Council keeps cable fee the same

Council narrowly passed a resolution to support the Springfield school levy.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW MIDDLETOWN — The cable franchise fee charged to residents will remain at 3 percent, New Middletown Village Council members decided.

Council had the option to raise the fee to 5 percent, which would have meant an increase in residents’ cable television bills, but decided to keep the rate the same as it has been since 1999.

Village fiscal officer Carl Flitcraft Jr. said the village gets about $10,000 annually from the 3 percent, which Comcast, the cable TV company, collects and then gives to the village.

In other business at council’s meeting Monday, Fire Chief Bill Opsitnik asked council to reconsider the amount of compensation paid to firefighters and raise the $480 annual cap on what each firefighter may receive. The matter will be discussed at the next meeting of council’s safety committee, which is set for 6:15 p.m. Feb. 11.

Opsitnik asked that compensation for firefighters be raised to $10 for answering calls and attending training and said if compensation had been at this level in 2007, total compensation would not have exceeded the $9,600 appropriated for it. Current compensation is $5 for training and $8 per call. Last year was the first year village firefighters received any compensation.

Council also named former council member Rebecca Mason to fill the unexpired council term of Harry Kale, who became mayor this month. Two years remain in the term. The only other applicant for the job was Virginia Younger.

Also Monday:

Council narrowly passed a resolution to support the half-mill Springfield Local School District’s levy, which will be on the ballot in the March 4 primary election. The motion passed 3-2 with members Dan Santangelo and Anthony Didio voting against.

Kale asked residents who are interested in serving on the planning and zoning or the site design and review committees to submit a letter of intent to him at the village offices. Two positions are open on planning and zoning and one on site design and review.

They approved paying $1,400 apiece for Police Sgts. Vince D’Egidio and Ken Goist for three weeks of intensive police executive administrative leadership school. Police Chief William Morvay said he is considering retiring this summer and the training would equip either man to step into his position.

Zoning Officer Dale Miller reported nothing in the township ordinances would forbid an empty trailer from being parked on private property on Calla Road and state Route 170. Council members had asked him to look into the matter.