New Middletown officials name new council member

By Mary Grzebieniak

NEW MIDDLETOWN — Council unanimously named Cheryl Wilson-Hawkins of Maplewood Drive to fill the year left in Mayor Harry Kale’s unexpired term on village council.

Wilson-Hawkins has 18 years of banking experience with Home Savings and Loan. She moved to the village 18 months ago and works as a substitute cafeteria worker at the Springfield Local Schools. She was not at council’s meeting Monday. She will be seated at council’s meeting next month.

Council member Dan Santangelo moved to name her to the six-person council because of her experience.

Kale had unsuccessfully recommended applicant Virginia Younger, a resident who had applied the last time a position was open. Other applicants were New Middletown Fire Chief Bill Opsitnik and Chuck Cavanaugh.

Former council member Rebecca Mason was appointed to Kale’s unfinished four-year term a year ago but resigned at the end of 2008 because of personal reasons. Kale was elected mayor in November 2007 and resigned his council position last January when he took office as mayor.

In other business at its meeting Monday, council unanimously reappointed Richard DeBucci council president for 2009.

Fiscal Officer Carl Flitcraft Jr. reported the village spent $17,000 more in 2008 than it took in during the year. The difference was made up with savings. He also announced that the village’s 2008 financial report is complete and available for review at the village offices, which are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Santangelo noted that he saw schoolchildren walking on State Route 170 in recent snows because property owners had failed to shovel their sidewalks. He reminded residents that village ordinance requires them to keep sidewalks clear. Violators can be fined $100 and costs.

Police Chief Vince D’Egidio announced the police department was one of 53 in Ohio to receive a $1,000 grant from the Drug Free Alliance for education on underage consumption of alcohol. He also announced that free gunlocks are available to all, not just village residents, at the village police department. The locks, which secure guns so they cannot be fired, were provided by Operation Child Safe, a national program to keep firearms out of the hands of children.

Members also approved paying $2,000 for 2009 membership in the Mahoning County Crisis Response Team.

Kale announced there is one opening each on planning and zoning and the site design and review committees. The committees meet when needed. He asked any resident interested in serving in the unpaid positions to send him a letter addressed to the village offices.