Police levy allows force to increase

The trustees also honored the fire chaplain.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
PETERSBURG -- Springfield Township trustees promoted a part-time police officer to full-time status, bringing the force to seven full-timers and four part-timers.
Police Chief Matthew Mohn said the promotion of Adam Treharne to full time was made possible by passage of the police levy in November. Treharne has been a part-time patrolman for almost four years.
His promotion is effective June 25, and he will be paid the contract wage. The amount was not available at Wednesday's meeting.
Mohn also announced he is accepting applications for reserve police officers. Anyone interested can pick up an application at the township offices, 3475 E. South Range Road, New Springfield.
Also, trustees honored fire Chaplain Ken Hacker for serving the fire department since Feb. 1, 2003. Fire Chief Brian Hughes presented him with a white fire helmet, symbolic of his special status. Hughes said Springfield is probably the only fire department in Mahoning County to have a chaplain, but said there is frequently a need for Hacker's services by fire victims as well as department members. Hacker is pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Petersburg.
The meeting's events
Trustees also handled these matters during their meeting at the Petersburg Fire Station:
Asked any Petersburg resident interested in obtaining public water service to come to the township offices and sign a petition.
Announced they are seeking a part-time substitute township secretary. Applications are available at township offices.
Heard a report from Atty. Mel Lute that he has asked for dismissal of a lawsuit against Springfield Township based on sovereign immunity. Plaintiff Mary Bonace is suing the township for $20,000 in medical bills, claiming an improperly built road caused her to wreck on Rapp Road Aug. 10, 2005. Lute, the lawyer for the township's insurance company, said the township's road fulfilled all required standards
Approved purchase of a $2,400 copier from B & amp;B Complete Services, New Middletown.
Approved an agreement with Good Approved an agreement with Good Hope Speedway in which the speedway pays the township $25 per race to have the township ambulance available.
Juvenile diversion
Mohn also said that consultant Lucinda Caparso of Poland has begun to organize a juvenile diversion program for the township.
Caparso, hired last month to start the program, has a bachelor's degree from Baldwin-Wallace College in psychology with minors in criminal justice and sociology. She has special training in youth protocol for levels of care, child abuse and neglect, positive discipline, juvenile procedures, and ethics in chemical dependency, Mohn said.
She has worked since 1999 in Poland Township's juvenile diversion program and before that worked in Mercer County's youth advocate program.