Trustees OK pay raises

The township police force is now at full strength with 20 full-time officers.
By TIM YOVICH
Vindicator Trumbull Staff
HOWLAND -- Township Administrator Darlene St. George will receive a 2.5 percent pay raise for 2006, and other administrators and nonunion employees will see a 1.5 percent pay increase.
Township trustees agreed Monday to increase St. George's paycheck to $68,772.
The meeting agenda called for St. George's salary to increase by 1.5 percent, but Trustee Rick Clark suggested the added pay.
Clark said St. George has worked hard and long hours to save the township money and deserves to be rewarded.
Others and their new salaries follow:
UDavid McCann, public works director, $55,815 annually.
UDonald Thompson, public works foreman, $23.15 per hour.
UGeorge Brown, fire chief and training director, $72,458.
UTim Thomas, assistant fire chief, $53,306.
UVivian McDowell, deputy clerk, $21.68 per hour.
UPaul Monroe, police chief, $60,882.
UFrank Dillon, assistant police chief, $53,592.
UMark Zuppo Jr., planning and zoning director, $49,450.
URay Benetto, assistant planning and zoning director, $33,556.
Officer hired
In other business, trustees hired David E. Hayes as a full-time patrol officer. He will be paid $19.46 hourly.
Police Chief Paul Monroe said this will bring the department to full strength with 20 full-time officers.
Hayes, 44, is a 1979 Howland High School graduate and received his bachelor's degree from Kent State University.
He served 20 years with the Prince George's County Police Department in Maryland. He and his wife, Judy, a Warren native, have a son.
In other business, trustees:
UApproved paying the township general liability insurance 2006 premium of $60,818 with Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority. This is an increase of about $2,000 above this year's cost.
UAppointed George A. Beck and John W. Rowland to the Volunteer Firefighters' Board for 2006.
UHired Atty. Maureen E. Cones for $4,875 to review and revise the township's policies and procedures manual.
Clark reported that the Ohio Department of Transportation will install a crosswalk at Howland Corners. It will be constructed in the spring between the west and east sides of state Route 46.
Clark also reported that the township is negotiating with trash haulers to set a new three-year rate schedule and with two natural gas brokers in an attempt to get lower rates for township residents.
yovich@vindy.com