Suit settled over radio system

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Township will receive a $20,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by the township over a new radio communications system that the township said did not work properly.

Trustee John Vogel explained that the system, installed in 2003-04, did not work and there were chronic problems with the fire department’s transmission.

The township sued the Cattron Group Inc. and Staley Communications, both of Boardman, on Sept. 13, 2005, in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court over radios for safety services.

In a settlement reached recently, the township will receive $20,000 and court costs. The township originally paid $65,000 to have the new communication system installed and will receive the actual hardware to install the system, valued at $5,500, at no cost as part of the settlement.

The township hired Clemente Co. of Youngstown, which has since been bought out by Staleys, to come in and make modifications, additions to the system and mechanical corrections so that the system does work. The cost for the work was $5,600.

Still pending is a claim against SBC Communications Inc. over phone lines, and who is responsible for issues with these phone lines, which township solicitor Atty. William Roux told township officials in a letter he will continue to pursue.