Officials work on joint effort

The group is looking into possibly sharing fire equipment and firefighters.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- Trustees representing five Trumbull County townships have agreed to solicit proposals from consultants to determine if firefighting costs can be reduced.
"We're not talking about merging our fire departments, but sharing," Howland Trustee Rick Clark told the group Tuesday.
Trustees from Howland, Champion, Fowler, Vienna and Bazetta were represented.
Darlene St. George, Howland Township administrator, said she was contacted by Warren Township trustees who were out of town and couldn't attend the meeting, but were interested in the idea.
The group agreed to contact St. George by Friday with the names of consulting companies she already has on hand. She will then seek proposals and prices from them.
Clark said he called the meeting to see if there was any interest in the six townships working together to share equipment and personnel while providing the same service.
Sharing equipment
Bazetta Trustee Michael Piros said one area where there can be cooperation is equipment because of its duplication among fire departments.
Fowler Trustee Albert Crabbs agreed, calling special attention to the large number of ladder and tanker trucks in the various departments.
"It's not like we're the first ones to explore it," St. George said of cooperation that is going on nationwide.
She pointed out that when a fire call is made, it goes to the department responsible for fire service in that geographic community. She suggested that the call should be made to the nearest fire house that may be in another township.
Clark said the study may show that it's only possible that three departments cooperate rather than the six.
Difficult effort
Piros said it will be a complex task because fire departments have different pay scales and ranks and some have contracts with union employees.
Clark said the meeting was not an "end run" around the unions. He noted that there is no reason to bring in the fire chiefs and union representatives at this stage because if the trustees don't show an interest there is no reason to get others involved.
Brian McCall, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 2786 representing Howland firefighters, did attend.
"This is a good thing," McCall said, noting there are positives that can come out of cooperation.
One advantage, St. George pointed out, is that the communities may have a better chance of receiving government grants if six townships, rather than one, applies.
yovich@vindy.com