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New Middletown gets grant to retain officer
NEW MIDDLETOWN
The village has been awarded a $28,501 Ohio Criminal Justice Grant for 2012 to be used toward retaining one full-time police officer.
Village council members accepted the grant when they met Monday. Because council had not been sure it would get the OCJ grant for 2012, the council successfully placed an additional two mills on the November ballot to ensure that 24-hour police coverage would continue in the village.
Mayor Harry Kale said after the meeting that the grant and the levy ensure that not only will a full-time officer be retained but that additional part-time officers also will be hired. The village currently has four full-time police officers and five part-time officers.
Also Monday, Council accepted the resignation of part-time officer Joseph Trocci and hired Kevin Caldwell of Poland on a probationary basis. Caldwell is currently employed part-time with the Campbell Police Department and also works for the Western Reserve Fire District. He will be paid $11.26 per hour under the current police contract.
Council also agreed to extend the full-time police officers’ contract until Feb. 28 and put off new contract negotiations until council learns from the county exactly how much money they will receive from the levies.
Also Monday, council agreed to apply for money for Phase II of the Middletown Road waterline. Also approved was spending up to $500 for a Christmas party for members of the fire department.
Monday was the last meeting for council members Dan Stanton and Anthony DiDio. They will be replaced by former Mayor Robert Carson and former village police officer Michelle Butler-Myers when the new council takes over in January. DiDio lost his bid to retain his seat and Stanton did not seek re-election.
Due to Carson’s election, council accepted his resignation as citizen- representative to the planning and zoning and the records retention committees.
Village residents interested in volunteering to serve on either committee should send a letter of interest to Kale, at the village administration building, P.O. Box 463 New Middletown, Ohio 44442 by Jan. 31.