CANFIELD — The Cardinal Joint Fire District opened the year’s first meeting by setting the board in place. Sworn in by fire district legal council, attorney David “Chip” Comstock, were township representative and Trustee Marie Cartwright, and city citizen representative Gary DiTullio.

Cartwright and DiTullio, along with township resident member Dave Knarr, went into executive session and returned to resume the meeting, and named Richard Russo the fifth board member. Absent was city representative Councilwoman Christine Oliver.

With four members ready to roll, a vote was unanimous to select Knarr as chairman for 2025 and DiTullio as vice chair.

In regular session, fire Chief Don Hutchison gave his monthly report and asked the board to approve new part-timers.

Under the December report, Hutchison said there were 233 calls, of which 115 were for the ambulance. The district also filled nine requests for mutual aid and received four.

Hutchison also requested approval for three new part-timers. Samuel Kanagy, Landon Gardner and Jesse Bell were accepted in a 4-0 vote.

“I would also like to get approval for a conditional candidate,” he said. “Tyler Christie wants to attend firefighter school at MCCTC, which starts now.”

He said Christie is young and wants to pursue a fire service career. By taking the class now, then going to Firefighter II in the fall, he will be ready to join the department.

To take the course, he had to be sponsored by a fire department. The four board members agreed and approved him as a conditional hire.

In other business, the board approved a contract with Eastern Medical Oxygen to fill the department’s air bottles. The D cylinders, worn by firemen, would cost $3 per bottle to fill. The larger oxygen tanks, or H cylinders, that are on the ambulances would cost $20 to fill. Hutchison said it would relieve firefighters from having to fill them.

“We have had people burned from filling air bottles,” Hutchison told the board.

The board also discussed the upcoming Feb. 3 special meeting at Canfield High School regarding the MSC leak from the summer of 2024. Comstock said he was informed the Ohio EPA was going to be there. He expects August Mack as well, who is the cleanup company hired by MSC.