CANFIELD — City council on Wednesday approved an amended contract between the city and the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association — which represents police officers, dispatchers, lieutenants and sergeants — that will enable the department to attract strong police officer candidates.

Police Chief Chuck Colucci said, “This amended contract allows for lateral hiring. New hires will get service credit they earned for prior years at a different department.”

He gave the example of an officer with four years in police work being hired by Canfield. In the past, the officer would have to start at the probationary pay of a new hire. Under the amended contract, that same officer would be hired at the rate paid to a four-year officer. Colucci added the number of vacation days also would be reflected in the officer’s number of years.

He said the four-year mark would be the cutoff. If a person with 10 years in policing were hired, they would have to start at the four-year level.

Colucci said the move will help the Canfield Police Department attract officers. As for the time period, the lateral hiring amendment will be for 2023, which is the last year of the three-year contract. The amendment was the only change to the contract as agreed upon by the city and the union.

During the public comments portion of the meeting, Darlene MacBenn again addressed council on her desire to connect to city sewer and water. She and husband, Joe, spoke at the meetings in May about the unique situation they have with a home and business that fronts U.S. Route 224. The properties are in the township, but the city ran sewer across the front of their property and waterlines across the street. Both were to service the Millennial Moments Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) at the corner of Palmyra Road and Route 224.

The MacBenns have one commercial property between them and the city limits. If they were to annex into the city, it would make that commercial property into an island, which is not allowed.

“We don’t want to continue talking with our neighbor (in the commercial property) to ask him to annex,” MacBenn told council.

She said she continues to have conversations with the health department and the Mahoning County Engineer’s Department, and hopes to find a solution.

“We are trying to get this resolved,” council Vice President Anthony Nacarato said. “We can’t make any promises, but we will do what we can.”

In other business, council:

• Held a first reading for a proposed amendment to Canfield Codified Ordinance Section 1127.03, which would allow for appeals to the Board of Appeals to be brought before city council. A public hearing on the proposed amendment is set for 5:20 p.m. July 12;

• Approved a motion to authorize the city manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Canfield and Poland townships, and to serve as lead agency in a joint resurfacing program. Colucci said the joint effort would save money by bidding out the street resurfacing with other entities;

• Heard a report the former IGA property was purchased and I.G.P. Peninsula Properties would be handling the leases of the property once it is renovated.