mgreier@salemnews.net
SALEM TOWNSHIP Winona Fire Chief George Brantingham is questioning whether the township paid all that was owed to his department for services last year.
“We seem to have a discrepancy on what was paid to us last year,” he said.
Brantingham spoke to trustees about the issue at Tuesday night’s meeting, saying the amount the Columbiana County Auditor’s Office told him didn’t match with what the township paid, alleging a shortage of $3,000.
Trustees referred him to Fiscal Officer Dale Davis, who said he’ll look into it.
After the meeting, Davis said the contract with the Winona Fire Department calls for the township to pay $15,000 after the first tax settlement, then $15,000 after the second tax settlement, then the balance of what’s left in the fund Dec. 31. Davis said the township paid $33,265 for last year, but Brantingham is claiming the amount should have been $36,266.
mgreier@salemnews.net
SALEM TOWNSHIP Residents pushed trustees on two fronts Tuesday, for not applying for CARES Act money and for continuing to remain status quo on Constable Dan Valentine.
“You guys are just going to sweep it under the table?” Joe Briceland asked.
Briceland was referring to documents provided to trustees at the previous meeting related to Valentine resigning from the Beaver Township Police Department two years ago.
The documents outlined an internal affairs investigation into allegations of workplace sexual harassment, according to pages provided to the Salem News. Valentine wasn’t charged with anything related to the allegations, with no cases found in Mahoning County court online records.
mgreier@salemnews.net
Once again the topic raised by visitors during the Board of Trustees meeting dealt with Constable Dan Valentine, some bringing up his past as an officer in another township and others supporting him.
The two sides at one point were interrupting each other with slightly raised voices going back and forth Tuesday night, forcing Chairman John Wilms to quiet them down so each could have their chance to speak.
“We’re not having a trial here,” he said.
At the end, he thanked them all for coming and for their cooperation.
Valentine was present for all of it, but said he had no comment when approached after the meeting. Trustees also had little to say, with Trustee Ray Heddleson saying after the meeting that it’s all over and done. He said the people can keep coming back, but nothing’s going to change, they’re not getting rid of Valentine.
FRANKLIN SQUARE Three residents spoke out in support of Constable Dan Valentine at the Salem Township trustee meeting Tuesday, saying he’s needed in the
mgreier@salemnews.net
Three residents spoke out in support of Constable Dan Valentine at the Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, saying he’s needed in the township.
Tami Dennison indicated she wanted to show her support after seeing the negative comments made last month by a resident criticizing trustees for reinstating Valentine following a criminal case against him.
“We need him here. He’s done so much good for the community. If they knew him, they’d know that,” she said, referring to Ed and Dean Farmer, who also attended the meeting. “We really need him.”
Ed Farmer had questioned trustees at the last meeting and again questioned them at this meeting regarding Valentine, along with Dean Farmer, who made known his displeasure with the reinstatement.