Boardman trustees OK hiring fire chief
BOARDMAN
George D. Brown, current Howland Township fire chief, will join the Boardman fire department as chief June 8.
Township trustees on Monday approved a memorandum of understanding to hire a new fire chief.
Brown’s starting salary will be between $70,000 and $75,000 annually. The exact amount will be finalized by his start date.
Brown became a volunteer firefighter in 1972 and started working full-time for the Howland Fire Department 12 years later.
“You reach a time when you’ve done a lot of things and you feel like you can do more, and Boardman gave me the opportunity to reinvigorate and make a difference,” Brown said.
He said that finances are his biggest concern, but he also wants to emphasize fire-prevention education. As Howland’s fire chief, he has been a proponent of sharing services and plans to continue that in Boardman.
“I believe if we can set up a concept where the closest fire engine responds and we have automatic aid coming in to assist us to get us enough firefighters — because our goal is everyone goes home — and if we can make sure we have enough firefighters on the scene to safety operate and do what we do, then that’s important to us,” Brown said.
Asked about Boardman’s current six- firefighter minimum staffing per shift, Brown said he needs to look at it and discuss it with Assistant Chief Tim Drummond, who recently served as interim chief.
Robert Bates, assistant fire chief in Madison Township, a Columbus suburb, and Joseph S. Rosky, a Boardman assistant fire chief, were the other finalists for the top fire position.
The trustees also heard about property problems from local residents.
Michael Allan of Brookfield Avenue told officials that flooding is plaguing his house, which has two sump pumps outside and four inside his finished basement. He said he believes the storm- water drain, located at the end of his driveway, is not functioning properly.
“I have a sinkhole in my driveway that keeps opening up,” he said, showing pictures. “...We literally get up in the middle of the night when it’s raining. ...We start fighting the water until it quits.”
Allan said a waterproofing company has been working on the house several times a year, but it’s not enough.
Road Superintendent Larry Wilson told Allan that his department would inspect the storm-water system soon to see if anything can be done to improve it. Wilson also said the wet weather has hindered many of the department’s projects.
About 60 people gathered outside the administration building to sign a de-commissioned police car and show their support for a 3.85-mill, five-year additional police levy that will go before voters Aug. 2.
“This serves as a visual representation of support for the levy,” said police Chief Jack Nichols. “...Let’s pass this thing and put the wheels back on the police department.”
The Boardman Coalition Against Crime hosted the event. Celeste Lisko, marketing director for the Shops at Boardman Park, presented the coalition with $1,000 to help in the levy campaign. The signed police car will remain at township building on Market Street for others to sign and then be part of the Memorial Day parade.