CANFIELD TOWNSHIP — Trustees recently adopted a resolution to remove junk motor vehicles from township properties.

The resolution, under Ohio law, states a board of township trustees may provide, by resolution, for the removal of any vehicle in the unincorporated territory of the township that the board determines is a junk motor vehicle.

Canfield Zoning Inspector Traci DeCapua said a junk vehicle is described as a vehicle three years old or older that is “apparently” inoperable. The vehicle also would not have current license tags.

“We have three properties in the township right now that have 15 or more vehicles that fit that description,” she said. “One location has over 30 junk vehicles.”

She said with the adoption of the resolution, the township can now order the removal of the vehicles. She said in Boardman and Austintown, police help enforce the code and can call for removal, or tag and tow. In Canfield, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office doesn’t do that as there is no impound lot for deputies to take the vehicle.

“They won’t tag and tow, but they will accompany me onto the property for the removal,” DeCapua said.

She said she has contacted a towing and repossession company that has a vehicle storage lot. They could tow the vehicles and then the owners would have a time limit to come and claim the vehicles and pay the fees. If they choose not to, after a certain amount of time, the township can go to court and obtain the salvage titles to the vehicles so they can be scrapped.

“We would have to incur the cost of removal,” DeCapua said. “But I would prefer to work things out with the residents first.”

All three trustees agreed to adopting the state codes to make enforcement possible.

In other business, trustees made a decision on the Briarwood Court paving project. Last month they had bids for several options for the project.

One option was to replace all curbs, gutters and drive entrances and pave the entire street. Another