Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Village Councilwoman Laurie LaPlante informed residents the historic restoration grant program allows for multiple grants to be awarded. She said the program is not limited to one per year. LaPlante also spoke on supporting the Save Our Library initiative by attending next week’s library board meeting.

POLAND — It was a packed house at the village council meeting Tuesday as several members of the community spoke about the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County being moved. The topic was kicked off by Save Our Library Committee member Joan Smith.

“We have every reason to believe the library board will be making a decision on our library at the April 29 meeting,” said Joan Smith, a member of the Save Our Library committee. “We are requesting that village council and the mayor be present at that meeting.”

She said anyone wanting to attend should show up by 3:45 p.m. as the library locks the doors at 4 p.m. when the meeting is set to begin. Smith said she expects many politicians from the county and state to attend, and she said the library board has decided to put the vote before the entire board.

Larry Bartos said the property that is believed to be the location the library is looking at off Denver Drive is a swamp. He said it will only support a library half the size of the present one.

“It will have no cafe, no used book store and is half the size,” Bartos said.

Also among the speakers during the public forum was local architect Bob Mastriana. He claimed the public library has nearly $48 million in its investment account and has not properly cared for the Poland branch.

“They never maintained the Poland library,” he said. “All the problems are from lack of maintenance.”

Dave Smith spoke on saving the library as well.

“I would hate to say the next time I give a historic walk, ‘well kids this used to be our library’,” he said.

Several residents asked what village council could do to put on some pressure. Council voted unanimously to authorize council president Michael Thompson to send a letter on behalf of council that would be a condensed version of what was sent before and again urging the library board to keep the Poland branch where it is.

Poland Village Mayor Tim Sicafuse closed the library discussion by saying he appreciated the efforts of the Save Our Library Committee in bringing the community together.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business, council approved awarding the 2026 paving contract to Lindy Paving Inc. for $214,410.50 to pave Walker Court, Pamela Court, Morse Place, Diana Drive and Outlook Street. Also approved was the addition of the village’s portion of North Lima Road at a cost of $18,400. Johnston Place, Alverne Drive and Canavan Drive were tentatively approved if a bid comes in under $35,000.

Councilwoman Laurie LaPlante announced the village was notified they could give out multiple historic restoration grants. The village was awaiting notification on the grants before a decision was made for the 2026 applications. She said the applicants still have to meet the grant criteria.

Kurt Hilderbrand from the America250-Poland committee requested use of the front of Village Hall property to conduct a flag retirement event in which worn and battered American flags are properly disposed of by burning them in a ceremony. He was granted permission for June 14, which is Flag Day, at 2 p.m. in front of the hall.

“We also want to display historic American flags of our nation that span the 250-year history,” he added.

He also mentioned the America250-Poland committee will host a white oak tree planting at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Poland Township, which will be the official Mahoning County tree planting. He said all 88 Ohio counties will be planting a white oak.

Sicafuse read a proclamation recognizing the leadership and efforts of Alexander Zedaker, a scout from BSA Troop 9044 whose Eagle Scout project was restoring the Indian Trail Forest entrance. Sicafuse said the work covered several weekends and “demonstrated Alexander’s leadership and work ethic.”