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Hubbard adds part-time staff to fire shifts

HUBBARD — The Hubbard Eagle Joint Fire District has added part-time firefighters to its staff. The new additions will cover day shifts in the department for the first time.

Mayor Ben Kyle told city council Monday the fire district had previously been 100 percent volunteer, making it challenging to get coverage for day shifts when most people are working other jobs. He said as of Monday, part-time staff is at the fire department 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Kyle said the crew was called out to a fire on its first official day on Monday.

In other business, the police department earned the recognition of “Ohio collaborative certification” through the Ohio Department of Public Safety, which required the department meet certain criteria.

The police department and many others across the state recently adopted and implemented state standards established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen community and police relations.

There are 501 agencies that are certified, and 63 are in the process of becoming certified by meeting standards for the use of force, including deadly force, and agency recruitment and hiring. Additionally, over 29,297 officers (representing over 90 percent of all law enforcement officers in Ohio, including most of Ohio’s metropolitan areas) are employed by an agency that is involved in some form of the certification process.

The standards are the first of their kind in Ohio.

In other action, council:

l Officially swore in Oakley, a labradoodle, to the police department as a comfort and therapy dog. Oakley was rescued by Hubbard police Chief Robert Thompson from the Mahoning County Dog Pound. Kyle said Oakley is receiving training to be a therapy dog to provide emotional support to victims of traumatic events as well as witnesses, and with the department’s partnership with Hubbard schools, Oakley also will work with students. Oakley is expected to finish his training to become a certified therapy dog in the next couple of months;

l Reported that when the Grandview Avenue culvert replacement project takes place, the road will be closed from Scott Street to Ravine Drive April 12 to 16 for tree removal and other work and then starting April 26 will be closed for five weeks. Signs will be posted letting motorists know of the closing;

l Approved authorizing the board of control to advertise for bids for tree pruning, removal and stump grinding for the next three years.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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