The Boardman 2021 Plan was developed by township officials to communicate the priorities and objectives of the Township. The Boardman 2021 plan will provide not only the vision but the mission of the Township Trustees and Fiscal Officer for the next five years.

Township Trustee Larry Moliterno renamed Boardman as “Meat Town USA” on Wednesday for Arby’s grand reopening on U.S. Route 224.

The fast-food restaurant got its start in Boardman 52 years ago.

“Today’s grand opening celebrates the restaurant chain’s rich heritage and brings together the many dedicated employees who were instrumental in building the foundation of one of the country’s leading restaurant chains,” he said. “We are very, very proud of the history and partnership with Arby’s.”

Arby’s, 29 Boardman-Canfield Road, was first opened in 1964 by brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffel of New Castle., Pa., across from the current location on Market Street and Route 224 – where Wild Birds Unlimited is now.

Moliterno said the trustees are working diligently toward putting a historical marker on the original property to represent the start of the restaurant chain which was originally named RB’s for the Raffel brothers.

The restaurant had a soft opening Nov. 28 and gave the first 50 guests free Arby’s meals.

Arby’s CEO Paul Brown said the restaurant’s upgrade has been something long awaited.

“It’s great to finally see the excitement from the community that it has around it,” he said.

Brown was excited about the new look – the “Inspire” design.

A high-topped wood surfaced table in the center of the restaurant offsets red metal chairs and black accents on the walls and floor. Large open windows allow an abundance of natural light in, giving the room a bright glow.

As far as windows, Brown laughed that the infamously difficult drive-thru of that location – the drive-thru window was on the opposite side of most drive thru restaurants – is corrected.

“You can finally go the right direction,” he said.

Ken Hannaman, senior director of operations, said getting the building restructured was one of his top-tier goals when he came into his position three years prior.

“I was told countless people before me could not get this done, and I said, ‘Unless [Arby’s] fires me or I quit, I’m going to get this done one way or the other,’” he said.

“We just couldn’t have that building represent our brand.”

The amount of money invested in the rebuilt eatery was not disclosed by the company. Construction started in August and was finished by November.

Hannaman said he was proud to have “ruffled a few feathers” for the better of the business.

“We finally got it done and I’m happy,” he said.

by Amanda Tonoli
Reprinted from the Vindicator, December 8, 2016

In the photo above, Arby’s CEO Paul Brown, center, talks with Boardman Township Trustees Larry Moliterno, left, and Tom Costello at the ribbon-cutting for the new Boardman Arby’s.

The Boardman Police Department K-9 Unit will be featured in upcoming informational videos that will soon be posted on Boardman Township social media. The videos will explain the role of the highly trained dogs, and will also show the training regimen of  K-9 Officer Eros. You’ll see Eros practice an “apprehension” and also a “drug sniff.”  Watch for a launch date of these new videos.

Seen in this photo are Patrolman Darren Tallman with K-9 Officer Sumo and Patrolman Brian Cionni with K-9 Officer Eros.

 

The Boardman Township Trustees will be conducting their annual Leaf Pick-Up Program beginning Monday October 24, 2016 and ending Friday November 18, 2016. The 2016 Program will follow the same schedule for leaf pick-up as it has in the past. Please click here for a complete list of pick-up days for each road.

Leaves are to be placed in recyclable brown paper bags and brought to the curb for pick-up by the Township Road Department. The paper bags are available for purchase at local retail stores.

Due to the Veteran’s Day Holiday on Friday, November 11, 2016, leaves scheduled for pick-up on that day will be picked up on the following Monday. If you have any questions, please contact the Boardman Township Road Department at 330-726-4190.

 

As a Boardman resident or small commercial customer, you should have recently received a mailer sent by IGS Energy about your natural gas supplier. The letter concerns Boardman Township’s Natural Gas Aggregation Program.

You will fall into one of four groups of customers in Boardman, and the mailer you receive is tailored to your current status with regard to this program. The groups are:

1. Current customers. You may choose to opt out of the program in the 21-day period as directed in the mailer. If you take no action, you will remain in the program.
2. Newly eligible customers. You may choose to opt out of the program in the 21-day period as directed in the mailer. If you take no action, you will automatically be added to the program.
3. Customers who are in the parallel program with IGS Energy who receive the same rate as program members. You will remain in the parallel program unless you choose to remove yourself as directed in the mailer.
4. Customers who are currently with another supplier. You will be invited to enroll in the parallel program with IGS and receive the same rate as the aggregation program members. You will need to contact IGS Energy to join.

If you have any questions about Boardman’s Natural Gas Aggregation Program, please call the Township Offices at (330) 726-4177. Or you may contact IGS Energy at (877) 353-0162.

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Bring the entire family for the Boardman Township Fire Department’s annual Open House — Saturday, October 1 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Main Fire Station on Rte. 224.

There will be demonstrations, including a live fire burn and an extrication with the Jaws of Life. The Safety Trailer will be on hand so that children can learn what do to in case of a fire at home. Kids can also enjoy the gigantic Fire Truck Bounce-Around Slide, along with face painting and a chance to see a fire truck up-close. Helmets, stickers and coloring books will be given out.

For adults, flu shots will be administered by a Rite Aid pharmacist, and there will be certified car seat inspections by Akron Children’s Hospital.

At a September 19 dedication ceremony at the Boardman Township Administration Building, a two-mile stretch of Market Street, from Route 224 to just north of Western Reserve Road, was renamed the Donald V. Clark Memorial Highway.

The honor recognizes the sacrifice of Donald V. Clark Jr., a 1989 graduate of Boardman High School, who was killed in action while serving in the Army near Mosul, Iraq in 2008. Monday’s event, which was attended by several family members, took place on what would have been his 45th birthday.

Also participating in the ceremonies were state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, state Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th, and Boardman Trustee Larry Moliterno.

A plaque was presented to Clark’s parents by Joyce Mistovich, chairwoman of the Boardman Park Commissioners. The plaque will be placed in the park’s Veterans Memorial area near the Maag Outdoor Arts Theater. A portrait by local artist Ray Simon was unveiled that depicts a scene symbolic of Clark’s service.

 

The next meeting of the Boardman Township Trustees will take place at a special time and location. The meeting is set for 5:00 pm Monday, September 12 at Field of Dreams, 410 McClurg Rd. The meeting will immediately precede the Annual Battle of the Badges, the charity softball game between the Boardman Police and Fire Departments.

The Boardman Fire and Police Departments square off in the 3rd annual Battle of the Badges charity softball game at Field of Dreams on Monday, September 12 at 6:00 pm. Free admission, donations accepted.

Boardman Township welcomes Krista Beniston as Director of Zoning and Development. Beniston previously worked with the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS), where she served as a planning and transportation planner. She also served on the City of Youngstown Property Maintenance Appeals Board from February 2012 to April 2014. Beniston earned a masters degree from the Ohio State University in 2008 with a major in city and regional planning.

Marilyn Kenner, P.E., has been named Boardman Township Road Superintendent. Kenner had served as Assistant Zoning Inspector for the township, and more recently, as Acting Zoning Inspector. Prior to joining the Township in 2013, Kenner spend 32 years in the Mahoning County Engineer’s offices, serving as Chief Deputy Mahoning County engineer 23 years in that position.