AUSTINTOWN — Two of three sitting township trustees will have a chance to defend their seats this week during a Wednesday forum at Austintown Fitch High School.

Monica Deavers and Robert Santos are up for re-election in November and their odds have improved slightly after Republican Emily Ciccone announced she was dropping out of the race following her arrest last month on a charge of domestic violence.

Ciccone submitted a letter to the Mahoning County Board of Elections, stating her intent to withdraw “after careful consideration of personal, professional and other relevant factors.”

Ciccone’s departure leaves Santos and Deavers to face former trustee Jim Davis; former Youngstown councilman Michael Rapovy; and Carl L. Clay.

“Questions will be asked and some are going to be tough questions,” said Trustee Bruce Shepas. “I’m super excited. I can’t wait to meet some of these candidates and hear what our incumbents have to say.”

Shepas said Austintown’s FOP president, Sgt. Dave Yohman, also will take the opportunity to speak about the police levy.

Voters last year turned down a 2.4-mill continuous levy that would have generated $2.6 million for the department by a margin of 52% to 48%. In June, trustees said they hoped reducing the millage and making it a five-year levy will close that gap enough to pass it.

Shepas said on Monday that the township has made all the cuts it can to the police department, with the help of new chief Valorie Delmont, but it cannot cut anymore without compromising service.

Trustees on Monday also approved motions to accept the retirement of Sgt. Chris Collins at the end of this month, as well as the resignations of dispatchers Baylee Waugaman and Gina Little. Fiscal Officer Laurie Wolfe said the department will not replace those employees under the current budget.

Trustees and Township Administrator Mark D’Apolito also addressed concerns about street lights after one resident asked who is responsible for fixing them.

Santos said the township passed a resolution last month to withhold payment to FirstEnergy until a majority of the broken lights were fixed. D’Apolito said some had been left unrepaired for nearly two years.

Santos said at least eight were located along Patriot Boulevard, with several others scattered throughout the township, for at least 16 or 17 in total.

Wolfe said in August that the township routinely makes its payments to First Energy — about $104,000 at that point — and that repair invoices are separate, additional costs but also are paid in a timely manner.

“Residents and businesses in the township pay a fee that is dedicated to fixing those lights. That money comes to us and we release it to First Energy,” Santos said. “But what is the point in paying for the lights to be fixed if they’re not fixing the lights?”

Officials did not say how much was withheld, but D’Apolito said there are only a couple more lights to be fixed in the township and they feel comfortable releasing the payment, which will go out this week if it has not been sent out already.