Salem council seeks residents to serve on fire district board

SALEM -- City council is asking people to apply to serve on the board of a controversial fire district.
Council met briefly Wednesday and voted unanimously to name Councilman A. Frederick Vogel as its representative to the board.
Salem and Perry Township have voted to form a new fire district that would serve both areas.
Under the plan, the city and township fire departments would be dissolved.
Each body will appoint one of its members as well as a resident. Those four people will appoint a fifth person.
Together, they will draft the operating plan for the district.
Vogel said he wanted to serve because he has been reading about and studying fire districts.
City residents have until Sept. 5 to submit a letter to council. Council next meets Sept. 6.
The township trustees haven't named their representatives, according to Vogel.
The fire department has won a temporary stop to the project in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
Vogel said the city has the permission of the court to proceed while the court action is pending.
Salem voters overwhelmingly approved ordinances in 2004 that would have required public votes on plans to eliminate the fire department. Council repealed the ordinances.
Council has indicated it wants to eliminate the fire department to prevent a financial shortfall.