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Niles, Weathersfield plan joint purchases
By Mary Smith
MINERAL RIDGE
Weathersfield Township trustees have approved a resolution for the township to work with Niles to buy goods and services cooperatively that both communities use.
Niles City Council approved a similar resolution last week, after trustees attended their meeting and discussed the idea with council and Mayor Ralph Infante.
The plan to buy items such as gasoline, office supplies, maintenance materials and equipment cooperatively “has been under discussion for some time,” trustee chairman James Stoddard said.
Stoddard said the first priority will be gasoline purchases, but details on every aspect of what could be purchased jointly will be reviewed.
No start date for the joint purchasing agreement has been set, he said. Township Administrator David Pugh will work with Niles representatives to sort out the details.
The township and Niles are also looking into establishing a Joint Economic Development District to attempt to secure funding for industrial development.
The city has 20 acres off Niles Road (state Route 169), and Weathersfield has an adjoining 80 acres, also on Route 169 and Deforest Road both at the north Niles city limits.
Stoddard said the trustees believe that Niles will have more clout in obtaining grant money to help develop the area, and also has a grants writer, Mark Hess.
Stoddard said working jointly with Niles would be “really good for development.”
Trustees also approved a resolution from the Trumbull County Planning Commission to claim jurisdictional support for the lower Mosquito Creek Watershed Balanced Growth Plan.
The plan is preliminary and is still under development by the state, pending approval by the Legislature. But if the township is declared a part of the plan, it can obtain grants to develop the watershed in the township.
A small part of Mosquito Creek runs through the township in the Heaton Chute area.
Trustees also reappointed Dave Rouan to a five-year term on the Board of Zoning Appeals, effective Jan. 1. He is filling out the unexpired term of Rocco Sperati, who resigned. David Sylak was also reappointed to a five-year term on the zoning commission effective Jan. 1.
Township employees from administration, road, police and fire departments are collecting nonperishable foods for local food banks at the township administration building, 1451 Prospect St. Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., and at the Weathersfield Fire Department in McKinley Heights and the Mineral Ridge Fire Department on state Route 46 on Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m.