Trustee hopefuls present plans

All three Liberty candidates are hoping to promote growth in the township.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

LIBERTY — Three candidates for township trustee want to see growth in the coming years, but voters will have to decide which candidate has the best plan to make that growth a reality.

Township voters will be asked to fill one seat from a field of three candidates — incumbent Jodi Stoyak of Logan Arms Drive, Ken Banner of Sodom Hutchings Road and Edward Palumbo of Will-o-wood Drive.

According to Banner, the township must continually pursue new sewer and water lines to see growth. He said the township has been pursuing sewer extension into new areas, but his experience in construction would be beneficial to the process.

“What the township really needs is to actively push for new sewers,” he said. “It’s a slow process, but it needs to be done and pushed hard.”

That continued extension of infrastructure will bring in new business, he said.

Stoyak agrees that improving infrastructure will lead to growth in the township. But, she said, the township must be properly promoted as well. She said she has done a decent job of going after funding for sewer projects and promoting the township, working with the other trustees and administration.

“Sewer and water are key, but marketing our community is something that Pat [Ungaro, township administrator] does everyday,” she said.

Palumbo said a change in the way the township conducts business in emergency services is the way to go. He is opposed to two new tax levies being put before voters and feels the township should join forces with Trumbull County in providing some services to save money.

“Our 911 call center currently operates on a $290,000 budget with a 4 percent yearly growth. Three percent of the received calls are 911 emergencies. The county has offered its services for $130,000 per year. I support joining the county 911 center and incorporating our full-time employees into their system,” he said.

Palumbo cited regional cooperation, including formation of a regional fire district as part of his priorities if he is elected.

Stoyak said she and the other trustees had taken the advice from the state in regard to the 911 call center.

“The state performance audit four years ago said the 911 system was an area of concern,” she said. “They gave us three options to look at — go back to the county system, work with a neighboring community or third option was to put out a levy.”

Stoyak said township officials exercised all options given by the state. She said the voters now have a chance to decide the matter.

Stoyak listed creating a savings to taxpayers by reducing energy consumption in township buildings as a priority if she is re-elected.

Liberty voters will decide:

UA 1.5 mill, 5-year renewal levy to provide and maintain police protection to raise $298,320 annually.

UA 1.25-mill, 5-year additional levy to provide and maintain communications used directly in the operation of the police department to raise $287,501 annually.

UA 2-mill, 5-year additional levy to provide and maintain fire protection to raise $460,001 annually.

UShall the township adopt a limited home-rule government, under which the board of trustees by resolution may exercise limited powers of self-government and limited police powers?

jgoodwin@vindy.com