Struthers

WHAT: Board of Education meeting Tuesday

PRESENT: Walter Baber, Mary Carcelli, Robert Noble and Ron Shives, Superintendent Pete Pirone and Treasurer Ryan Cene

ABSENT: Patrick Bundy

The board:

• Approved a service agreement addendum with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments that increased the annual cost of career counseling services by $700.

• Approved an extension agreement with ACCESS for internet services July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.

• Approved the creation of the Anthony Melchionne Memorial Scholarship.

• Approved participating in the OSBA Legal Assistance Fund and authorized the treasurer to pay a $250 application fee.

• Approved the following pay increases for substitute classified positions in compliance with new Ohio minimum wage requirements: secretaries, $10.70 per hour to $11; cafeteria workers, $10.70 per hour to $11; janitors, $10.70 per hour to $11; paraprofessionals, $10.79 per hour to $11.09; and custodians, $11.11 per hour to $11.42.

• Approved reimbursement to Ohio TechCred Grant for artificial intelligence training for employees.

• Approved leaves of absence for Katelyn Sinkovich, intervention specialist at the middle school, and Elizabeth Pickens, intervention specialist at the elementary school.

• Accepted a letter of retirement from Anita Brodnan, music teacher at the elementary school.

• Approved the following appointments: Tara Flesher, paraprofessional, at a salary of $16,785 (prorated for number of days worked); Jonathan Barth, boys golf head coach, on a supplemental contract of $4,705.44; and Dom Ragazzine, girls golf head coach, on a supplemental contract of $4,705.44.

• Approved the renewal of Antonio Ricciardi as assistant track coach at $2,352.72.

• Approved Tyler Drass as a volunteer wrestling coach.

• Approved a request from Joshua Hawkins, band director, and Angela Russo, choir director, to take the marching band and show choir to perform at Walt Disney World from March 29 to April 3, 2027.

• Susan Wojnar

Trumbull County

WHAT: Commissioners meeting Wednesday

PRESENT: Rick Hernandez, Denny Malloy and Tony Bernard

The commissioners:

• Passed resolutions accepting 60-day notices from Mirkin & Associates to withdraw from the Senior Services Levy additional homemaker / personal care contract and from full-chore contracts.The homemaker / personal care contract will be reallocated to CareBuilders at Home LLC of Lake Success, New York and Youngstown Ohio Caregiving LLC of Waco, Texas. The companies receive $33 per hour for their services. The full-chore contract will end Feb. 9.

• Approved a professional services agreement with Environmental Design Group LLC to provide construction administration, inspections and recordkeeping for the Trumbull-South Main Avenue Bridge project in Warren for $172,184. The project will begin in 2026.

• Approved a professional services agreement with Mannick & Smith Group, 20600 Chagrin Boulevard, Shaker Heights, in the amount of $3,700 to provide assistance to county engineers during the public hearing associated with the anticipated closure of a section of Niles Warren River Road in Howland.

• Approved a $4,950 agreement with Mannick & Smith Group Inc. to provide a two-stage closure transition plan to address the anticipated closure of a section of Niles Warren River Road in Howland.

• Accepted a $75,865 bid from Dawn Inc., 2861 Sferra Ave., Warren, for the fourth-floor renovations at the Trumbull County Stone Building, 106 High St.

• Will seek a $250,000 budget request through the offices of State Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, as well as from state Reps.Nick Santucci, R-Niles, and Dave Thomas, R-Jefferson, for the Mosquito Lake Interceptor preliminary engineering study.

• Approved an agreement with Guard Plus LLC, 121 Huntington Trail, Cortland, to place an 8-inch diameter sanitary sewer approximately 375 linear feet to service vacant parcels near the intersection of Timberline Drive and Elm Road on state Route 5 in Bazetta. The line is expected to be used in association with the building of new homes.

• Approved the use of Ohio / Trumbull County opioid funds to pay $150,000 for the Peer Support Program provided by Thrive Peer Support, 2921 Youngstown Road SE. For 10 months, Thrive has been providing a support group program within the Trumbull County jail for inmates. The grant program that has paid for it will expire in January. Thrive will reapply for the grant when submissions are accepted.

• Appointed John Homlitas as a member of the Trumbull County Senior Services Advisory Council from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2028, and Ralph Smith as a member of the board for the term ending Dec. 31, 2026.

• Set the reorganizational meeting at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 5. The next public workshop will be at 10:30 a.m., Jan. 6, and the next regular meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 7.

• Raymond L. Smith