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Joint fire district to be discussed
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
NEW MIDDLETOWN
Possibility of a joint fire district between New Middletown and Springfield Township may still be on the table.
Village council has agreed to meet publicly with Springfield Township trustees to discuss such a district.
The issue appeared to be dead after Springfield trustees stated at their May 12 meeting that they opposed the joint district because the township, which is larger and has more resources than the village, would not benefit from such an arrangement. Trustees said they favored a contract, if anything.
But township Trustee Rick Jones attended Monday’s meeting of New Middletown Village Council and asked members to give the district another chance.
Jones’ request initially met an angry response from Mayor Harry Kale and council President Richard DeBucci, who reminded him that none of the township’s three trustees had shown up for a May 3 informational meeting sponsored by the village. Jones and Trustee Robert Orr had committed to attend.
DeBucci commented that many people gave up their time for that meeting, that more township residents than village residents attended, and that village officials stayed until every question was answered.
Jones told council Monday that he was wrong not to attend the May 3 meeting and asked them to give the district another chance.
Council members questioned village Solicitor Jeffrey Heintz as to whether council could meet in executive session with township trustees, being that they were discussing contract terms. Heintz said no, explaining that though village council members could discuss the contract in executive session, they could not invite the opposing side on the contract into such a session.
Finally, Councilman Dan Stanton asked that “cooler heads prevail” and said, “Let’s just get together.” Councilman Jack Novicky agreed, stating that talks about forming a district have been going on for 12 years and “I think we should give it one more shot.”
Jones agreed to come up with several potential dates and provide them to council.
Also Tuesday, fiscal officer Carl Flitcraft Jr. said that council will have to make a decision by the July meeting on what to place on the November ballot to replace a 4-mill police levy and a 2.5-mill fire levy, which expire at the end of this year.
He said to continue overnight police coverage, an additional 2 mills would be needed to cover the approximate $46,000 cost. One mill brings in $22,000 in the village.
Council also awarded the contract for Phase 2 street lighting on state Route 170 to JCM, New Springfield, which Kale said was the low of three bidders. Contract amount is approximately $70,000.