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Ohio POW/MIA Wall coming to Norton

6/7/2012 - West Side Leader
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By Emily Chesnic

City of Norton organizations and businesses are coming together so the community may reflect on the servicemen and women of Ohio who became prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA) while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Norton resident Gayle Brenner was present at the May 31 Norton City Council meeting to ask members and the administration to attend the event she planned in honor of Flag Day, June 14.

“I hope you will come and support our troops,” she said.

Brenner told Council the Rolling Thunder Chapter 5, of Lexington, will bring the Ohio POW/MIA Wall through Norton and to Columbia Woods Park, 4060 Columbia Woods Drive, June 16.

The event, sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 717, will begin at 7 with a pancake breakfast by the Norton Women’s Club, she said.

The wall will arrive at 9:30 a.m. by motorcycle escort. Brenner told Council letters are being sent to all residents of Cleveland-Massillon and Greenwich roads to let them know traffic may be moving slower as the wall is brought through town.

“There may be a traffic jam, but it should not last long,” she said.

After the wall arrives, music will be provided by the Celtic Eagle Pipe Band, followed by music by Tim Longfellow from 11 a.m. to noon, and music by Get This Party Started from noon to 2 p.m., she said.

According to Brenner, the official program will begin at 2 p.m., with the Vietnam Veterans of America posting colors as the national anthem is sung by Laura Arnott and “God Bless America” is sung by Neva Gibson. She said Taps will be played by David Arnott and his son, Nathaniel Arnott.

She said several organizations will have booths on site and the local Lions Club, Sassy Dog and Gionino’s Pizzeria will sell food.

Brenner said this will be the first time the wall has been in Norton.

After she viewed the wall in Clinton with her boyfriend, a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Brenner knew the powerful tribute would make an impact in her community, she said.

She was pleased to get the event scheduled so close to Flag Day, she added.

Concerning American flags, Mayor Mike Zita announced during the meeting that any resident who would like to retire a tattered or torn flag now could do so at the Safety Administration Building, 4060 Columbia Woods Drive. He said local Boy Scouts will collect the worn flags in several weeks so they can be disposed of properly.

Also during the meeting:

• Council approved an ordinance to rezone property located at 92 31st St. from Central Business District to Light Industrial District.

• Council heard the second reading of an ordinance to amend the Codified Ordinances to adopt the current version of the Ohio Fire Code.

• New legislation was introduced to place a four-year, 4.6-mill levy on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot for the purpose of funding the fire department and its vehicles, equipment and supplies.

• Resident Elaine Tompkins was present at the meeting to express her displeasure with the city’s handling of an ongoing sewer program and the price improvement projects may cost residents.

• Council President Don Nicolard (Ward 2) said a letter was sent to state Rep. Marilyn Slaby (R-District 41) requesting a combination of grants and low interest loans to help pay for the city’s sanitary sewer project.

He said the office of U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-District 13) also is looking for federal grants the city could obtain to fund the sewer project.

“I want everyone to know we are working hard to make this as minimal a cost to our residents as possible,” Nicolard said.

Council also held an executive session May 31 to consider the appointment of a director of finance, with no action taken.

The next Norton City Council meeting will take place June 11 at 7 p.m. in the Safety Administration Building, 4060 Columbia Woods Drive.

Norton names familiar face as finance director

NORTON — Norton City Council held a special meeting June 4 to unanimously appoint Laura Starosta as the city’s new finance director.

Councilman Scott Pelot (D-at large) was not present for the vote with an excused absence.

“We suspended the second and third reading and went forward with the legislation to hire her,” said Council President Don Nicolard (D-Ward 2). “Actually it’s to rehire her because she worked for us before. Obviously, the sooner we get her aboard, the sooner we can get [outgoing Finance Director] John Moss over into the economic development position that we appointed him to.”

Nicolard said Starosta, who previously worked for the city as deputy director of finance from August 2008 until January 2011, will earn an annual salary of roughly $59,000, which is the same income as Moss, who also will be taking over the deputy director of finance position. Because of Starosta’s history with Norton, City Council didn’t seek other candidates.

“Everyone in the administration had nothing but good things to say about her,” Nicolard said. “She has the experience, she knows how we work and she’s quite thorough. Mr. Moss and [City Manager] Mr. [Rick] Ryland both had nothing but great things to say about her, as well as the rest of the people who work around city hall.”

The current plan calls for Moss to remain in the finance department for a month or so before turning the majority of his attention to economic development.

“It’s a good move for the city,” Nicolard said. “We have someone that we’re rehiring that everyone is quite confident in, and we will have an economic development director that we sorely need.”

The next Norton City Council meeting will take place June 11 at 7 p.m. in the Safety Administration Building, 4060 Columbia Woods Drive.

— By John Benson

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