Debate continues over joint fire district

The city expects a small carry-over in 2006, the auditor and treasurer said.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Council and supporters of the city fire department clashed one last time before voters go the polls.
Stephanie Ritchie, a fire department supporter who recently moved to Madison, Ohio, demanded an apology from Councilwoman Nancy Cope at Tuesday's council session.
Council and the Perry Township trustees agreed to abolish their fire departments and form the Quaker Community Fire District. A judge has temporarily blocked the move that the city believes will save it about $600,000 a year.
The judge has allowed the fire district board to do some preliminary planning as the case moves through the courts.
Vogel said the fire district board has added the last member, former Columbiana County Recorder Jeff Hochadel, to the board. The district will have its first full meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday at city hall.
Two issues
Ritchie and other supporters put two issues on the ballot in 2004 that were approved by two-thirds of city voters. The proposals would have required that any plans for the elimination of the fire department and formation of the district be put before voters. Council repealed the issues, however, and formed the district.
City Law Director Brooke Zellers told Ritchie that the city believed the issues could be repealed because they may have been unconstitutional.
Ritchie said, "You and I can't interpret the law. Only a judge can do that."
Ritchie questioned a statement attributed to Cope in another newspaper that fire department supporters knew the issues were unconstitutional before they were placed on the ballot.
Ritchie said, "Now you're going to put words in my mouth? I want an apology."
Cope stated that position again on the issues' constitutionality. When Ritchie began to question her, Cope said, "I'm not going to get into it."
Cope, and fellow at-large council members A. Frederick Vogel, and Alma Apicella, and council president David Ventresco, are all being opposed for re-election.
City finances
City Auditor James Armeni and Treasurer Robert Tullis gave a long presentation on city finances at the meeting that included the proposed fire district.
Revenue has been declining slightly since 1999 and the city expects a small carry-over balance to start 2006.
Tullis said he wasn't advocating for or against the fire district, but Armeni noted the projected savings from a joint fire district will help the city's financial picture.
Increasing revenue to the general fund by cutting the amount that goes for capital improvements also has helped the city continue to operate, they said.
The city at next Tuesday's general election is not asking for more operating revenue. The city is asking for approval of a 1-mill, five-year levy that could only be used for the parks department. Council members urged voters to approve it.
wilkinson@vindy.com