Photo provided by Brad Calhoun, Boardman Township From left, Boardman Township Trustee Larry Moliterno, Girard Safety Service Director – and incoming Boardman Township Administrator – Mark Ragozine, Trustee Steve Yacovone and Fiscal Officer Brad Calhoun. Trustees officially appointed Ragozine to the role at Monday’s regular meeting. He will replace 20-year veteran administrator Jason Loree, who is awaiting a kidney transplant.

BOARDMAN — The township has a new administrator.

Trustees announced at Monday’s regular meeting that Girard Safety Service Director Mark Ragozine will take over the job from Jason Loree, who is awaiting a kidney transplant.

The announcement brings an end to months of speculation over who would manage day-to-day executive duties for the township after Loree told trustees in October that he would need family medical leave time to deal with complications from polycystic kidney disease.

In February, the board began searching for Loree’s replacement. Trustee Steve Yacovone said Monday that the board sifted through more than 115 applicants before narrowing it down to five ideal candidates in late February.

Ragozine and former Pocatello, Idaho, Mayor Brian Blad emerged as the two finalists.

“It’s been an extensive search … it wasn’t a process we took lightly,” Yacovone said. “We knew this process was going to be difficult. Jason has done an incredible job as township administrator for Boardman and finding somebody to fill those shoes we knew was going to be tough. However, because of the extensive process we went through, we really do feel that we have the best person for the job moving forward.”

With a salary of about $118,000, Ragozine will be the acting township administrator at Boardman’s next trustees meeting April 27.

“I’m happy to be here,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity here to represent Boardman Township, and I just want to do everything in my capacity to move the township forward and continue the great work that the trustees and Mr. Loree have done over the past 20 years.”

Ragozine has been Girard’s safety service director since February 2025. Before that, he served as economic development program manager for the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments from 2022 to January 2025 and as an independent economic development planner from 2019 to 2022, working with many local governments. He also taught political science at Eastern Gateway Community College from 2019 to 2025 and served as a Girard City Council member from 2018 to 2019.

Loree said he will spend the next 20 days preparing everything Ragozine needs and introducing him around Boardman.

“Once he starts, I’m probably working for the next two to three months, and from that point on, I’ll either be on dialysis or hopefully have a kidney transplant,” Loree said. “I’m at the point where I can stay for a little bit longer.”

Loree said he could be on dialysis now, but because he is expecting a kidney donation from a volunteer donor, having the procedure to put in a dialysis port could delay his transplant surgery.

Polycystic kidney disease causes multiple cysts to form in the kidneys that continually grow, causing swelling in the kidneys and eventual organ failure. Loree’s mother died from the disease in 2021.

Loree, 43, found out he had the disease at 25, when he underwent testing to see if he was a viable kidney donor for his mom. He has seven other immediate family members who suffer from it, and many others in his extended family.

Trustee Larry Moliterno praised his administrator at Monday’s meeting.

“When I came in here 18 years ago, you were the one constant thing that was here, and you’ve been here this whole time and have taken Boardman through a lot of things, a new fire station, a lot of the water projects, and we really appreciate everything you’ve done,” Moliterno said. “And we know that you’re going to get better and you’re still going to be involved in Boardman and still going to be a big part of this community.”

Yacovone said he and his fellow trustees prioritized the best interests of the township in making their selection.

“The one thing we kept reiterating during this interview process is that there are no personal agendas, every single person here just wants to see the success of Boardman Township moving forward,” he said. “I think Mark exemplified all the qualities to help Boardman succeed in the future.”

Girard Mayor Mark Zuppo agreed when invited to address the board about his departing employee.

“I’ve known this young man since he was a little boy, and I just want to tell you you are getting the most qualified person,” he said. “When he told me he was applying, I knew he was going to get the job, because Mark is the best and brightest we have in this Valley. I can’t throw anything at Mark that he can’t handle…I can’t tell you how strongly I feel that there is not a position in this Valley that he is not the best qualified for.”

Yacovone added to the praise.

“He has a strong background in public administration, leadership and community-focused service. We’re all confident that he’s going to be a tremendous asset in guiding Boardman forward to the future,” he said. “That local government experience is going to be beneficial to us moving forward, but also his experience in contract negotiations, personnel management, and most importantly a desire to see Boardman succeed.”

Yacovone said Ragozine will take an active role in supervising the township’s departments, managing personnel, dealing with contracts, business and addressing residents’ concerns, as well as working with trustees and the township’s fiscal officer.