HOWLAND — The Trumbull County Council of Governments is looking at ways for communities to save money by sharing costs for use of equipment and also attorney legal advice.

The COG also is preparing for its next demolition project later this summer with the removal of the Waddell Park swimming pool and pool house in Niles.

Vienna Trustee Phil Pegg said at Wednesday’s COG meeting plans are for communities to be able to share a boom mower used to trim trees and roadside brush. Howland Trustee Jim LaPolla said once everything is finalized, each community will be notified when the mower will be available.

“We are in the works to try to begin to share equipment. This boom mower is the first attempt at sharing equipment among different communities. The tractor would be owned by the county engineer’s department with each community who wants to having the opportunity to buy into its usage at a set price. We will see how the equipment sharing works,” LaPolla said.

An agreement is being worked on with the county engineer.

Weathersfield Trustee Steve Gerberry, who also works for the county engineer’s office, said road paving and other work is being done at Waddell Park, with the demolition of the pool and pool house planned for September. The pool building is asbestos free.

The COG had been involved with demolition projects in Braceville, Brookfield, Niles, Vienna and Farmington in the past several years.

Niles officials said previously once the pool is removed, they plan to put in a splash pad. Niles previously had Garfield School and the Niles Times buildings demolished.

Also, LaPolla said the COG has retained the law firm of Baker and Dublikar to be available for questions on American Recovery Plans funds and other issues dealing with funding. He said a retainer was sent to the law firm so if a member of COG has any questions on ARP funds, the firm can be contacted via email.

He said plans are to have communities with questions to email Barb Scott, COG fiscal officer, who will put all questions in one email so that the same questions are not repeated.

In other business, the COG:

• Reported that Mauro Cantalamessa will be the county commissioner representative to the council;

• Heard from LaPolla that COG itself cannot be a member of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, but each individual community can be a member with the chamber and also have health insurance coverage;

• Had previously heard from John Hickey, director of the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency, about grants available for communities for tornado sirens and MARCs radios.