Group plans for cleanup in township

Street sweeping, tire recycling and communitywide cleanup are planned.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Earth Day will kick off a series of cleanup events planned for the township next year.
Trustee Kathy Miller conducted a meeting Wednesday with representatives of township departments and the Recycling Division of Mahoning County, or the Green Team, to establish the community cleanup.
The group plans for a series of events beginning with a news conference and open house kick-off April 22 outside the township road department. The date coincides with Earth Day.
A dump and run, where residents bring unwanted, but reusable items to a central location to be picked up by charity organization, a communitywide cleanup, appliance pickup, tire recycling and street sweeping will follow.
Committee members will devise a slogan for the efforts and involve schools and the business community. Sarah Ellis of Youngstown State University and Jim Petuch, Green Team executive director, said that a dump and run in October in Lake Milton had successful results.
Residents bring unwanted, usable items and charities are on-site to collect the items with assistance from volunteers, Ellis said.
Increasing involvement
Petuch also said he plans to get the division more involved with Keep America Beautiful, a cleanup and beautification program.
Robyn Gallitto, trustee-elect, spoke about presenting monthly awards to residents or businesses that do an exceptional job of maintaining or improving their properties.
Recipients could be recognized at trustees' meetings with a sign posted in their yard announcing the recognition, she said.
They set 9 a.m. Jan. 26 as their next meeting.
"This is not just a one-time deal," Miller said. "We're going to focus on getting this done in Boardman. I want people to drive into Boardman and to feel good to be home."