Springfield buys new police vehicle

Trustees adopted a new
policy involving public speaking at meetings.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Township trustees have approved the purchase of a new police vehicle under a federal purchase program for $18,278.

The new four-wheel-drive Ford Explorer will replace a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria which will be taken out of service because of extensive mechanical problems, Police Chief Matthew Mohn said. The township has six marked units not counting the new vehicle.

In his year-end report, Mohn reported there were 5,911 police calls in 2007, up 370 from 2006.

Trustees also passed a new policy on rules for township meetings. Trustee Robert Orr said the rules are based on those recommended by the Ohio Township Trustees’ Association, conform to Ohio attorney general opinions and have been reviewed by the Mahoning County prosecutor’s office.

The rules uphold the three-minute limit on comments from the floor, allow for waiving of the time limit by the board and allow the board to prohibit those attending from speaking at a regular meeting about matters not “within the purview of the board’s authority” unrelated to township government or not on the agenda.

They also state that a portion of public participation may be curtailed at the board’s discretion if a matter arises that requires the board’s immediate attention.

If the number of people who want to comment at a meeting is more than the time allotted for comment, the board may ask some to save their comments until the next meeting or submit correspondence to the board.

The rules also provide that disorderly persons may be removed by the police department and, if necessary, be held or confined until the end of the meting.

They also address board minutes, stating that a board member may not vote to approve minutes from a meeting he did not attend and that the trustees are not required to prepare and distribute a written agenda for a regular meeting.

Orr said an agenda will continue to be distributed at each meeting, but it is not legally required and will not be distributed in case of a copy machine breakdown.

Trustees also handled these matters at their meeting earlier this week:

UUnanimously passed a resolution supporting the proposed bond issue and tax levy for the Springfield school district which will be on the March primary ballot.

URecycling Coordinator Dorothy Hudak reported that 15,000 pounds more material was recycled at the three recycling sites in 2007 than in 2006.

UApproved emergency medical services training for $3,600 and agreed to send six firefighters to Fire Department Instructor Conference Training at a cost of $800 per person.

It was the first regular meeting for newly elected Trustee Rick Jones. Jones replaces Jim Holleran, who did not seek re-election.

Jones is current president of the Springfield Township Boosters Association, past president of Springfield Township Baseball Association, serves on the Hall of Fame Committee at the Springfield Local Schools and belongs to the New Middletown Lions Club.

A township native and graduate of Springfield Local High School, he has operated Rick’s Auto Glass for 29 years in the township.