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PERRY TOWNSHIP -- The Perry Township Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Bailey and Fiscal Officer John Volio will be pursuing re-election in November.
"There's a lot of things that went on that we've started and done over the last four years, and some other things we need to continue to work on, so I'm going to keep running," said Bailey.
At the conclusion of Monday's meeting Bailey and Volio both announced their intent to run for re-election in the upcoming November election. Bailey said that he will be submitting his petition and necessary documentation within the coming weeks.
Trustees Jim Armeni and Tony Ieropoli were both complimentary of Bailey's tenure as a trustee, with Armeni noting that they'd like to continue serving with Bailey. Armeni also noted that he felt Bailey has had a significant positive impact on the township's fiscal condition.
"You turned things around financially, you really have," said Armeni.
During his report Zoning Inspector Jeffrey Christopher said that he had received three permit requests the month prior, and that he had sent out two letters for high grass complaints, with a third to be sent soon. Christopher said that the highest volume of nuisance property complaints in the township currently were high grass complaints.
"That seems to be the biggest thing. The rain came and now it's starting to grow again, people are getting behind," said Christopher.
Also discussed was a nuisance property at the corner of Stewart and Hunt roads. Ieropoli said he had been in contact with the Columbiana County Prosecutor's Office and that while they were aware of the property the owner's taxes were up to date and paid, and they were not pursuing any citation currently.
Armeni also suggested the trustees and Christopher do a drive-through of the township to check for any potential problem properties.
Other zoning matters discussed included Bailey suggesting trustees invite the township zoning board to attend their first meeting in August to ensure trustees and board members are on the same page.
In his report Ieropoli said that the township had collected two full dump trucks of old tires during its annual collection at the start of last month. He also said the street department had replaced several signs across the township since trustees last met.
Also discussed was a request from the township's representative on the Columbiana County Drug Task Force, who also serves on the county swat team, to attend an Advanced Swat Hostage Rescue Class at a cost a $795, and for the township to cover the cost of a hotel room for four days while he completes the training. Bailey said that following completion they could provide training to the township's other officers in multi-officer response to dynamic situations.
Ieropoli questioned if there was any grant funding available to reimburse the township's expenses for the training, and Armeni questioned if the county would pay for the training. Bailey said there was no grant funding available to cover the expense that he was aware of, nor would the county cover the cost, but he felt the township had adequate funding and it would benefit the department. Volio suggested the expense could be drawn from the township's Drug Task Force Fund.
"I think it would be beneficial to send some officers to training classes, especially if they're able to bring information back. That would be my one thing, if you go to this class, you've got to have some training time for our guys you set aside," said Bailey.
Trustees ultimately approved the request to attend the training as well as hotel and food costs.
Other personnel matters approved included sending firefighters Jennifer Fisher, Eric Buday, Richard Goff, Clayton Wolf and Brock Baddeley to attend the Fire 1 class at the Mahoning County Career Technical Center, beginning Aug. 23, at a cost of $1,500 per person; and Julian Dillard to attend the Fire 2 class on Sept. 7, at a cost of $850, for a total cost of $8,350. Bailey said the township would be pursuing reimbursement of the training expenses through the State Fire Marshal Training Reimbursement Grant program.
Also approved was a resolution to increase the General Fund's other financing uses appropriations by $100.
Bailey announced trustees will not be meeting for their regularly scheduled July 24 meeting as they have no business to discuss at that meeting.
The trustees will meet next at 4 p.m. Aug. 14.