Boardman trustees OK safety levy

By Denise Dick

The township plans to phase out its reliance on inheritance tax for general operations.

BOARDMAN — A 2.2-mill levy for township safety services, if approved by voters, would allow the recall of six laid-off firefighters, three furloughed road employees and the hiring of between six and 10 police officers.

After an executive session at a regular meeting Wednesday, trustees unanimously passed a resolution to place the five-year levy on the ballot. The closed-door session was called to discuss personnel (police department employment; administration IT employment; zoning employment) and pending or imminent litigation.

The Vindicator objected to levy discussion occurring behind closed doors, arguing that it doesn’t fall within the parameters of what’s allowed in executive session under Ohio’s open meetings law.

Administrator Jason Loree said the executive session discussion covered the costs of recalling or hiring certain numbers of employees. The board reconvened in open, discussed a levy and then voted, he said.

Trustee Kathy Miller said Thursday that she wasn’t aware before the beginning of the executive session that issues related to personnel through a levy would be discussed.

“Towards the end of the executive session, it became very apparent that I was the only one in the room that did not know that a decision regarding the levy had already been made,” she said.

Miller, however, acknowledged that upon realizing the levy was going to be discussed, she could have objected and left the meeting — but didn’t.

“As a trustee, my paramount concern has to be for the safety and welfare of the citizens of Boardman,” Miller said. “I voted in favor of the 2.2-mill levy with that in mind, since it is clear the township needs additional revenue to continue to properly safeguard and serve the citizens.”

Neither Trustee Robyn Gallitto, chairwoman, nor Trustee Larry Moliterno could be reached.

The levy is expected to generate about $2 million annually.

“When we costed everything out over a two-year period, and also with an [information-technology] coordinator, we’ll be covered for two years,” Loree said. “After that time period, we’ll rely on the unions to hold the line and not increase our costs.”

The township also plans to phase out over five years its reliance on inheritance tax revenue to fund operations, the administrator said.

Jim Rosa, a certified public accountant, who leads a business advisory committee for the township, said the committee awaits more information before deciding whether to endorse the levy plan.

Among the items committee members want to see are: development of a long-term strategic plan for the township, a five-year projection of income and expenses, a comprehensive capital improvement plan and community input from the public through town hall meetings.

Increasing the number of police officers and firefighters and reopening the township’s compost facility are viewed by the committee as priorities, the committee said.

Bringing back six of the nine full-time firefighters, laid off last February, would enable the township to keep all three of its fire stations open, Loree said. Since the layoffs, the South Avenue station has been closed many days because of a lack of manpower to staff it.

Loree said that bringing back the six, combined with some overtime costs, would bolster the staffing and keep the stations open.

Chief James Dorman told trustees at their Wednesday meeting that the average response time to the area around the South Avenue station has increased by an average of 1.5 minutes, comparing the last three months with 2007.

Harry Wolfe, president of the firefighters union, said he wants all nine firefighters brought back to work as well as two positions vacant through attrition filled.

Without that full staffing, he questions “if that’s enough to keep all of the fire stations open, all the time.”

Loree said that trustees also are considering implementation of a township ambulance service if the levy passes. That could bring more firefighters back, the administrator said. The fire union conducted a study earlier this year in which they concluded an ambulance service could provide additional township revenue.

Although no sworn police officers were laid off, the department has lost 12 officers through resignations and retirements since 2006. Levy passage would allow the hiring of between six and 10 police officers. The actual number will depend upon the outcome of contract negotiations with the police bargaining units, Loree said.

The contracts with the unions representing both patrol and rank officers expire at year’s end.

Bringing three road department employees back of the nine that remain on layoff status would allow the township’s compost site, closed since the February cutbacks, to reopen on certain days, Loree said.