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Trustees vote to oppose Senate Bill 5
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Austintown Trustee Lisa Oles
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Austintown Trustee David Ditzler
By Elise Franco
AUSTINTOWN
Township trustees are opposed to Senate Bill 5 even though its approval would work in their favor during union-contract negotiations.
The trustees approved a resolution Monday during their regular meeting opposing the Ohio bill that would dismantle collective bargaining for statewide public employees.
Trustee Lisa Oles said in the eight years she’s sat on the board, collective bargaining has proved to be a fair and effective way to negotiate with township employees.
“It brings us all to the table to discuss the issues,” she said. “Employees perform the best when they feel appreciated and feel they’ve been treated fairly.”
Oles said she was asked the question, “Do you represent the unions or the taxpayers?”
She responded by saying, “I represent fairness. The majority of all the employees in the township are taxpayers who are taking concessions just like private-sector employees.”
David Ditzler, trustee, said though he thinks there are things that can be changed about how negotiations are handled, deleting collective bargaining isn’t the answer.
“That’s not the problem. That’s not what’s broken,” he said. “Eliminating one’s right to fight on their own behalf is moving 100 years backwards.”
Ditzler said the passing of the bill would make it easy for local governments to implement the terms they want, but that’s not necessarily in Austintown’s best interest.
“If you get into a situation where you’ve created a morale problem, it’s counter-effective for the community,” he said.
Also at the meeting, a check for $5,000 was presented to the Austintown Police Department on behalf of local businessman Sam Covelli to help pay for the purchase of new bullet-proof vests.
Chief Bob Gavalier said the department secured a grant for $11,700 that pays for half the cost of the vests. Gavalier said the donation will help the department immensely in terms of matching its portion on the grant.