3-minute limit stays

The trustees also head a presentation about a storm water utility.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- A time limit for residents' comments during the twice-monthly regular trustees' meetings will remain at three minutes.
Earlier this year, Robyn Gallitto, trustee chairwoman, announced the limit on the time each resident has to comment or to ask questions during regular trustee meetings. At the same time, the public comment session was moved from near the beginning of each meeting to the end.
Trustee Elaine Mancini said at a meeting Monday that she believes a time limit must be enacted in the form of a motion.
"We have never had a limit in Boardman before," Mancini said.
Each person was allowed to talk for as long as it took for them to get their point across, she said. Because it's a change in policy, she said, she believes it must be a motion voted on by the board.
Gallitto said that she checked with the Mahoning County prosecutor's office and was told that she is permitted as chairwoman to make such a change in the way the meetings are conducted. Ohio law does not require public bodies to allow a session for public comments at regular business meetings, Gallitto said.
She said the limit was set in the interest of keeping the meetings moving along and that the prosecutor's office also has cautioned trustees about allowing meetings to continue late into the night.
"I don't think that we need a motion on it," Gallitto said.
Other actions
In other business, trustees heard a presentation from Marilyn Kenner, chief deputy at the Mahoning County engineer's office, about a storm water utility. Kenner also chairs AWARE, the Alliance for Watershed Action and Riparian Easements. AWARE is an advisory committee of representatives of local governments formed to address storm water issues.
Kenner said such a utility is in its preliminary phase and no decisions have been made. A storm water utility is a fee paid, based on the size of a piece of property and its corresponding amount of pavement. That money, collected through real estate taxes, would be used to fund projects that address flooding, she said.
AWARE has set up a presentation about the utility for 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 31 at the Boardman Government Center, Market Street.
Trustees also approved the transfer of titles of a 2000 pickup truck and a 2002 sport utility vehicle for the police department from the U.S. Marshals Services. The cost is not to exceed $8,500 and will come from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, money awarded to police from drug investigations.
Two weeks ago, Gallitto and Trustee Kathy Miller had voted against the same item on the agenda, saying they didn't think more cars were needed.
Capt. Jerre Patterson said Monday that the two vehicles will replace two police department vehicles that are being auctioned July 20.