Trustees adopt policy on use of cell phones
The EMS captain says she is using her own cell phone to make personal calls.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield Township trustees unanimously adopted a policy on cell phone use that strictly prohibits personal use by employees.
Trustee Robert Orr said Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains recommended the township policy be tightened, and Orr added, "This eliminates the gray."
The addition also requires that any employee who loses a township cell phone must pay for its replacement.
Township EMS Capt. Karen Philibin said after the meeting that policy will not affect her because she stopped using her township phone and started paying for her own cell phone last March when questions were raised about the legality of employees making personal calls.
She added that the controversy and resulting investigation by the prosecutor's office could have been avoided if the township had communicated better with fire and EMS employees.
She said township officials "never talked to us" about the possible legal problems involved.
No prosecutions
Gains recently announced that the cell phone investigation had concluded without any prosecutions because a state audit turned up no findings for recovery.
That probe began after Trustee Jim Holleran and former Trustee Shirley Heck passed a resolution last June retroactively allowing Philibin and fire Chief Brian Hughes to make personal calls on township cell phones because they are on call 24 hours.
The township issues cell phones, in addition, for township firetrucks and one of its ambulances.
Other action
Trustees also handled these matters:
Hired a Cleveland legal firm that specializes in police contracts, at $150 per hour up to $5,000, to negotiate a contract with township police. The contract with the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association expired Dec. 31 and police are working on an extension.
Approved spending up to $4,000 for repairs on three firetrucks.
Accepted bids for paving of the New Middletown recycling site on Struthers Road to fix a low spot that collects water. They also will accept bids for sealing of the parking lot at the township administration building and the township fire stations. Bids for both projects must be returned to the township building by 4 p.m. March 8. They will be opened at the March 8 meeting. For more information, contact the township.
Learned from police Chief Matthew Mohn the township received a $14,000 grant from the Ohio Attorney General for laptop computers and radar equipment. The township must provide a local share of $1,557.