BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman Township Administrator Jason Loree and Boardman Park Board Commissioner Atty. Steve Yacovone addressed local tax levies that will be on the November general election ballot during a forum held at the park’s Lariccia Family Center last week.
      Approval of a 4.5-mil additional levy for fire/EMS services would provide $6.1 million annually, and would enable the township to hire enough paramedics who will be on staff to man an ambulance in each of Boardman’s three fire stations. Currently, the township has one ambulance in service and has contracted with a private company, Lane LifeTrans, that also provides EMS/paramedic services in Boardman.
      Loree noted that in 2011, 15 ambulance companies were available to provide services to Boardman Township.
      The administrator said that efforts to form a regional fire service, a reference to a Mahoning countywide EMS service that could consolidate EMS services of 25 fire departments; as well as an attempt to form a joint EMS district with Canfield “didn’t work out,” adding “a paramedic shortage is a real problem.”
      Loree said levy monies would not only provide ambulance/EMS services---Approval would also provide funding to outfit, to provide manpower and equipment for the vehicles.
      “The cost of an ambulance can be $300,000 and has to be outfitted, manned and equipped,” Loree said.
      According to Boardman Fire Chief Mark Pitzer, since Jan. 1, “Our ambulance has answered and transported 218 patients. Of the 218 transports, 155 patients required advanced life support care, and 63 required basic life support care.”
      The administrator also made brief remarks about a 3-tenths-mil renewal issue that has been on the ballot for some 30 years. Monies from the levy are used by the road department that maintains over 145 miles of roadway in Boardman, the 12th largest township in Ohio.
      Atty. Yacovone spoke on the 6-tenths-mil renewal issue for Boardman Park, pointing out the park district has operated on funding provided by the levy since the district was approved by the electorate in 1947. Monies raised by the levy, $570,000 annually, comprises 40 per cent of the park’s annual budget.
      “The cost the average homeowner just pennies a day,” Yacovone said, adding “If it fails, it would be detrimental to this beautiful area.”
      The park commissioner noted that Boardman Park provides 60 acres of recreational space, and on its 294 acres of land there are more than 30,000 trees.
      “The park is a special place for the community and our future,” Yacovone said.
      The forum was sponsored by the Boardman Civic Association. About 125 persons were in attendance.
      Other Speakers
      Candidates for 33rd Ohio Senate District at the forum were incumbent Al Cutrona (R) and challenger Marty Hume (D).
      Cutrona pledged to address issues surrounding property taxes, while noting he helped secure a $1 million grant for the creation of a stormwater park on the site of the former Market St. Elementary School.
      Hume claimed “democracy is on the ballot in November.”
      Candidates for the 59th district Ohio State Representative seat included incumbent Tex Fischer (R) and challenger Lauren Schaeffer (D).
      Fischer said a “core issue” is properety taxes, while Schaeffer said Republicans have failed to address the issue of property taxes
      On the November ballot for two seats on the Board of Mahoning County Commissioners are incumbents Anthony Traficanti (D) and David Ditzler (D).
      Traficanti’s opponent did not attend the forum and the incumbent suggested anyone over 70-years-old should not have to pay property taxes.
      Ditzler said the current board of commissioners are a team that works together and DiFabio suggested being a commissioner “doesn’t have to be about politics,” even though he has been politicking for the job for years.
      Also attending the forum were candidates for Mahoning County Clerk of Courts, Dan Dascenzo (D), who now holds the job by appointment; and Michael Ciccone (R), whose remarks weren’t fully intelligible; candidates for county recorder including incumbent Noralynn Palermo (D) and her challenger Richard Scarsella (R); and candidates for county treasurer, incumbent Dan Yemma (D) and challenger Wade Calhoun (R).