Champion

WHAT: Township trusteeS meeting Tuesday

PRESENT: Doug Emerine, Tom Jeffers and Rick York

Trustees:

• Approved attorney Tonya Rogers as legal counsel for the township at $210 per hour, replacing Cherry Poteet, who cut back on her work hours. Attorney Mark Finamore will handle zoning matters.

• Will begin negotiations with the local Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association members in the police department on their next contract.

• Heard from Zoning Inspector Jerry Brown a Wendy’s will be opening at a former bank building off state Route 45.

• Heard from York about a problem with signs at closed buildings that stay up a long time, such as the former roller rink property that burned down several years ago.

• Will look at getting a plaque at the township road department building in memory of Bill Templeton and Joe Mickel, who were instrumental in getting the building constructed.

• Heard from Emerine the former Copperweld property is being cleaned up and there has been some interest by companies for the property.

• Heard from Emerine the township is part of the gas aggregation with Trumbull County except for residents on Townline Road who are not eligible since they are not with East Ohio Gas.

• Approved the transfer of $45,000 from the general fund to the zoning fund to help fund the zoning department.

Newton Falls

WHAT: Village council meeting Wednesday

PRESENT: Julie Stimpert, Brian Axiotis, Brian Kropp, Bob Burke and Kevin Rufener

ABSENT: Mayor David Hanson

Council:

• Approved a policy on dealing with indigent burials and cremations. Village Manager Jamie Vernaccini said there have been situations where people do not pick up a family member’s ashes and how to deal with that and someone seeking assistance as an indigent but is no longer a resident of the community. She said having guidelines in place will help address each individual case.

• Heard from Vernaccini of plans by the Fourth of July committee to hold America250 events that week. Volunteers are being sought to help plan events.

• Heard from Kropp, who has received calls from residents about barking dog complaints. He said if the barking is an ongoing issue, contact the police department since there is a noise ordinance.

• Heard from Burke of a need to consider increasing the uniform allowance for police officers to be at the same level the electrical department employees’ allowance is at.