$1.5M in levy funds to be allocated today

By Ed Runyan

A new senior center is opening soon in Johnston Township.

WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners say they are likely to approve about $1.5 million worth of allocations today of senior services levy money but will hold off on awarding up to $547,374 in funding for community centers.

Commissioners Frank Fuda and Dan Polivka said the funding for SCOPE — Senior Citizens Opportunity for Personal Endeavor — centers in Warren, Niles, Howland, Cortland, Champion and Lordstown will be delayed so the funding can be reviewed and allow the commissioners to “discuss accountability” with them.

“We want to clarify some things with the centers,” Fuda said. He added the centers are going to keep operating and he expects all of them to receive funding eventually.

Fuda and Polivka said they plan to approve a recommendation today for up to $42,240 for the West Farmington Senior Center and $35,000 to start up the Johnston (Township) Senior Center. The Johnston center is expected to open soon, Fuda said.

The SCOPE centers have been mired in controversy since last fall when it was disclosed that the centers had been overcharging for a variety of services such as line dancing and golf.

The commissioners recently ordered SCOPE to provide $90,000 worth of services as compensation for the overpayments, but SCOPE has not agreed to the plan.

Fuda said he would like to make some personal visits to the centers to talk to the individuals who run them to discuss operating guidelines. “I just don’t think it’s clear,” Fuda said.

Funding for the Girard Multi-Generational Center is also being delayed, Fuda said, because the proposal is for an increase of $28,703 and needs to be examined further.

The Senior Services Advisory Council, a committee appointed by the commissioners, recommended last month the Girard facility receive up to $118,703, up from its 2007 and 2008 allocations of up to $90,000.

The committee recommended these SCOPE centers receive the same funding this year they received in 2007 and 2008:

U$120,000 for Warren SCOPE;

U$80,000 for Niles SCOPE;

U$80,000 for Howland SCOPE;

U$48,422 for Cortland SCOPE;

U$49,369 for Champion SCOPE;

U$50,880 for Lordstown SCOPE.

The Newton Falls Senior Center, which received money in earlier rounds, did not submit a request this time, said Tom Harwood, an advisory council member.

In previous years, commissioners approved $11,649 for the Country Neighbor program of Orwell to use at the Bristolville Senior Center.

This year, $25,386 will be available for geographically targeted center services throughout the northern Trumbull County area, Harwood said.

No allocation so far is designated for Country Neighbor’s Bristolville center, Harwood said.

An additional $462,000 of levy money is being distributed to the Niles Trumbull Transit Service to provide senior citizens with low-cost rides, the same amount the service received in 2007 and 2008, Harwood said.

runyan@vindy.com