Boardman delays decision on starting its own ambulance service

By Ashley Luthern

aluthern@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

No decision about township ambulance services will be made until a new fire chief is hired, officials say.

“We will make a decision with a new chief because he has to live with that decision. I think that’s the appropriate response,” said Trustee Chairman Thomas Costello.

The township is researching contracting with an outside ambulance service and reviewing a study previously presented by the fire department.

“The firemen did their study before Brad [Calhoun] and I took office. The business committee came back with more questions than answers. Knowing [the fire chief] was going to retire this year and our finances, we put it on hold,” Costello said.

Administrator Jason Loree said trustees will interview the top three fire chief candidates screened by the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association next week.

A fire department report advocating the start of a township-run ambulance service was presented to trustees several years ago, and in February 2009, then-Fire Chief James Dorman presented a feasibility study.

“It’s been drawn out for so many years,” said Harry Wolfe, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1176.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.