CANFIELD — Trustees recently responded to concerns about why they were opposed to the Boardman Fire Department joining the Cardinal Joint Fire District.

“Some residents don’t distinguish between the city and the township,” said trustees chairman Brian Governor. “I am getting calls on why we decided to say no to the proposal. We as a board have not taken a position on this.”

Governor said the trustees were awaiting the final numbers from the county auditor. When city council voted on a resolution to oppose Boardman joining the CJFD, the township did not take that same stance.

Marie Izzo-Cartwright said comments made by city officials on recent radio programs simply stated Canfield was opposed to it.

“The city does not speak for the township,” Cartwright said. “We need to take a position publicly and let the city know it.”

All three trustees (Governor, Cartwright and Joe Paloski) agreed a letter should be sent to the city stating the city does not speak for the township.

Also Tuesday, Zoning Inspector Traci DeCapua informed trustees the house at 4730 Messerly Road is on the clock. A warrant was obtained and inspectors from the Cardinal Joint Fire District went into the house and found it to be structurally defective and uninhabitable.

“The back bedroom had fallen into the basement,” DeCapua said.

The house could be up for abatement, but she said the law requires giving the owners 30 days to fix the problems. She said there are actually four vacant homes on Messerly Road that are uninhabitable. The other three have failed septic systems and no new (septic) permits are available to remedy the situation.

In other business:

• Township Administrator Keith Rogers said the HVAC system at Township Hall needs replaced. He said the air conditioner is leaking and eventually will stop blowing cold air. Also, there are no available parts for the furnace system because it is so old. He told trustees he would try to get three bids for replacing the system.

• Trustees approved raising the pay of part-time snowplow drivers to $18.40 per hour with a cap at $24 per hour for rate increases. Also DeCapua will receive a wage increase from $20.55 per hour to $21.79 per hour beginning Saturday. Trustees also approved an increase for Township Administrator Keith Rogers from $75,000 per year to $77,350 per year, also effective Saturday.

• Trustees approved a $4,000 donation to the Canfield Historical Society to go toward putting on the Fourth of July Parade. Trustee Joe Paloski abstained from voting.