Girard

WHAT: City council meeting Monday.

PRESENT: Reynald Paolone, Thomas Grumley, Mark Standohar, Jeff Kay, Keith Schubert, Lily Martuccio, John Moliterno, Sam Zirafi and Mayor Mark Zuppo.

Council:

• Heard from Zuppo about plans for a message board costing between $25,000 and $30,000 and a gazebo, as well as parking lot paving off U.S. Route 422 near the center of town. He said plans are for farmers markets and festivals to be held at the location.

• Reported the city received new picnic tables made of 100% recycled materials from a Go Green community grant from the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District.

• Increased pay of part-time police officers from $16 to $20 per hour in an effort to attract more applicants.

• Set caucus for 6 p.m. April 14 with PMG officials to discuss roads that need work this year. Officials said PMG looks at road conditions and recommends what needs to be worked on in 2025 and which ones can wait until 2026.

• Set caucus for 6:30 p.m. April 14 on plans for the parks, including tennis courts at Stambaugh Park and pickleball courts.

• Heard from Zuppo of trying to get a new business in the former Rite Aid building. He said efforts are being made to get a grocery store.

• Approved advertising for bids for the Mosier Road waterline improvement project.

• Heard from Safety / Service Director Mark Ragozine about working with Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership and the Trumbull County Land Bank to get six nuisance properties with violations taken down using grant money. One location is a commercial building and the other five are residential.

• Announced high school civic day will be April 29, with students to shadow city and school officials

• Tabled seeking bids for an ice rink for the city until additional information is obtained.

— Bob Coupland

Howland

WHAT: Board of Education meeting Monday

PRESENT: Julie Altawil, Jeff Pegg, Wendy Miller, Brianne Perry and Ken Jones.

The board:

• Approved family and medical leave for Lauren Gibbs from March 19 to June 10.

• Approved disposing of library books from H.C. Mines and the district’s middle school and high school per lists provided to board members prior to the meeting.

• Approved amending Megan Kurtz’s contract from fourth-grade teacher at H.C. Mines to fifth-grade teacher at Howland Intermediate School for the 2025-26 school year.

• Approved amending Robin Matela’s contract from JFK clerk typist to support services secretary, effective April 1.

• Granted Justin Pancake a three-year limited contract as food service supervisor, effective Aug. 1, 2025 to July 31, 2028.

• Granted a one-year limited contract to Francesca Gomez as third-grade teacher at H.C. Mines Elementary School for the 2025-26 school year.

• Granted a one-year limited contract to Samantha Williamson as second-grade teacher at Howland Glen Primary School for the 2025-26 school year.

• Granted a one-year limited non-teaching contract to Matt Schultz totaling $1,878 as assistant varsity baseball coach for the 2024-25 school year.

• Granted a one-year limited non-teaching contract to Joe Brefczynski as varsity boys soccer coach for the 2025-26 school year.

• Suspended the contracts of 17 employees for the 2025-26 school year.

• Accepted fifth-grade teacher Andrea Jones’s resignation effective May 31.

• Accepted substitute teacher Jordyn Pregibon’s resignation effective March 21.

• Accepted first-grade teacher Laura Delaquila’s retirement resignation effective May 31, per her request.

• Accepted library assistant Angela Cerenelli’s retirement resignation effective June 30, per her request, after 28 years of service.

• Extended unpaid medical leave for Kelly Barnes for the 2025-26 school year.

• Approved an additional service agreement between the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio and the district.

• Approved an agreement between the district and the Trumbull County Educational Service Center for the 2025-26 school year.

— Brandon Cantwell

Newton Township

WHAT: Trustees meeting Monday

PRESENT: Doreen Lutz, John Nemet and Pete Augusta

Trustees:

• Reported that work is done on the cemetery pedestrian bridge that connects the East and West cemeteries with a dedication ceremony set June 7. The historic 75-foot, three-span riveted steel bridge had work done by the county engineer’s office. A grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation secured by the engineer’s office covered costs.

The bridge spans the west branch of the Mahoning River and the project replaced the steel girders on the west approach span, repaired and replaced specified truss members and replaced deteriorated rivets.

• Set spring cleanup for May 3 at the township garage.

• Are preparing for paving work to be done on a section of Salt Springs Road. which is an Ohio Public Works Commission project.

— Bob Coupland