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Trustees-elect in Boardman put focus on finances
By Denise Dick
One trustee-elect plans to meet with the fiscal officer within the next couple of weeks.
BOARDMAN — Finances are at the forefront as two new township trustees prepare to take office in January.
“I think just from the results, the first thing people want to see is unity between the trustees,” said Brad Calhoun, the top vote-getter in this week’s township trustee election.
He and Thomas Costello, who served as a Boardman trustee from 1999 to 2005, ousted incumbents Robyn Gallitto and Kathy Miller. Gallitto had served one term, and Miller served two.
Trustees have to work with the township fiscal officer to ensure everyone is comfortable with the same budget numbers upon which to base decisions, Calhoun said.
Involvement from community and union leaders as well as trustees, fiscal officer William Leicht and the administration is needed, he said.
“The first thing we need is to have trust in the numbers,” Calhoun said.
Last month, representatives from the state auditor’s office announced that though the township doesn’t meet the criteria for fiscal watch, it has no carryover going into 2010, and a deficit is expected.
The township has been spending more money than it takes in for the last several years, relying on carryover from the previous year’s budget to fill the gap.
For years the township relied on its inheritance tax, money received from the estates of residents who have died, to meet its budget. Over time, that money has dried up.
Costello said he met Tuesday night with Leicht, and asked to meet with him within the next couple weeks to get up to speed with the township financial situation.
Costello said he hopes to have a plan to address finances when he takes office.
Trustee Larry Moliterno, the only trustee now in office who will remain in office in 2010, also hopes the new board can develop a plan.
“I want to start working Brad and Tom and sharing the information that I have as soon as we can so they can hit the ground running,” Moliterno said.
He wants to develop a shared vision from a “cohesive board” with the two incoming trustees.
“I’m anxious to sit down with them,” Moliterno said.
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Comments
Moliterno you must be kidding that you will sit down with the new trustees and put a plan together. How about posting the plan you did the last two years with the ousted ladies? The only change could possibly be decreased revenue.
Wow, if I had a dollar for every canned response an elected official spews, I'd be rich. We're going to "hit the ground running" is a precious one. Like we've never heard that one before. "We need to project a unified front" is a nice one too.
Kind of reminds me of the dialog between Tim Robbins and Kevin Costner in Bull Durham when Costner is trying to teach Robbins the canned responses that he should give the media. We've heard those responses before. "I take it one game at a time". "I want to thank the lord for my talent". "My opponent was formidable".
Kumbaya my lord kumbaya! I'm getting teary eyed already.
I can tell you right now what Costello's plan is!
Levy baby!
Ahhh, more positive outlook on this discussion I see -
Bawhahahahaha.... for the viewers who haven't heard, Apollo feels he has all the answers to Boardman's problems and has done nothing more than post his drivel here on a web site. He has had 2 opportunities to run for the position of Township Trustee to bring his wealth of information (said with tongue in cheek) to fruitation, but ... in a recent post when asked why he won't run for township Trustee even though he knows so much about how to save the Township he said- -he was afraid of John Darnell and the Boardman Spews will say bad things about him and as a private citizen he can hide behind his computer and biotch all he wants.
**Afraid of what John Darnell would write about him**
...yes, he said that!
i'm anxious to see if calhoun and costello can make the leicht burn bright!
Ugottabekiddinme!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How is that we dumped two imbeciles and ended up with three?
Costello and Calhoun will do NOTHING more than listen to Leicht. Moliterno failed to do anything positive so far. And he won't...trust me...he's beholden to the old guard.
There is no reason to believe these 2 will do anything other than tow that line.
There's a commitment to the old guard in Boardman that will forever inhibit truth, transparency and progress.
Case in point: I did see on the 11 o'clock news the other night, at Costello's campaign headquarters, Joe Ignazio hiding behind some other poor soul who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Who's Joe Ignazio? An ex-fireman (who really likes money--especially other peoples'....) who left the BFD and now happens to be the ONLY guy the Township will deal with when it comes to their health insurance policy.
Ahh yes, the not-so-sweet smell of stagnation. Like the stench of Mill Creek park water pooling in my basement.
Welcome to Boardman, a not-so-nice-place-to-call-home.
I'm curious as to what Cabin Fever above has done to improve Boardman? Maybe supported the substation at great expense? Perhaps loved CALEA at $200,000 in costs? Cars for tots was probably a pet project of his/her. Maybe he/she loves the cooked clearance or the overpaid for lease at the substation? At least I've brought to light the excesses that have caused this mess. I'd run for trustee now that my Dad has passed away and I no longer need to spend all my time caring for him but that requires money and I'm not willing to sell my soul to the devil for the power and ego that some possess. Plus, I know for certain the unions wouldn't support me and neither would those who benefit from the connections to this corrupt political machine. So, I'll continue to post the truth, continue to bash those who deserve it, and continue at my own expense to provide the website with all those cushy wages for all to see.
2008
http://www.boardmanfacts.com/uploads/200...
2009 first half
http://www.boardmanfacts.com/uploads/200...
The audit is also there as are various other links to important information and property searches.
Costello and Leicht are buddies, so I hope you didn't expect Tom to hold Leicht's feet to any fire.
Now that all 3 are beholden to Sonny, will they need to call him before any and all major decisions?
Who will Darnell bash now? This might actually cause the Spews to lose readership. Might drop from 50 to 25.
Will the first levy attempt be in May alongside the sales tax or will they do a special election?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Very well said ubotherme. Those are very valid points. I wonder when the scare tactics will start? Maybe Sonny can write a letter to the entire community asking for support of a "safety services" levy. That's always a good direction to take, call it a safety services levy.
There are only 3 possible ways to solve the financial crisis in Boardman:
1.) Incorporate into a city and impose a 1% local income tax.
2.) Pass a large property tax levy for safety services.
3.) Form a JEDD with Youngstown for additional tax revenues.
No amount of cuts or concessions will leave the township with an adequate amount of public safety services.
One of the first things the trustees should do early next year is put a new safety forces property-tax levy on the primary ballot. I think the public realizes that with the instability of the inheritance tax revenue, a more stable revenue source such as additional property tax revenue is required to properly fund the safety forces.
The best way to solve the financial crisis in Boardman is.
4.) Cut wages and benefits of the current employees by the $20,000 per employee that the audit says is overpayment compared to peers. This would free up around 2-3 million and allow for hiring the additional safety forces and bring them up to proper levels. This is especially true given the economic climate that the country is dealing with. Foreclosed houses, job loss, compensation cuts. The public sector should not be immune from the distress of the economy that the private sector is experiencing. Say no to all new taxes.
waaaahhh.
I'm unsatisfied with anyone who will run for township trustee so I complain on a second rate hackwriter filled newspaper website because I'm afraid to run due to the scare tactics of the boardmannews.- signed, apollo
Dude, you are a hack. You have lost so much credibility because of your previous hundred posts that you could tell me the sky is blue and I would not believe you. If you are so hung up on getting powerful information out to the people then you should maybe have thought about your statements that you have made that now make you look like a spiteful jackass. Maybe you should run for trustee, I mean you have an adoring public on Vindy.com that will get you three votes.....haha. I read this newspaper purely for entertainment value now, and it has been more than entertaining watching you squirm and freak out and think that you are the voice for some group that is purely in your head.
"So, I'll continue to post the truth, continue to bash those who deserve it, and continue at my own expense to provide the website with all those cushy wages for all to see."
That quote is priceless. The truth is that you are mad you couldn't get one of the cush jobs you bash so much and now you are on some kind of two year message board warpath. You are such an asset to the message board community. haha. Go ahead and post reply after reply, Im done laughing at you here. Get over yourself spite boy, Im going to read the actual news.
Not even close buddy. I have a nice job making a ton and with fabulous technical skills. Why would I want to take a massive pay cut to work with well, not the best of the best.
You're perfect for the valley.
The great thing Change, is you aren't really the poster child for Boardman's residents. The township employees who routinely get on here and bash me will have their eyes opened very soon. The state will be forcing cuts next year and the taxpayers are NOT going to vote yes for more bend over we need more of your money tactics. Get ready for reality.
You want to know what I've done for Boardman? Why? I'm not applying for a job in yours and Kathy Miller's club house of losers and sheeple. You have whined for years about being "bashed" - well, if you're topics of conversation were worth a damn, you probably wouldn't be.
If you'd get over job ads that happened almost a decade ago, your posts would carry some weight. With your "I'm afraid of what John Darnell will write about me" post, OMG, BJ, you REALLY buried yourself there - you'll never live that down and I'll make sure to keep bringing it up for the next decade just like you do.
Let me repeat myself since that's what you like to do and that's all you seem to know. Hiding behind your computer for years and pointing fingers hasn't produced a product. You've had 2 chances to truely make a difference in the community to which you pay taxes in and neither time did you step forward ( your reasoning being that a small newspaper will say unflattering things about you).
I thought you were once 'educating the masses' about all your knowledge. I guess 'the masses' didn't listen to anything you've written and voted out Kathy Miller anyway. You're nothing, never will be anything, and now with your "I'm afraid of the boogy-man John Darnell" you're more a laughing stock than you've ever been. I'm going to purposely stop by the Boardman News today just to poke my head in and let Darnell know you fear him.
Bawhahahahaha