Weathersfield OKs stopgap budget plan

By Mary Smith

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Township trustees adopted a temporary 2010 budget of $3.6 million pending review by the Trumbull County auditor’s office and feedback from the auditor on an actual expected budget.

The temporary budget does not include property taxes, and it is expected the actual budget will be around $5 million.

In other business at last week’s reorganizational meeting, trustees named Steven J. Gerberry chairman and James Stoddard vice chairman for this year.

Also, new trustee Marvin McBride was seated. McBride, who served on the Weathersfield board of education from 1989 to 1993, defeated incumbent William Miller in November.

McBride, Gerberry and fiscal officer Fred Bobovnyk were sworn in by Niles Municipal Court Judge Thomas Townley on Dec. 29.

Both Gerberry and Bobovnyk were appointed to their positions in 2009 and had to seek election to the posts. Gerberry, who replaced Bobovnyk when he sought appointment to succeed resigning fiscal officer David Rouhan, will serve a four-year term.

Bobovnyk has a two-year term. He can run for a four-year term in 2011.

Trustees also accepted a petition for a street-lighting district from residents in the 2200-to-2400 block of Salt Springs Road.

A public hearing on the matter must take place, and if 50 percent of property owners agree, Ohio Edison will be asked to determine the number of lights needed and the cost. The cost to install the lights will be prorated and placed on the tax duplicate of residents in the new lighting district.

Trustees also passed a resolution to correct language in a resolution for raises for firefighters passed in December. The new rate will be $10 per call, a 50-cent increase.