Canfield council connects walkways for students’ safety

By Amanda Tonoli | March 4, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

CANFIELD

Canfield City Council has joined the Canfield School District and others by participating in the Safe Routes to Schools program.

Council this week authorized City Manager Joe Warino to move forward with the program, which is funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The project will construct carefully plotted sidewalks based on an ODOT study done for safer walkways for students.

Warino said the project will cost an estimated $460,000, under the $500,000 maximum that ODOT will cover.

In other business, Councilman John Morvay asked notification to be given to neighbors of 33 Kirk Road so they can secure the safety of their outdoor pets before demolition begins at that address. Neighbors expressed concerns after the demolition was announced at the last meeting.

Darren Thornton, of Lake Wobegon Drive, said he wished Morvay was as concerned about the children at risk due to the unresolved Timber Run Road issue as he was about the animals.

Thornton asked if there had been any progress with the Timber Run engineering study promised at the last meeting.

Mayor Bernie Kosar Sr. said the council does not take the issue lightly.

“We are trying to evaluate this thing as thoroughly as we can so that we hopefully make the right decision,” he said.

He said he’ll have more of an answer when council has the appropriate information, he said.

“I’m entitled to ask for an update without being lectured,” Thornton responded.

Chief Chuck Colucci commended Mahoning County Career and Technical Center’s quick and efficient safety procedures during Monday’s scare when a former student threatened a current student and all of those inside the facility.

“They do an excellent job, and that school was locked down fast,” Colucci said. “We were glad there was a good ending to that story.”

The former student, David Pavelko II, 18, of Cook Avenue in Boardman, is currently in Mahoning County jail, charged with domestic violence, inducing panic, telecommunications harassment and aggravated menacing.