EMS secretarial pay spurs questions from resident

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An unsuccessful candidate raised Sunshine Law concerns.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW SPRINGFIELD — A resident says an answer Springfield Township trustees gave to a resident's question last month was misleading.

Don Ridzon reminded trustees at their meeting Wednesday that when former Township Trustee Lee Kohler had asked last month whether there was a change in personnel for the township EMS service, trustees had answered in the negative.

But Ridzon pointed out that minutes from a July 7 special meeting contain a motion that provides at $9 per hour for three EMS workers to do secretarial work. The motion was made retroactive to Jan. 1, 2006, and a maximum of $5,000 per year was placed on the payments.

Ridzon, an unsuccessful candidate for trustee last year, asked why trustees didn't explain that they had approved compensation for the secretarial work. Trustee Robert Orr pointed out that Kohler had asked whether trustees had hired anyone and the action was not a hiring.

Orr explained after the meeting that three women, Andrea Landis, Carla Horner and Anne Rupert, have been doing secretarial work for the EMS service at no pay. He said the amount of paperwork has greatly increased since the ambulance service instituted billing in 2000 and since EMS workers began to receive compensation two years ago.

EMS workers who respond the calls are compensated between $14 and $20 per call depending on their training. EMS Captain Karen Philibin said after the meeting that about $1,500 is paid to EMS workers and $8,000 to $10,000 generated by the ambulance service each month.

Sunshine Law

Ridzon also criticized Orr and Trustee Jim Holleran, claiming they are violating the Ohio Sunshine Law because they are often in the township building at the same time on weekdays. Ridzon said having a quorum of trustees in the same place constitutes a meeting. Orr responded that three conditions need to be present to have a meeting. He said it has to be a prearranged gathering, that business must be conducted or discussed and that a majority of the board needs to be present. He said the Sunshine Law is not being violated.

Also Wednesday, trustees:

Hired Larry Smith, a township reserve police officer, as a part-time patrolman. He will be paid $11.65 hourly.

Approved a contract with B&J Electric of Poland Inc., Woodworth, to install electricity at a maximum cost of $6,543 in the recycling centers to provide heat. They also agreed to pay JCM Contracting, Springfield Township, $800 for replacing a culvert on Yerian Road.

Agreed to pay $3,300 to Mahoning and Columbiana County for training five firefighters.

Thursday, August 10, 2006