AUSTINTOWN At trustees meeting, arguments abound

Some residents say they're tired of the bickering.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- "Let the fun begin."
With that, township Trustee Bo Pritchard opened the public-comment portion of Monday night's trustees meeting. What followed was an hour of trustees arguing with residents, residents arguing with trustees, trustees arguing with one another and trustees arguing with trustees' spouses.
Much of the argument stemmed from Pritchard's comments last week about his decision not to run for re-election when his term ends in 2005. He said a group of four "naysayers" -- radio host Ron Verb and political activists Gary Brant, John Paulette and Mark Cleland -- have destroyed his credibility by making baseless accusations that he had committed wrongdoing.
On Monday, Paulette said there would be a "probe" of Pritchard's actions while trustee. Pritchard called the comment another baseless accusation of wrongdoing.
Seeking resignation
Both Paulette and Cleland also called for Pritchard's resignation.
"To say that all of us come up here and constantly contradict trustees is not true," Cleland said.
When Cleland said Pritchard should resign, Pritchard answered, "When I start listening to you for political advice, that's when I'll jump off the Market Street bridge."
Cleland responded, "Then jump."
Staatz Drive residents Donna Buzulencia and William Crawford and Fairview Road resident Pat Benyo then took to the podium in township hall to show support for Pritchard.
"You still have credibility in my eyes," Crawford said.
Buzulencia, Benyo and Fairview Road resident Shirley Schmidt also questioned Trustee Lisa Oles on her plans to address the township's financial problems. Schmidt asked Oles about a comment attributed to her in another newspaper that the township had "hidden funds."
Oles stressed that she never made that comment, and said she was working with Mahoning County Auditor George Tablack on a financial plan for the township.
Reaction to Tablack's name
The mention of Tablack's name brought groans from some residents.
"We can do without the extra sound effects," Oles chided.
Later, Oles said she "will continue to show up to work every single day to look for better ways to use your tax dollars." Some residents applauded her statement.
Pritchard, however, criticized Oles for not working with her fellow trustees, and said he has learned about Oles' proposals for the township through the press.
"I do not believe in government by press release," he said.
Pritchard also said Oles told him last year that she would support a levy for police if it were on the ballot this November. Voters rejected a 2.5-mill police levy that appeared on the March 2 ballot.
Oles had voted against a resolution to keep the levy on the ballot, and in campaign literature she has said she could address the township's financial problems without increasing the tax burden on residents.
Pritchard asked Oles on Monday to confirm that she said she would support the levy if it was on the November ballot. She didn't answer in the brief discussion that followed.
Spousal support
Oles' husband, Matt, called from the audience for Pritchard to allow his wife to answer.
When Pritchard told Matt Oles he was speaking out of turn, Matt Oles called Pritchard "arrogant."
"Yeah, I'm arrogant," Pritchard said sarcastically.
It was not the first time there had been arguing during the public-portion comment of a trustees meeting. At many of the meetings leading up to March 2, residents and trustees debated the need for the police levy and the status of township budget.
On Monday, some residents said they were tired of the bickering.
"We need to concentrate on helping one another get through" the township's financial problems, said Rosemont Avenue resident Nancie Bokesch. She turned her attention to Paulette, Cleland and Brant and said, "I am so tired of the negativity with you.
"You do not speak for me, you do not speak for many residents in this township," Bokesch said.
Trustee David Ditzler also said he thinks township residents and officials need to set aside their differences.
"We need to all band together and work in the same direction," he said.
hill@vindy.com