Fire department merger negotiations end: What’s next?

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) — A discussion that began nine months ago because of an ambulance shortage in Boardman was close to resulting in a merger until Canfield City Council opposed the idea. Why was Canfield against it, and what’s Boardman doing now?

Boardman fire Chief Mark Pitzer, who lives in Canfield, on Thursday afternoon expressed how in favor he was that the two fire departments merge.

“I’m so passionate about this, of doing the right thing, I was willing to give up my position as the fire chief,” Pitzer said.

Six miles west at Canfield City Hall, Mayor Don Dragish explained why he and all of city council opposed a merger.

“Not one person in our neck of the woods over here in Canfield — whether it was the city or the township — wanted it,” Dragish said.

Boardman administrator Jason Loree said the advantages of a merger would have been fire and EMS crews in every station, along with back-up crews, a $3 million savings in vehicles, and a central hiring point.

“We thought it would have worked and provided a better service for all three communities involved,” Loree said. “We all compete with each other locally, trying to find people to work, This would have been a good plan for the area . It would have made the whole EMS system better.”

“They came and brought us some information, and when they brought us that information, it was very lackluster. There wasn’t a lot of information, it was just some pros and there were no cons in any of that information given to us,” Dragish said.

Dragish also pointed out that Canfield has about 15,000 people, while Boardman during the day can see up to 100,000 people. It’s not apples to apples.

“We looked at it as between watermelons and apples,” Dragish said. “It’s just very one-sided.”

“We’ve really got to focus on Boardman. This is a really important issue for us. You know, this EMS issue just keeps growing,” Loree said.

To solve Boardman’s EMS issue, a minimum 4.5-mill levy is being proposed for the November election to pay for and staff ambulances at all three Boardman fire stations.

“We’ll go to churches, we’ll go to neighborhoods — wherever they want to talk and learn about it, we will be available, because it’s a very important issue for our community,” Loree said.

Boardman will be holding an open house at its main fire station on Market Street. It runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, to discuss a possible fire and EMS levy.

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