Beaver Township fire secretary to work 2 more hours per week

By Virginia Ross

Trustees promoted a part-time police officer to full-time status.

NORTH LIMA — Beaver Township trustees agreed to increase the fire department secretary’s weekly work schedule by two hours.

Kristin Yocum, who was hired earlier this year as a part-time secretary, will work 30 hours a week, instead of 28.

Township Fire Chief Russ Osborne said at Monday’s trustees meeting that the additional time is needed because of a heavier workload at the fire department.

He said Yocum tracks emergency medical service runs, writes fire reports and handles billing responsibilities, among other duties, which all have increased.

Yocum also is a paramedic, which means the department will have a paramedic on station for an additional two hours a week during peak emergency run time, he noted. He said the township saves money every time it uses its own paramedics because there’s no need to pay the $100 fee charged by commercial companies for the use of their paramedics.

In other business, the trustees promoted township police officer Christopher R. Albert from part-time status to full time, effective June 22.

Albert, whose annual salary is to be set according to the police contract, is filling a vacancy created by the recent retirement of Lt. Kenneth Frost. Frost will remain with the police department as a reserve officer.

Township officials announced that the sweeping of township roads has been completed. Paving on Ferncliff and Russell avenues in the Woodworth Road area also has been completed.

Officials said they expect to receive notice from Mahoning County by June 19 that the township will receive money from a Community Development Block Grant to pave two more streets in the Woodworth Road area.