Fire district faces end; annex ban questioned

A new Republican council candidate was announced before the meeting.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

SALEM — The short era of the Quaker Community Fire District could be coming to a close.

C. Brooke Zellers, the city law director, said he had talked to Andrew Beech, an assistant Columbiana County prosecutor, about ending the district.

Beech represents the Perry Township trustees, who, with city council, had formed the district in 2005.

The city planned to save money by eliminating its fire department and forming a new one. But the State Employment Relations Board said the city couldn’t dump the fire department in the middle of a contract. The district was never operational.

Part of the agreement enacted Aug. 1, 2005, included a ban for three years on annexing land in the township.

Zellers said Beech thought the trustees might agree to end the plan at the end of the three years.

Other portions of the pact covered other issues for up to 12 years.

Perry Township Trustee Jerry Wolford, a Republican who is running for mayor, was at the council meeting. He was asked if the trustees might accept the end in three years, but he did not respond.

A new candidate

Before the meeting, Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson announced that Rita Joseph O’Leary will take the place of Greg Oesch in the 3rd Ward council race on the November ballot. Oesch withdrew after the other three ward councilmen were defeated in the primary.

Oesch is the last of the seven councilmen who approved the fire district plan. The three at-large council members, as well as the president of council, were also defeated at the polls.

O’Leary is a Salem native who has experience in management in law firms, government and the insurance industry. She also has experience on church and community service boards.

Johnson said O’Leary was not at the council meeting because she was attending a service group meeting.

Salem’s future

In a statement, O’Leary said, “Salem is still a great community. But it is crying out for leadership, for practical problem solving, and for creative new ways of dealing with long-standing fiscal challenges. I am ready, able and willing to assume such a role as the 3rd Ward councilperson.” She will face Democrat Nancy Tullis in the fall.

Johnson said he plans to find write-in candidates for other ward races.

In other developments, Scott Cranmer, the city safety director, said the Rural Metro ambulance company had pulled out of Salem. He urged people to remove its number from speed dialers and to replace it with other local ambulance services.

Parks Department Director Steve Faber said the city swimming pool should open at 11 a.m. Thursday. The opening was delayed by vandalism.

Councilwoman Mary Lou Popa announced there will be a kids parade on South Broadway Avenue at 1 p.m. July 4.

wilkinson@vindy.com