BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman Township has not received word on whether it qualifies for funding from the American Rescue Act (ARA) signed into law by President Joe Biden.
      Meeting on Monday night, Township Administrator Jason Loree told Trustees Brad Calhoun, Larry Moliterno and Tom Costello “We still have no word if the township qualifies for ARA funding,” noting as announced by U.S. Rep Tim Ryan, that Boardman Township is supposed to receive between $7.24 million and $8.7 million in ARA funds.
      The American Rescue Act of 2021 provides relief to address the continued impact of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals and businesses.
      The city of Youngstown is supposed to receive some $75 million, while Mahoning County government will receive $44 million from the ARA.
      “National and state township associations have been addressing the matter,” Loree said, noting that eight states, including Illinois and Texas, have the same issue with ARA funds as Boardman Township.
      “Our federal representative (Rep. Tim Ryan) said we would get $8 million. The version that passed the U.S. House of Representatives included funding for townships. But the version of the bill passed in the U.S. Senate changed the language,” Calhoun said, adding “that money could be used not only for salaries, but infrastructure projects.”
      “The law requires the Treasury Department to make a decision by mid-May,” Loree said.
      Trustees urged Loree to contact Rep. Ryan’s office about the matter.
      In March, Rep. Ryan and Sen. Sherrod Brown sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging her to pay “particular attention to language in the ARA (stimulus bill) to ensure townships across the country will be eligible for direct relief” provided to states, cities and villages under provisions of the measure.
      Heidi Fought, director of the Ohio Township Association (OTA), said last month, “What this means is that, unless Treasury updates its interpretation, or definitions are clarified, Ohio townships will not be receiving money directly under this bill.”
      Rep. Ryan and Sen. Brown said the ARA plan “gives discretion to the extent to which…townships are eligible” and urged Sec. Yellen “to use your discretion to the fullest extent practicable to that townships receive all the support Congress intended them to receive.”
      The federal legislators noted Ohio’s 1308 townships are responsible for maintaining 41,000 miles of roads and streets, as well as managing 2,400 cemeteries.
      Under the Trump Administration’s CARES Act, Boardman Township received some $2.1 million.