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SALEM TOWNSHIP -- Residents pushed trustees on two fronts Tuesday, for not applying for CARES Act money and for continuing to remain status quo on Constable Dan Valentine.
"You guys are just going to sweep it under the table?" Joe Briceland asked.
Briceland was referring to documents provided to trustees at the previous meeting related to Valentine resigning from the Beaver Township Police Department two years ago.
The documents outlined an internal affairs investigation into allegations of workplace sexual harassment, according to pages provided to the Salem News. Valentine wasn't charged with anything related to the allegations, with no cases found in Mahoning County court online records.
Resident Ed Farmer had secured the report from Beaver Township through a Freedom of Information Act request. During the Salem Township meeting, he requested copies of Valentine's Salem Township personnel file as constable, along with his call records.
Resident Dean Farmer had asked if the trustees had given any consideration to the report provided about Valentine, with Trustee Chair John Wilms replying, "He wasn't charged." Valentine didn't attend the meeting.
Both Wilms and Trustee Bill Heston admitted they didn't read through everything handed to them. Dean Farmer commented that folks in Beaver Township won't let him be a police officer there, but it's ok for him to be a police officer here.
"He hasn't done anything in this township to take away his ability to serve you," Heston said.
He talked about how the handful of residents were coming after trustees and trying to destroy Valentine and how they've been hearing about it for two months now. He told the residents the trustees can't discuss the situation at this time and they've taken it all under advisement.
Valentine's service as constable has been under a microscope since his arrest on a theft charge for taking five mini-bottles of liquor from a Columbiana liquor store last fall. Trustees had placed him on administrative leave with pay, but reinstated him in December after he pleaded guilty to a reduced minor misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
While some residents have questioned the reinstatement, others have come to Valentine's defense both at the meetings and with letters of support.
When Dean Farmer asked what the $1,500 monthly salary for constable is based on, Fiscal Officer Dale Davis said there are no hours stated, that he's paid a salary. Wilms said they would have to go back to when he started to see if there's anything said about hours. Valentine submits monthly reports of his calls and Heston said he's on call seven days a week.
Dean Farmer again questioned what amount of work is supposed to be done for the money paid to the constable and how they would figure out what to pay an outside contractor for police services.
Regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, resident Johnna Timmons said she researched all the different items they could have used the money to purchase, including medical equipment, noting how another township helping the Winona Fire Department, which also has a contract with Salem Township.
"I think this really could have helped our fire department," she said.
Trustees again said they were never contacted by either the Winona or the Leetonia fire departments about the township applying for CARES Act money on their behalf for personal protective equipment or other items. Trustees previously commented they didn't want to get stuck with a bunch of hand sanitizer, to which Timmons said they could have provided it to their residents.
Dean Farmer said he spoke to one of the fire chiefs and was told the fire departments did request assistance, but trustees said that didn't happen. Trustee Ray Heddleson said if they needed the money, they could have come to the trustees.
After the meeting, when asked about applying for CARES Act money since there's a new deadline, trustees said they would have to look into it.
In other business, Danielle and Elmer Brown asked about getting a contract for the Leetonia Area Sports Association to use the Franklin Square ball fields, saying they intend to have softball and baseball this year and will need to do a lot of work on the fields to get ready. Trustees had no problem with them using the fields. Road Foreman Jason Entrikin offered to help them with the prep.
Before the meeting ended, the residents did compliment Entrikin on a good job clearing the roads after recent winter storms. Wilms said trustees appreciated the comment.
mgreier@salemnews.net