Finances challenge Boardman trustees

One new trustee is a familiar face to township residents.

STAFF REPORT

BOARDMAN— Two new township trustees took their seats at township hall Monday night, acknowledging that the coming year will involve some heavy lifting.

Brad Calhoun and Thomas Costello won elections in November to replace Robyn Gallitto and Kathy Miller on the three- member board.

The township has been under financial duress in recent months since it requested a fiscal analysis by state Auditor Mary Taylor. Taylor’s office completed the analysis, but Gallitto and Miller refused to sign off on the report and receive a financial forecast from the state.

The township has employees laid off in several departments, including police and fire, Costello said. The township has been closing fire departments on a rotating basis to help cope with financial problems.

“We definitely have some financial challenges,” Costello said. “We definitely need to look at all expenditures.”

Costello is making a second appearance on the board. He served as a trustee from 1999 to 2005.

Trustees will see those expenditures over the next several weeks as the township works on a final budget for 2010. The township, which is operating on temporary appropriations, has until March 31 to approve a final budget, said William D. Leicht, the township’s fiscal officer.

“We all bring people who are going to roll up their sleeves and get to work,” Calhoun said.

Leicht said a final budget likely would be in place in the next two to three weeks.

Monday night’s meeting was an organizational session to elect officers and set dates for meetings.

The board agreed to meet at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The first regular meeting is next Monday.

The panel elected Larry Moliterno, the incumbent trustee, to serve as board chairman. Costello will serve as vice chairman.

Moliterno said one priority early in the year will be updating the township’s strategic plan.

“We would like to go through and update that and show what this board’s goals and opportunities are for the coming year,” he said.