Suspended pupils face restricted public access

Both the youths and their adult guardians can be charged with violations.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Youths who have been suspended from school may not be on village streets or in other public places during school hours, according to an ordinance passed by New Middletown village council Monday.
The lawmakers unanimously approved the measure under suspension of rules, dispensing with the need for three readings.
It requires that youths who are suspended or expelled from school must be supervised by a parent or legal guardian or someone they have delegated. The youth cannot be in public places during school hours unless he or she is accompanied by a supervising adult, en route to a job or on an emergency errand for the supervising adult.
Adults who fail to comply with the ordinance can be charged with a minor misdemeanor for the first offense, a fourth-degree misdemeanor for a second offense and a first-degree misdemeanor for a third or subsequent offense.
Youths found in violation will be considered unruly and subject to the jurisdiction of juvenile court.
Police Chief William Morvay had recommended the ordinance because of problems with village youths. He said many other municipalities have similar laws.
Other business
Also Monday, council granted a 3 percent raise to the village clerk, the village's only noncontract full-time employee. Contractual full-timers include the police chief and lieutenant, who signed multiyear contracts last year.
There was no raise for part-time police officers because of budget constraints. Millage from a 4-mill increase for police, which was passed in November, will not be available until 2007, Mayor Robert Carson said.
Morvay, who is acting village administrator, told council he hired Mark Russell of Petersburg as a part-time road department worker to replace Steve Fabian, who moved out of state. Russell will be paid $8.77 per hour. Council unanimously hired Thomas Fok & amp; Associates, Youngstown, as village engineers for 2006. Hourly rates for various services range from $13.50 to $44.50 and remain unchanged from 2005.
An annexation of two lots from Springfield Township was accepted. The lots are part of the Ohlin property and front on Calla Road. The township, will, in turn, receive lots on the back of the property at the request of the owner to simplify development.
The village and township approved the swap last year, and Mahoning County commissioners recently approved it.
Council also agreed to spend up to $1,000 to buy three tarps from Custom Tarpaulin Products Inc., Boardman, for a pavilion in Welker Park.