Fire chief announces retirement

Boardman Township will be looking for a new fire chief from among the ranks of the fire department now that Chief George Brown is retiring. Brown discussed his retirement with township trustees Monday evening and the trustees thanked him for his service.

“We appreciate the service that Chief Brown gave us during three years of adjustment and growth in the township,” said Tom Costello, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “We did anticipate this day, and are thankful that Chief Brown helped us develop the young talent within the fire department. This will allow us to look internally for a new chief, and I am confident we have some good prospects,” Costello continued.

Brown is leaving on a good note.

“I appreciate the opportunity to have served the residents of Boardman township for the past three years. My wife Edith and I have purchased a home in Boardman and plan to remain in the community. I wish the Board of Trustees the best of luck in the future,” said Brown.

Among the many initiatives Brown spearheaded during his time as chief were the purchase of a state-of-art ladder truck, obtaining a new 800 radio system in cooperation with Humility of Mary Health Partners, instituting No Child Sleeps Unprotected, a program that received over 750 smoke detectors from business and civic organizations, weekly training sessions for department personnel, promoting five new officers and hiring ten new firefighters, as well as informing the community of the need for a new main fire station.