TRUMBULL COUNTY Weathersfield police mark 20th anniversary

There is some tentative thought about a police levy, a trustee said.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Weathersfield Township Police Department was honored Tuesday by township, county, state and federal elected officials with resolutions congratulating the department on its 20th anniversary, which was July 1.
Trustees Chairman James Stoddard said honors were given as a complete surprise to Police Chief Joseph Consiglio to honor past, current and future officers of the department, which has been in existence since 1984.
State Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, D-65th, presented the chief with a proclamation honoring the department. Stoddard also gave the chief a proclamation from the township trustees for the entire department.
Trumbull County Commissioner Dan Polivka also came into the meeting later to give the chief a proclamation from the county board of commissioners
Other honors included those from state Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd; Ohio House Speaker Bill Householder; and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.
Police contract
Trustees met in executive session for about 30 minutes at the start of the regular meeting to discuss negotiations with the collective bargaining unit for the police contract.
Stoddard explained later that the trustees have been meeting with police with some proposals for some concessions to extend the departmental budget's viability "at least until the end of 2005."
He added: "The reason we are doing this now is that we are tentatively thinking about putting a police levy on the ballot, possibly in May and in November."
Stoddard said that right now, the township is projecting the police fund will make it through to next year and into 2006, providing that budgeted revenues do actually come in.
A 1.5-mill permanent fire levy on the March 9 ballot that would have generated $320,000 annually was defeated.
Properties
Also Tuesday, trustees moved to accept a petition for vacating the end of St. Mary's Drive and will forward the petition to the county commissioners.
Several properties were also declared a nuisance, and are to be razed, including: 1286 Ashland Ave., Niles, 1456 Furnace St., Mineral Ridge; 2873 Niles-Carver Road, Niles; 2961 Trumbull Ave., McDonald and 2947 Woodlawn Ave., Girard.
The board also approved hiring Holko Enercon, Inc. of Fowler for $8,100 to replace a section of the roof on the Mineral Ridge Fire Station 41 on state Route 46.
Trustees plan to hold a public hearing before their next meeting Sept. 14 on a request by Champion Molded Plastics for a 60 percent tax abatement for 10 years if it puts a new plant in the township at the site of the old Republic Steel. The company wants a personal property tax reduction. There will also be action on the request in September, Stoddard said.