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Trustee: Why the animosity?
NEW MIDDLETOWN
Why can’t Springfield Township and the Village of New Middletown just get along?
Springfield Township Trustee Rick Jones attended the village’s monthly council meeting Monday and asked where the long-standing animosity between the two entities originated.
Bickering between the village and the township has gone on for years. Recently it contributed to a breakdown of talks over forming a joint fire department.
And lately, there have been criticisms on both sides about emergency personnel responding in areas belonging to the other side.
“You guys are a part of us and we are a part of you,” Jones said. He said, “I see this wall and I don’t understand.”
Council member Dan Stanton agreed, stating, “I grew up in Boardman and I don’t understand it.” He said it sticks in his mind that when the township and village held a meeting to discuss a joint fire department, a township firefighter told him, “We don’t need you; you need us.”
Council member Dan Santangelo said that the problems started years ago and though few of the people involved are still around, the animosity has been carried on by a new generation. He said, “Both sides have to choose their words carefully.”
Carl Flitcraft Jr., village fiscal officer, recounted that the village and township formed a joint fire department in the 1950s. But in the 1970s, the village council, headed by Flitcraft who was then mayor, voted to separate from the village.
This ended township tax millage assessments on village residents. The fire department then had to be split and the assets divided between the township and village.
He commented that both sides will “have egg on their face” if somebody gets hurt as a result of the arguing over which emergency personnel should respond in what areas.
Jones suggested the trustees and council meet and talk about it. Council member Richard DeBucci said the meeting couldn’t be private but would have to be publicly advertised to comply with the Sunshine Law. No action was taken.
Also Monday, council advanced to a first reading legislation to accept a proposal from First Energy Solutions for a nine-year contract under electrical aggregation approved by village voters.
The village would agree to a fixed nine-year electric rate and First Energy would provide the village with a $40,000 lump sum payment and would give residential and commercial customers in the village six and four percent discounts, respectively. Council would like public input and the measure needs two more readings.