Council awards contracts for building remodeling

The police department will move into the space vacated by the library.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Village council awarded contracts Monday for remodeling of the village administration building.
Council unanimously awarded contracts to: ATEC, Boardman, $47,000 for general contracting; Charniga Plumbing, Poland, $10,080 for plumbing; and B & amp;J Electric, Poland, $6,411 for electrical work. All three were low bidders.
Mayor Robert Carson said the project includes minimal remodeling of the building to make use of the space freed by the relocation of the library in January to its own building on state Route 170. The police department will take over the library's former space. The former police office will be taken over by the clerk of mayor's court whose office will now be in a secure area at the front of the building. Visitors will enter from the front of the building instead of through the back as they do now. In addition, council's clerk and the mayor and zoning inspector will share the former mayor's court clerk's office. The council room will remain unchanged.
Carson said he expects work to begin soon.
Also Monday, council passed a second reading on an ordinance establishing a reserve police officer unit, which would be made up of volunteer officers. Council members Curtis Massey and Dan Santangelo voted against the measure after Santangelo complained that the policies governing such a unit have not been spelled out. One more reading is needed for final passage.
Police Sgt. Vince D'Egidio reported that the police department is beginning stricter enforcement of the village's curfew and skateboard ordinance because of an increasing number of violations.
Council approved paying G & amp;A Auto Service and Parts, New Springfield, $1,000 to repair the transmission on one of the police cars.
They reminded residents that the village requires residents to keep devil strips and ditches mowed. Zoning Inspector Dale Miller will send letters to violators Monday. Miller said in a written report to council that while in previous years the village mowed areas when property owners could not be located, this year maintenance fees will be assessed to the offending property.
Council also authorized the fire department to remove a tree in the front of the administration building because its roots have heaved the sidewalk, causing a tripping hazard.
And they declared the week of Sunday to May 20 National Police Week and EMS Week.