Twp. board lauds Ackworth for 15 years of service

By GRACE WYLER

gwyler@vindy.com

The Poland Township Board of Trustees commemorated the retirement of Recycling Coordinator Jack Ackworth with a celebratory cake during the board’s monthly meeting Tuesday.

Ackworth, who served as Poland’s recycling coordinator for 15 years, played a large role in the growth and success of Poland’s recycling program, township administrator Jim Scharville said.

Ackworth handled the community’s recycling needs and directed educational programs at the Poland Recycling Center, Scharville said.

“Jack was our guy down there, he took care of everything for us,” said Bob Lidle, vice chairman of the board.

The meeting also featured a presentation from Sergeant William Cappabianca of the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department. The lecture, part of the sheriff’s community awareness program, detailed the daily operations of the sheriff’s department.

The presentation is part of a campaign effort to urge voters to pass the renewal of the county’s half-percent sales tax. The measure will be on the ballot this May.

“We are trying to garner support for the half-penny renewal, as well as just talk about the sheriff’s office so people know what we do every day,” Cappabianca said.

In other business, the board approved the 2010 budget for Poland Township. The board budgeted $2,802,475 in total expenditures for the year, down $407,000 from last year’s projected expenses.