CANFIELD — The idea of the Boardman Fire Department joining the Cardinal Joint Fire District was laid to rest at Monday’s fire district board meeting by Canfield fire Chief Don Hutchison.

“I spoke with (Boardman Administrator) Jason Loree and he said Boardman is withdrawing from any further discussion,” Hutchison said.

The fire district’s attorney, David Comstock, said Boardman fire Chief Mark Pitzer is looking at going forward with an EMS levy in the fall that will help fund ambulance service in Boardman.

Fire district board chairman Richard Russo said, “There is no further reason to meet with Boardman as they are walking away.”

On Tuesday, Loree said the township is focusing on Boardman moving forward.

“The City of Canfield has pushed for and passed a resolution to say they are not in favor (of Boardman Fire joining the CJFD),” Loree said. “We were trying to do a regional approach to have better EMS staffing. Rather than waste our time any further, we in Boardman need to back off and focus on Boardman. Now is the time to develop our EMS system to best serve our residents.”

Loree said the township will be sending out a newsletter to each resident in a few days addressing the situation with Canfield, and a future open house at the main fire station is being planned for the near future to showcase the need for EMS.

Also Monday, the board dealt with filling the resident’s seat on the fire district’s personnel committee. Marie Cartwright was the name that was before the board for approval, but board member Christine Oliver challenged the selection.

“I’ve been asked by residents how a public official could serve as a resident,” she said.

Comstock said the committee has two board members and a resident. Cartwright had served on the committee for several years, but was up for reelection. Russo and Oliver are the two board members on the committee.

Oliver’s concern was Cartwright already is serving as a Canfield Township trustee. She asked how a public official could serve as a resident selection for the committee.

Comstock said the public official would be a member of the fire board. The committee calls for two board members who are elected officials. Since Cartwright is not a board member, she becomes a resident, and her trustee position doesn’t count toward that end.

A vote was called for and Russo and board members Denise Harlan and David Knarr voted yes, Oliver voted no, and board member Joe Paloski abstained because he also serves as a Canfield Township trustee. The 3-1-1 vote was enough to elect Cartwright to the committee.

Also, the board agreed to purchase airline tickets for two fire district administrators to go to Osage Ambulance Manufacturing in Linn, Montana, to check over the two new ambulances ordered by the fire district.

In addition, the board was made aware of a $38,959 bill to repair the fire engine struck on Route 11. Hutchison said insurance should cover it.

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