BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Outgoing Boardman Township Trustee Tom Costello was recognized by his fellow township officials during the Board of Township Trustees meeting held last week.
      Costello will leave his post on Dec. 31, after losing a re-election bid in the November general elections. He served in the post for more than two decades, first gaining the position by appointment when Trustee George Limbert was named as a federal magistrate in Dec., 1999.
      When asked why he wanted to be a Boardman Township Trustee, Mr. Costello observed he wanted to give back to the community that gave him so much.
      In remarks last week, fellow Trustee Larry Moliterno said much had been accomplished during his time as a Trustee while serving with Costello, including a new fire station and a variety of storm water projects,
      “We had a really nice run,” Moliterno said, adding “the relationships we built show that you are respected throughout the state of Ohio and Mahoning County. It has been a pleasure to work with you and along side of you.”
      Fiscal Officer Brad Calhoun noted Costello “is by far the most knowledgeable and most respected Trustee in Mahoning County.”
      “It has been an honor to serve. My wife and I chose to live in Boardman Township because of its government, schools and Boardman Park. My heart is still in Boardman, and I will do whatever I can for the community in the future.”
      When first appointed, Costello served as co-chairman for the Boardman Auditorium 2000 campaign that raised more than $1.5 million in donations to build the auditorium at Boardman High School.
      During his tenure, Boardman Township was awarded more than $60 million in state and federal grant monies, aggregation programs for natural gas and electric payments were established as well as a joint dispatch emergency communications service with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and Austintown Township and the development of the Clarence R. Smith Jr. Family Wellness Center for first responders was completed.
      When Mr. Costello first assumed office, the annual budget of Boardman Township was approximately $16.5 million. Today the budget is approximately $23.6 milion.