Poland storm-water utility repeal on Nov. ballot

By Ashley Luthern | February 21, 2011 at 12:02a.m.

POLAND

Village residents will see a referendum on the November ballot to remove the storm-water utility ordinance.

Village council was presented the petition, which has 220 signatures, Tuesday and sent the petition to the Mahoning County Board of Elections, which will verify the signatures, said Linda Srnec, clerk-treasurer.

“They needed 129 signatures, and they got 220 in a short period of time,” she said.

Council passed the storm-water utility ordinance Dec. 21 by a vote of 5-1, with Councilman David Raspanti voting no.

The monthly storm-water utility fee is $3.50 per one Equivalent Residential Unit, which is 2,500 square feet. Under the ordinance, all homes, regardless of size, are equal to one ERU, but commercial properties are assessed the fee based solely on square footage without a cap.

The fee is expected to generate about $70,000 annually.

Ted Heineman, village resident and former council member, opposes the storm-water utility ordinance.

“I considered it a tax, and I thought that the citizens of Poland Village should have a chance to vote on it,” Heineman said.

Heineman said he didn’t feel that the present ordinance was complete enough.

“It just said the collected money will be used to maintain and improve the storm- water system. There are no specific plans,” he said.

Robert A. Mastriana helped circulate petitions and said no one who was asked to sign refused to do so.

“They were all against this taxation without representation,” Mastriana said, who noted the public hearings took place during the holidays when many residents were unable to attend.

“There are many churches and schools and nonprofits that can ill-afford taxation increases. They should be exempt from this,” Mastriana said.

Under the current ordinance, no entities are exempt from the fee.

Council had expected to begin collecting the fee in January but does not yet have a contract with Aqua Ohio. Aqua Ohio would do the billing and fee collection.

“There was a little bit of discussion [Tuesday] in regard to whether we are permitted to begin collecting or if we need to put it on hold,” Srnec said.

She said Solicitor Anthony D’Apolito is investigating the matter. Village council meets again at 7 p.m. March 1.