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CANFIELD — The Cardinal Joint Fire District Board of Directors swore in two and agreed to hire two more at its Monday meeting.
Deputy Chief Mark Pitzer was officially hired at a July 14 special meeting, but was unable to be sworn in last month because of personal matters. At Monday's meeting, he was made official as CJFD Board President Dave Knarr issued him the oath of office, after which Mark's wife Julie Pitzer handled the ceremonial pinning of the badge.
Following Mark's oath, Knarr swore in new full-time fire fighter/paramedic Joel Wharry from Springfield. Wharry said he actually started at the CJFD as a part-timer 15 years ago.
"I had left and went to Boardman and later the City of Canton over the past 10 years," he said. "I am coming back to where it all began."
CJFD Chief Don Hutchison said the department is now at 28 full-time and 12 part-time.
"We still need part-time people," he said.
That need was partially filled later in the meeting when the board voted 4-0 to hire two part-timers.
"We had two very good interviews," said CJFD board member Gary DiTullio.
He said Gavin Quatkemeyer and Abigail Bartel were both approved and will be sworn in at the October meeting.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the resignation of part-timer Noah Hartzler.
* Heard the chief's report, which included the August call numbers. He said the district had 241 calls with a couple coming from the Canfield Fairgrounds.
* Discussed a heating/cooling problem at Station 1. A company was hired to clean the ducts and afterwards, reported only 6 inches of insulation in the station. Hutchison said it would take around $6,000 to add the recommended amount of insulation. He said the city has $5,000 in the budget for new windows, but nothing for the insulation.
The board agreed to extend military leave to Oct. 23, 2026 for Brad Hutchison, who is serving in the Air Force.