Salem politics, layoffs in news in 2008
By LARRY SHIELDSSALEM - The city and surrounding area weathered 2008 like any year.
In the city there was conflict between the administration and council, layoffs, store closings, the usual crimes and one death in a fire.
Some of the events that appeared on the pages of the Salem News are in the first six months are listed here. The second six months will be listed in Thursday's edition.
January
On Jan. 12, police charged a Salem man with arson in connection with several Dec. 20, 2007 fires. Robert J. Kastanek was arrested by Det. Dave Talbert at the Columbiana County jail where he was held on an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charge by Columbiana police.
In late January, a Salem man was in the Columbiana County jail after attempting to rob the Rite Aide store on East State Street. David L. Broyhill was arrested on robbery charges and police noted he told the pharmacist he had a gun when he had his hands in his pockets.
On Jan. 31, a fire completely destroys a house at 530 Cherry St. The 88-year-old two-story, seven room, wood-frame structure, owned by Coleman Verda was a total loss.
February
During the 2008 Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Forecast luncheon, Bill Grunkemeyer, project coordinator from the Ohio State University Extension Center, told over 100 guests that the outlook is bright and the Salem Area Sustainable Comprehensive Plan is solid. He suggested a public/private alliance to form an economic development office overseen by a board of directors.
March
On March 20, resident David W. Johnson wrote a letter to the Rules and Ordinance Committee "calling upon Councilmen Clyde Brown and Justin Palmer to come clean with the citizens of Salem on the matter of their alleged "extensive" investigation of area municipalities as it relates to the elimination of the safety director position.
In late March, an American Axle & Manufacturing strike in Detroit is partially responsible for laying off about 150 employees at area Colfor Manufacturing plants in Salem, Malvern and Minerva. The company said, the month-old strike has forced production adjustments for AMM customers.
April
Councilman Dan Nye (D) submitted his resignation after serving in the at-large position since January, replacing Independent Councilman Earl A. Schory II after he resigned to take advantage of a health insurance option which required that he temporarily step down from the seat. Nye was then replaced by Schory.
Timberlanes Motor Inn and Restaurant entered receivership and was set to operate under Ciena Capital Funding, LLC of Fairfax, Va. Melissa Snively, the former general manager of the restaurant and motel, said at the time that after she had undergone a "period of illness" the decision was made "to transfer control of Timberlanes daily operations unto Ciena..." The restaurant and motor inn is a Salem landmark and at one time employed 75 people.
May
With a 4-3 vote city council stripped the funding for the deputy director of service/safety position, held by Greg Oesch, from a wage ordinance. Oesch had been appointed safety director by Mayor Jerry Wolford before council merged the position with the service director's in February, but Wolford vetoed that. Council then overturned the veto and the administration created the new "deputy" position and swore Oesch back in the next day, a move that Councilman Earl A. Schory II called a "slap in the face" to city council.
The board of education hired two administrators during a special meeting in May. It hired Cathy Sanor as the technical, federal programs and curriculum administrator at $82,000 annually for a 260-day, three-year contract. Sanor worked for the Mahoning County Educational Service Center.
Also, Tim Roller, who was under contract through the Columbiana County ESC, was hired on a three-year contract as systems administrator at $66,000 for the first year with two- percent increase the following two years.
Also in May, Vincent Domincetti was named the "Italian Citizen of the Year" to be honored during the first Italian Festival in August. The festival was set to be held on Penn Avenue and Domincetti honored with a plaque.
June
Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart proposed a second water main from the city reservoir on Gamble Road into the city. Weingart said the $2.5- to $3 million project would back up the current line that stretches cross country from the reservoir south of the city. The line would follow right of ways, Weingart said, noting the current line is difficult to maintain as it traverses private properties.
"About five miles of main (lines) would be laid," he said, adding it was in a preliminary "thinking" stage but he wanted the commission to "become serious" regarding it and asked for approval to proceed with engineer drawings.
NASCAR driver Donnie Neuenberger appeared in Salem with his red and white No. 52 Nationwide Series car sponsored by Quaker City Castings during the third annual Steel Valley Super Nationals. The three-day event held a kick-off cruise at the Dunkin' Donut store next to the Wal-Mart Supercenter on East State Street.
Larry Shields can be reached at lshields@salemnews.net
