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On the record

Weathersfield

WHAT: Board of Education meeting Tuesday

PRESENT: Sam Caputo, Mark Bodo, Cheryl Basista, Joshua Garris and Tim Gleason

The board:

• Is planning to do work at the building by the football stadium acquired by the district. No official decision has been made on how the building will be used. The board has previously approved the purchase from P&S Equities, which includes the 2.5 acres and also a 10,000-square-foot building on the site. The land and building are located west of the football stadium and south of Mineral Ridge High School.

• Approved hiring Steve Rohan as assistant high school principal coming from South Range schools; Amber Guerrieri as third-grade teacher; Stacy Durig as sixth-grade teacher; Julia Semple as band / music teacher and band / music director; Nicolina Baker as intervention specialist; Jennifer Reed as certified occupational therapist; Joshua Aleshire as custodian; and Kristie Steyer as administrative assistant in the board office.

• Accepted the retirements of Billie Cocca, a custodian with 45 years years, effective Aug. 1; Wilma Sylak, a bus driver with 36 years, effective in February 2026; and Shelly Rummel, a bus driver with 26 years, effective Sept. 30.

• Rescheduled the next meeting to 8 a.m. June 27.

• Bob Coupland

On the record

Jackson Township

WHAT: Trustees meeting May 13

PRESENT: Tom Frost, John Jakubec and Alan Hemphill

Trustees:

•Heard a presentation from Ilona Seaman from iPanda Designs in Cleveland about revamping the township’s website. Trustees at a special meeting May 20 approved a contract with her at a cost of $1,500 for the website’s creation and branding, and $770 annually for support and maintenance. Fiscal Officer Judy Patton said Seaman works with the Ohio Township Association and is up to date on the Ohio Revised Code’s guidelines for township websites and social media accounts.

•Agreed to place a 4.9-mill, continuous fire levy on the November ballot to generate $817,477 annually. The levy still needs certified by the Mahoning County auditor’s office to determine how much it will cost the average homeowner. Patton said the levy can be used for salaries and equipment. The department now is staffed by part-timers for eight hours per day, five days a week. If the levy passes, the staffing will slowly increase until they have 24 / 7 coverage.

•Approved a contract with Bright Idea Shops of Akron for six signs — four welcome signs for the township’s main thoroughfares and two for Liberty Park — at a cost of $16,250, which includes installation. Patton said the township has not gotten new signs in 40 years and that was an Eagle Scout project.

•Approved the insurance payment to the Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority. Patton said the township’s insurance decreased from $59,872 to $53,438.

•Heard from fire Chief Mike Mortimer that Bluejay Fire Camp for middle schoolers will be Aug. 2 and 3.

•Purchased new fire hydrant adapters at a cost of $3,320.

•Purchased a dozen foam five-gallon pails for the fire department at a cost of $2,217.

•Announced the results of vehicle auctions on govdeals.com: Ford Escape with 186,367 miles, $1,525; 2004 Chevy Trailblazer with 139,676 miles, $1,025; 2000 Chevy Silverado with 197,420 miles, $470; and 2003 Ford Transit van with 234,532 miles, $1,525. The latter three had salvage titles on them.

•Promoted police officer Oliver Proverbs from part-time officer in training at $18 per hour to part-time officer at $21 per hour, effective May 11.

•Set a special meeting at 10 a.m. today to open bids for a nuisance abatement at 9687 Gladstone Road. The work will include removing the remaining structure debris and back filling the basement, removing all miscellaneous debris from the property and final grading.

•Increased the township’s street lighting special assessment from $54 to $74 per parcel, which is added to the property tax bill. Patton said there are 152 parcels in the special lighting district, which will increase the total amount collected from $8,154 to $11,248 annually. She said the assessment has not been increased since 2019 and it had been 20 years since it was increased prior to 2019.

•Set the next meeting at 5 p.m. June 10.

• Marly Reichert

On the record

Trumbull County

WHAT: Commissioners meeting Wednesday

PRESENT: Commissioners Rick Hernandez and Tony Bernard

ABSENT: Denny Malloy

The commissioners:

•Approved allowing for the advertisement for sealed bids for the Tru-Belmont Avenue Sidewalks project. The project includes the installation of new sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks and signage at the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Churchill Road, and along the west side of Belmont Avenue between Churchill Road and Giant Eagle in Liberty.

•Approved an Ohio Means Jobs operator contract extension between the Workforce Development Board of Trumbull County and the Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services. The extension will be from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. There will be an increase from $50,000 to $60,000.

•Approved the Trumbull County Profile Plan Budget Report for the Title 20 Social Services Block Grant administered by the Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services. The two-year plan will operate Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, and Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, to allow for the delivery of programs, including health-related and home health services, as well as adult protective services, transportation and others to eligible county residents. The projected budget is $145,500 per year.

•Approved the usage of the commissioners’ website for county legal notices with regard to competitive bidding, instead of using the newspaper.

•Passed a resolution supporting Warren’s effort to rename the bridge on South Main Avenue over the Mahoning River “The African American Veterans Memorial Bridge.” The naming ceremony is scheduled to take place June 7 during the annual Trumbull County African American Achievers Association festival.

•Approved the final change order with SET Inc., 235 E. Water St., for the Elm Road Water Improvements Project, reducing the contract cost by $49,068 to $2,208,362.50.

•Approved a contract agreement between AFSCME Local 458 and Trumbull County Job and Family Services that will provide employees 4% increases retroactive to Aug. 1, a 4% increase in August and a 2% increase in August 2026. Current employees will receive a one-time, non-pensionable $750 ratification bonus payment.

•Provided a letter of support for Valley Economic Development Partners’ application to the Appalachian Regional Commission to expand its Small Business Resource Center.

•Discussed the Leavittsburg dam demolition ruling during an executive session. No action was taken.

• Raymond L. Smith

On the record

Girard

WHAT: City council meeting Monday

PRESENT: Reynald Paolone, Mark Standohar, Lily Martuccio, Keith Schubert, Thomas Grumley, Jeff Kay, John Moliterno, Sam Zirafi and Mayor Mark Zuppo

Council:

• Heard from resident Annette Minniti of Stambaugh Street who was concerned with markers at the cemetery that were uneven and others that had fallen over and were laying on the ground.

Zuppo said the markers are the responsibility of the family but the cemetery sexton does what he can to fix issues with markers when possible.

• Heard from Zuppo he has established a “Civic Pride Award” to recognize residents who maintain their properties.

• Gave first reading to creating a part-time assistant safety service director position. The next reading is set for May 27.

• Announced a grand opening for a new disc golf course at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Liberty Memorial Park.

• Announced a farmers market will be May 31 at the city building parking lot, which was recently paved.

• Set a public hearing at 6 p.m. May 27 on recreational vehicles in the city and a finance meeting at 6:30 p.m. The safety committee will have a meeting on the city’s ambulance service at 6:30 p.m. June 9.

• Heard from fire Chief James Petruzzi that open burning is prohibited 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

• Bob Coupland

Weathersfield

WHAT: Township trustees meeting Tuesday

PRESENT: Steve Gerberry, Richard Harkins and Ed Whittaker

Trustees:

• Promoted Matthew Freel and Jeffrey Rowland from probationary firefighters to firefighters effective May 3 and hired Josh Bayless as a probationary firefighter effective May 13.

• Approved updating the fee schedule for the police department impound lot to $40 per day for a passenger car or pickup truck, $50 per day for commercial truck, trailer or boat, and $100 per day for semi-trailers, dump trucks and larger vehicles.

There is a $100 administrative fee charged on each vehicle and an additional $150 fee charged to pick up a vehicle outside of normal business hours, which is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

• Approved revising the fee and pricing schedule for the cemetery, which has not been changed since 2015.

• Accepted the resignation of police officer Ryan Zagoti effective April 28. He has been hired by Milton Township.

• Approved applying for a $1,000 MORE grant from the Ohio Township Risk Management Authority for the road department and applying for a $2,000 police, fire and emergency medical service grant that if received will be $1,000 for the police and $1,000 for fire / EMS.

The grant will be used for reimbursing each department for the cost of safety equipment that already has been acquired this fiscal year,

• Approved proceeding with getting junk vehicles removed at 3404 Lakeside Drive, where there are multiple vehicles on the property. A hearing will take place.

• Appointed Harkins to serve on the Trumbull County water rate advisory board that was established by the county commissioners for providing insight and guidance when determining future water rates.

• Announced the annual community garage sale will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 19 to 21. A list of participating addresses and a map will be provided.

To participate, text Cheryl Basista at 330-565-2449 with sale information.

• Announced the annual flag day festival will be June 12 to 14 at the park with the parade at 6 p.m. June 13.

• Bob Coupland

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