Austintown trustees increase funding to zoning and housing demolitions

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

Township trustees unanimously approved extra funding to two departments, as those entities are doing more work than originally budgeted.

Township fiscal officer Laura Wolfe asked to allocate $265,000 to the zoning fund and $60,000 to house demolitions. She told trustees before the Monday vote that Darren Crivelli, zoning inspector, is “doing so many demolitions that we didn’t” budget for. There have been 22 demolitions in the township since July 2013 as of April.

Crivelli said two more demolitions are out to bid for the township. He also said the township will receive $41,000 back from demolitions completed using the Moving Ohio Forward grant.

In other business, trustees approved three former police-department vehicles for public auction, which was approved for 10 a.m. June 21. Those vehicles are two Crown Victorias and one Dodge Charger, all with more than 99,000 miles.

Trustees also approved a public hearing on a liquor license for Vitullo Investments LLC doing business as Club Cali, 1051 North Canfield-Niles Road. A date was not set.

Crivelli provided township officials with a list of 34 properties with high grass in violation of a township ordinance. Those property owners have 14 days to cut the grass or the township charges them $500 per cut on their quarterly tax bill. “Most of the ones we saw with high grass appear to be vacant,” Crivelli said.

A motion to tear down a home at 39 E. Liberty St. was approved.