BOARDMAN — Trustees at their meeting Monday approved $35,609.63 for cloud-based tracking software, passed a resolution limiting transient vendors and were given an update on a derelict apartment building on Oles Avenue.

The $35,000 will be used for the annual renewal of the township’s contract with OpenGov, Inc., which operates out of San Jose, California, upon the recommendation of Zoning and Planning Director T.J. Keiran. OpenGov is used to track landlord registration, permitting and code enforcement, and allows for online submissions of applications, reviews, approval, inspection documents and letters. It also can be used for scheduling.

“It’s very vital to our department for handling all of our permit processes,” Keiran said.

He also brought to the board a resolution provided by the Mahoning Valley Prosecutor’s Office to limit the locations where transient vendors may do business.

“All commercial vendors will be required to register with the Planning and Zoning Department,” Keiran said. “The Planning and Zoning Department will maintain a registry of residents and businesses that do not want solicitation.”

As the name suggests, a “transient vendor” is any business that transports goods or services to a temporary place of business. Some counties require licenses for transient vendors.

The Planning and Zoning Department maintains a registry of food trucks. The new resolution will allow the office to maintain a registry covering all transient commerce. Transient vendors will be provided with a list of properties where they are not allowed to do business. If vendors do set up shop on a restricted property, they will face trespass charges.

“We will have ‘no solicitation’ signs available for free (for property owners) beginning next week,” Keiran said.

LT. ALLSOPP RETIREMENT

Police Chief Todd Werth provided public notice of consideration for Lt. John Allsopp to enter the Boardman Police Department’s Post Retirement Employment Program. The program allows retired police officers to work at a reduced salary while collecting their retirement.

The township saves 22% on salary and benefits for those returning to work, Werth said, while allowing experienced officers to work alongside younger officers as mentors.

“Not only is (the program) a monetary benefit for the township in saving $20,000 to $30,000 per employee (in the program),” Werth said. “It also stabilizes our corps a little bit, so we are able to keep senior officers with a lot of experience.”

The board will accept comments on the consideration of Allsopp for the program during the Sept. 9 and 23, and Oct. 15 and 28 trustee meetings at the Boardman Township Administration Building, 8299 Market St. Allsopp is expected to be rehired after comments and consideration Oct. 28.

OLES AVENUE UPDATE

Beth Duzzny, assistant zoning director, updated trustees on the ongoing attempt to resolve a derelict apartment building with a single tenant on Oles Avenue. The apartment building is owned by an elderly landlord who is reported to be experiencing cognitive decline, according to Duzzny. The building is in disrepair and fails to meet code requirements. It is the target of disapproval by residents in that neighborhood, both for its unpleasant appearance and problems with vagrancy and wild animals.

Options are still being explored by the fire department and the prosecutor’s office to either foreclose and tear the structure down or sell the property with the understanding that the new landlord will rehabilitate the building. Each scenario presents problems and would take a long time to resolve, Road Superintendent Marilyn Kenner said.

No resolution has been reached at this time.

A moment of silence was held for police Lt. Richard Balog, who died earlier this month.

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