsible for hiring do not get involved in the selection of candidates. The selection committee recommends one to three candidates and the trustees are then responsible for interviewing and hiring within that group.
However, in Poland Township, the appointed committee names have been kept from the public other than trustee Naples. The selection committee is cloaked in secrecy and Naples' being on the committee says it loud and clear: "We have already picked our candidate for chief." Trustees have lowered the pay along with the educational requirements which sends the message we are looking for something less than what Chief Massullo brought to the table.
I have attended trustee meetings and I do not see any examples of good direction, leadership, professionalism, and the collective group of three does not have the ability to interview a new police chief. Chief Massullo being fired with no explanation, other township departments (zoning, road and clerical) electing to receive union representation out of fear of job loss, has the smell of irregularities. It appears trustees want to fill township positions with their cronies and if vacancies don't exist, trustees will create some. This is not the type of representation that will move Poland Township forward.
GREG HOHLOCH
Poland Township
Libertarians offer a choice, when they're given a chance
EDITOR:
Now that the primary elections are over and the general election season beings in Ohio, I would like to inform the readers why the Libertarian Party won't be on the November ballot, as it is in most states. Our secretary of state, Kenneth Blackwell, decided our petition (the Libertarians had 60,000 signatures; we needed 30,000) on a very minor technicality that the previous secretary of state had approved.
The Libertarian Party is the party of personal responsibility. We believe government is nothing more than a necessary evil. We advocate less intrusive government, want to stop being the policemen of the world, end the prosecution of victimless crimes, have the government get out of the education business (free public education is very expensive) privatize foreign aid, cease all levels of government from being the largest employer in the country, and end our 50 percent tax burden.
I know Libertarianism is not for everyone, but wouldn't it be nice if you at least had a choice? What choice do you have now: the tax and spend Democrats or the borrow and spend Republicans? I think it is sad that we do not have a choice.
TIM J. McNEIL Sr.,
Mineral Ridge
Motorist gets a safety lesson
EDITOR:
Recently I had the misfortune to have a flat tire on Route 422 going south, just past the construction as you enter Youngstown.
During the time I was waiting for AAA, eight different men stopped to see if they could help and two police cars stopped. The first policeman said he would check on me every 10 minutes.
Since I sell real estate, I will tell everyone that it's safe to drive in Youngstown.
ALICE MURPHY
McDonald