3 men vie for Boardman trustee post

The candidates talked about flooding, planning and fiscal responsibility as priorities.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — The president of a teachers’ union, an employee of the Mahoning County Engineer’s office and the CEO of a non-profit agency square off to be the township’s newest trustee.

The decision by Trustee Elaine Mancini not to seek a fifth four-year term left the field open.

Larry Moliterno, 45, the chief executive officer of Meridian Services Inc.; Brad Calhoun, 44, a Boardman teacher and teachers’ union president; and Richard Slaina, 45, a 23-year employee of the engineer’s; face off next month for the seat.

Slaina lists flooding as his priority, saying he’d work to secure grants to complete flooding projects.

He and his opponents say they support a 4.1-mill levy on the ballot. That levy, which would generate about $4 million annually, is to maintain township services.

Calhoun listed fiscal responsibility as his priority.

He said he thinks the township should have earmarked some of its proceeds from inheritance tax over the years for capital projects rather than allowing it to be used mostly for employee salaries.

Calhoun also believes that the township needs to develop some sort of a long-term financial forecast, similar to the five-year forecast maintained by school districts.

Moliterno’s priority is coordination of a comprehensive strategic plan setting priorities and goals for the township. He believes that township residents have lost confidence in their government and that he can help restore that.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com