43
Fire chief search awaits trustees’ criteria
Township EMS personnel are headed to Jamaica.
NEW SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Township trustees said the hiring process for a permanent fire chief will begin in August or September.
They have not yet decided whether to hire from within the department or to advertise the position, or whether it will be full or part time, they said at their meeting Wednesday.
In the meantime, interim Fire Chief Matt Gebhardt, who was hired to run the department through this year, is interviewing fire department members for new positions including assistant chief, battalion chief and a fire prevention officer. All the positions are unpaid.
Trustee Rick Jones said the positions are being created because Gebhardt needs the help. Those who fill the positions will do so with the understanding that they may not be continued once a new chief is hired.
Trustees heard from resident Don Ridzon who questioned why a request for $5,500 for three members of the emergency medical services squad to travel on a Jamaican cruise sponsored by the Ohio Association of EMS was not addressed in a public meeting. Required continuing education credits are being provided on the cruise.
Ridzon said the township is required to address all requests in a public meeting. Trustee Robert Orr disagreed, however.
Fiscal Officer Patti Gibson said the request was filed between meetings and because of the reservation deadline, a special meeting would have had to be called to allow trustees to vote on it. All three trustees declined to call such a meeting.
EMS Capt. Karen Philibin said the EMS squad members need 92 hours of continuing education every two years. She said that she tried to break out the meals, mileage, room and board, and the conference prices from the total cost so that the EMS members could pay any other costs which are not covered by the township.
She said, however, the Ohio EMS could not provide a cost breakdown. She said the township funding request has been withdrawn because of the difficulties involved, but that the squad members, including Philibin, will still go but will pay for the trip themselves.
In another matter, trustees accepted the lone bid for construction of a covered salt bin.
McGill Septic Tank Co., Kinsman, bid $28,500 to build a bin to replace the current one, which is open in the front.
Trustees also hired Michelle Powell of Springfield Township as a paramedic. Trustee Gerald Guterba abstained but declined to give a reason for his abstention.
Trustees hired Conner Asphalt at $60 per hour to provide a roller and operator for the tar and chipping of Lipply Road.