Appropriations for 2006 pass in spite of concerns

One trustee and the trustee-elect asked, unsuccessfully, for a delay.
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Tensions ran high at the township trustees meeting as they adopted appropriations for 2006, including the purchase of a new firetruck for the city.
Elaine Mancini and Thomas Costello voted for the adoption of the appropriations presented by Clerk William Leicht; Trustee Kathy Miller voted against it.
"The last two years, we did this in January. We didn't do this in December. Why can't it wait a week? I don't know why we're doing this now," Miller said.
Mancini and Costello did not see the need to wait.
"Nothing's going to change. You can delay it, but I've worked on this for months. I won't change anything," Leicht said.
He contended that in previous years the pay period fell differently and work was not prepared this early.
The appropriations follow the plan the board set in 1999 to use money in the reserves before putting a tax levy on the ballot, which Leicht predicts will happen in 2008. He said if voters reject the levy, the city could face layoffs.
"There are no increases in this plan," Leicht said several times during the meeting, while Miller questioned the way the appropriations were determined.
New firetruck
The three trustees' votes divided the same way for the purchase of a firetruck through a state purchasing program, at the recommendation of fire Chief James Dorman. The 500-gallon pumper will cost $331,586.87 and will be ready to use in about a year.
Dorman said the truck is the first in a plan to "help spread out" the costs of replacing trucks and avoid having to purchase several trucks in the same year.
The department will also likely have to replace its ladder truck in 2009, which Dorman said is projected to cost about $980,000.
Tuesday was the last meeting for Trustee Thomas Costello, who was defeated in November by incoming Trustee Robyn Gallitto.
Gallitto asked the board to delay the votes on the firetruck and a $35,000 contribution to Boardman schools' Community Television Network and Studio Channel 19, so the budget could be further reviewed. She also requested the 2006 appropriations be tabled for additional review.
The panel agreed to delay only the vote on the schools' donation for a review of Channel 19's operating costs and budget.
Before the meeting, Leicht said plans for a new main fire station depend on the possible purchase of land, which he said he would present to trustees during executive session. No action was taken afterward.