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Boardman to recall firefighters, hire cops
Mahoning County: Election Night
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By Denise Dick
Boardman must continue to hold costs, officials said.
BOARDMAN — Township officials said they plan to start the recall of laid-off firefighters and the hiring of new police officers after voters passed a 2.2-mill police and fire levy.
With 98 percent of precincts counted countywide, unofficial vote totals from Tuesday show 62 percent in favor of the levy with 38 percent against.
The levy is expected to generate $2,078,924 annually.
Last week, trustees voted to recall six laid-off firefighters and hire up to 10 new police officers if the levy passed.
“We want to get the [South Avenue] fire station open as soon as possible and get new officers on the road as soon as we can,” said Jason Loree, township administrator.
Trustee Larry Moliterno said the township must continue to hold down costs.
After a 4.1-mill general operating levy failed in November 2007, trustees laid off 30 full-time employees including nine firefighters and the South Avenue fire station closed.
Other Mahoning Valley issues fared well.
Mahoning County voters passed a 0.25 percent sales tax for the Western Reserve Transit Authority with 56 percent in favor and 44 percent against. The measure is expected to generate between $7 million and $7.5 million annually.
“When the money starts coming in early 2009, we think we’ll be able to reinstitute night service and Saturday service, have shuttles for the southern portions of Mahoning County and enhance routes in Austintown and Boardman,” said WRTA executive director Jim Ferarro.
With 78 percent of precincts counted in Trumbull County, voters approved natural gas and electric aggregation programs. They also passed a replacement and increase levy for Fairhaven for maintenance and operation of schools, training centers, workshops, clinics and residential facilities for mentally retarded people, 61 percent to 39 percent. It will $7,492,435 annually. The 2.2-mill continuous replacement and increase levy replaced a levy of 1 mill.
Gas aggregation passed 58 percent to 42 percent, and electric aggregation passed 53 percent to 47 percent. All totals are unofficial until certified by the boards of elections.
In Columbiana County though, voters rejected a 1.5-mill, five-year additional levy to care for children’s services. The levy was rejected with unofficial results showing 43 percent in favor of the tax and 57 percent against.