Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Staff report
BOARDMAN
Township trustees heard from several residents regarding concerns about the upkeep of their neighborhoods.
Residents from Ridgewood Drive, Argyle and Basil avenues, and Euclid Boulevard expressed concern at a board meeting Tuesday about issues such as run-down abandoned properties and unkept rental units that they say are affecting their property values and ruining the character of their neighborhoods.
“Over the last seven years, our neighborhood has changed,” said an Argyle Avenue resident who said she has lived there for 41 years.
Township officials pointed to the fact that township governments, by state law, have limitations on what they can do in those situations, and to the fact that the township has about 19,000 residential units, but a small zoning staff and a volume of rental units that has drastically increased since the mortgage crisis.
They also pointed out the zoning department’s recent efforts, such as a landlord registration program that is on hold because of pending litigation, rezoning of areas to prevent apartments from being built in single-family home neighborhoods and the establishment of a township land bank.
“We share your frustrations, and we’re not satisfied either,” Trustee Larry Moliterno said.
In board business, trustees approved the purchase of five police vehicles, at a total cost of $128,707.
Trustees also approved a motion to advertise for bids for the 2015 joint road resurfacing program with Austintown. A contract will be awarded at a July 1 meeting.
The board also awarded a $47,015 contract to Foust Construction Inc. of Youngstown for a catch- basin replacement project.