Lowellville gets a new fire chief, assistant and village administrator

Residents won’t see an
additional half-percent income tax on the primary ballot.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

LOWELLVILLE — The village is starting the new year with a new village administrator, fire chief and assistant fire chief.

In December, village council hired William Meehan, longtime fire chief, as part-time administrator at a salary of $16,000 a year.

Meehan was replaced by Alfred Boggia, former assistant fire chief, at a salary of $4,262 a year.

Boggia was replaced by Jeff Wildes, former fire department battalion chief, at a salary of $1,150 a year. Both positions are part time.

Wildes, full-time maintenance mechanic for the village, was acting village administrator for about 18 months, replacing Phillip Alfano Sr. Alfano was elected to council in November.

Also at its December meeting, council approved 2008 contracts with Atty. James E. Lanzo as solicitor and prosecutor for $250 a month each; and Mayor’s Court Clerk Carol Flora at $100 a month. Flora is also clerk-treasurer for the village.

Council did not, however, consider placing an additional half-percent income tax on the March primary ballot, as requested by Mayor James Iudiciani Sr.

Iudiciani said he wanted council to place the issue on the ballot to “let residents decide if they want to earmark move money for construction projects such as sidewalks and streets.”

He said the additional half-percent income tax would generate about $90,000 a year, which he said is needed because grant money is dwindling and several areas of the village need improvements. The income tax is currently 11⁄2 percent.

The mayor said about 60 percent of the village residents are senior citizens and would not pay any additional money because most are retired and/or on pension plans and are exempt from paying income tax.

Council’s reorganization meeting is at 2 p.m. today at city hall, where Struthers Municipal Judge James R. Lanzo will swear in Iudiciani, Flora and Councilman Paul Meehan at 1:30 p.m.

alcorn@vindy.com