Boardman trustees move to place levy on ballot
By Denise Dick
By DENISE DICK
BOARDMAN
Trustees took the first step to place a 3.85-mill police levy on the November ballot.
The action came Thursday at the conclusion of a two-day strategic planning retreat involving trustees, department heads and employees at the Holiday Inn on South Avenue.
The five-year measure would generate about $3.5 million annually for the police department. A second reading of the levy is expected at the next trustees meeting July 26.
Trustee Thomas Costello said that if approved, the money generated would be used for both personnel and equipment for police.
“We would also use some of our current general-fund money to help offset some of the problems in other departments,” he said.
Larry Moliterno, trustees chairman, said the township is starting to shift to levies specific to departments.
Trustee Brad Calhoun said that will enable planning for the future, and citizens will make the determination about what services they want to fund with tax dollars.
The panel also approved a resolution to place renewal of a five-year, 0.7-mill general operating levy on the ballot. That measure, initially passed in 1976, generates about $241,000.
Trustees also agreed to spend $104,450 to buy five new police cruisers. The township used to buy five per year, but that practice stopped because of financial problems.
In 2008, the township bought one cruiser, and none were purchased last year.
At the retreat, department heads talked of how reduced manpower — through layoffs, unfilled vacancies or a combination — and slashed budgets for training and equipment have affected operations.
The police department has 47 officers including Chief Jack Nichols, down from 63 in 2006. The department also lost several civilian personnel to layoffs in 2008.
As a way to reduce overtime, the minimum manning requirement per shift was reduced from six officers to five officers.
“Five officers on the road is just way too thin,” Nichols said.
He said he has concerns about the township’s north end and that when additional officers are hired, he wants to bolster the department’s narcotics-enforcement unit as drugs continue to be a problem.
Other departments expressed similar concerns.
“I am hoping that we do not allow financial difficulties to cause us to think that perhaps we must reduce service to save money,” said Fire Chief James Dorman. “In the short term, we have found ways to cope during difficult circumstances. However, Boardman Township, with such high-value capital assets and high life-risk targets, will always need a quality, well-staffed, well-trained fire department.”
The department has 36 full-time firefighters including Dorman. He would like to see that number increased to 43, the same number as in 2004.
One of the department’s ladder trucks, at almost 20 years old, is nearing the end of its useful life. The cost of a new one is about $1 million.
The main fire station and fire-prevention office on U.S. Route 224 at Southern Boulevard also need to be replaced, Dorman said.
Larry Wilson, road superintendent, said his department includes four office staff, three mechanics and 15 employees who work on the roads. Seven workers remain on furlough.
“Now the department is handling issues more on a reactive basis,” Wilson said.
When a resident calls with a complaint about the condition of a road, they are added to a list, and the department does the work when able.
“We have to consider what it takes to maintain the township infrastructure as far as manpower goes,” he said.
Anna Mamone, zoning inspector, also hopes to see additional personnel in her department. It includes two full-time and two part-time employees, including Mamone.
“In the future, I hope we can get some clerical assistance,” she said.
As of July 1, there were 151 vacant properties in the township, Mamone said.