boardman plan Township objectives

Trustees have approved a plan laying out short, mid- and long-term goals for the township. The priorities to be targeted in the next six months:

Short-term goal of hiring up to 10 police officers to provide additional safety coverage for the community. The long-term goal is to build the police force to about 75 officers. The short-term goal is dependent upon passage of the November 2.2-mill police and fire levy.

Short-term goal of hiring six firefighters, improving response time for both fire and medical emergencies. With a limited amount of overtime, this will ensure that three fire stations remain open nearly every day of the year. The longer-term goal is to reach a total of 43 firefighters. The short-term goal is dependent upon passage of the November levy.

Restore position of information-technology person to restore efficiency of the township and develop hardware/software upgrade program to ensure long-term stability of the system.

Create the position of facilities coordinator to establish a building improvement and preventive maintenance plan for all of the facilities owned and operated by the township.

Update the position of zoning director to planning direction to broaden the responsibility of supporting the community plan, research funding opportunities and work with local neighborhood concerns.

Ensure reopening of the compost site. Explore collaborative project with Boardman Park and/or charge a fee for the service. Identify the number of employees required to operate the site.

Phase out the inheritance-tax revenue from the operations budget over a five-year period and use that money to create a “rainy day” fund and to fund special projects and facilities improvements.

Develop a road repaving plan to provide that the appropriate number of miles be repaved annually to ensure township roads don’t overextend their live expectancy. Identify the number of additional staff required to execute the plan.

Develop a plan for evaluating and utilizing outside training opportunities by department.

Develop a process for better communication between department heads and trustees which may include a regular opportunity for each trustee to meet with department heads.

Develop a process where concerns of individual trustees are distributed to the department heads through to board chairman so that issues may be addressed in timely manner and board meetings can be more efficient.

Develop a process to communicate with the media in a more effective manner that allows for trustees to have differing opinions but presented in a way that avoids the appearance of divisiveness.

Develop a method to disseminate information to the community as to the tax structure of the township, the need for carryover funds and the personnel required to provide services.

Develop a strategy for the continued presence of township police in the local school system. This may include continued efforts to secure private funding to retain the victims advocate, DARE program and school resource officer.

Restructure the budgeting process to give more authority and responsibility to department heads to manage their departments. This would include a more user-friendly financial report used by trustees and department heads as an internal management tool to monitor expenses and revenue on a monthly basis.

Develop a plan for renovation or relocation of the main fire station and fire prevention office.

Develop a five-year projection of revenues and expenses for the township.

Establish user-friendly monthly financial reports which clearly show income and expenses as compared with budget numbers.

Explore the feasibility of an in-house ambulance service which would provide less-expensive, more-responsive service to our residents while generating additional revenue for the township. These funds could potentially be used to add firefighters without the need for additional tax dollars.

Continue to negotiate favorable contracts with township’s labor unions as recommended by the state performance audit.

Review the state performance audit and develop a report as to the trustees’ response to each recommendation.

Source: Boardman Township