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HOWLAND -- Township fire Chief James Pantalone was picked Tuesday to be Howland's next administrator.
He'll replace Darlene St. George, who served the township either as a trustee or administrator for 30 years, when she steps down in March.
Pantalone was among five finalists for the job. Trustees unanimously picked him.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to work more closely with the department heads, and the trustees as well," Pantalone said.
Trustee Matthew Vansuch said the township, after the resolution is certified by Fiscal Officer Tom Krispinsky, will have a formal announcement, or introduction, of its new administrator.
"Right off the bat, my statement is that things aren't broken," Pantalone said. "We've got great department heads, and we've got great teams with our employees in each department. I think first and foremost is continuing with team cohesiveness. Things do not get accomplished with just one individual. They get accomplished as a team."
Pantalone has been a firefighter and paramedic for the township since 1995. He was promoted to captain in 2004 and has served as chief since 2011.
He said he looks forward to continuing to serve the township.
"I've been charged with their safety for the last 29 years, coming through the ranks of the firefighter / medic, and the last 12 as the chief. So they can know that, sitting in that office, I will have the best interests of the community involved in decision-making, as I always have."
During his time as chief, Pantalone helped the department obtain several local, state and federal grants totaling more than $405,000. In addition, Pantalone facilitated and determined the use of $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds for fire department expenditures to improve service delivery to the community.
"Coming from a strong department, where we worked with a team effort, I look forward to continuing that mantra through moving over to that office," Pantalone said.
Pantalone has more than 30 years in the public safety field.
He is on the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency executive committee and served as president of the Trumbull County Fire Chiefs Association, where he remains a member.
Pantalone also is involved in the Children's Rehabilitation Center, the Howland 911 Review Committee and the Trumbull County Joint Committee on EMS.
Good communication between department heads while allowing them to do their jobs, Pantalone said, is another important aspect he would like to focus on.
"I've had the benefit of being the fire chief, and the opportunity to run the department and report as needed, upward. So I think that is another component of success," Pantalone said.
"A second component of success is carrying out the decisions of the trustees, as they are the decision-makers of the township. Once we get into the nitty-gritty of it, I will get more of a feel for each of them, probably meet with them individually, and get a feel for their expectations."
Other finalists
Howland fire Chief James Pantalone, picked Tuesday as the township's next administrator, was among five applicants being considered for the job. The other four were:
• Nicholas Coggins, associate director, Trumbull County Planning Commission
• Gregory J. Hoso, street crimes division lieutenant for Warren police
• Pamela Priddy, former Newton Falls village manager
• Greg Solarz, former Ohio Department of Transportation administrator for Trumbull County