This letter is our response to the recent letter to the editor titled “Reader is concerned about Springfield-Lakemore Police Merger.
Township representatives spent a considerable amount of time; working with representatives from Lakemore, to study the feasibility of providing police services to their community. The goal was to determine whether it could be done in such a way to benefit both Springfield and Lakemore. The Trustees conducted three hearings at which public comment was received and seriously considered. We also received input from our current police employees.
It is logical for Springfield, completely surrounding Lakemore, to efficiently provide safety services to their community. Springfield safety forces routinely traverse Lakemore several times per day while traveling to and from the southern area of the township.
We are mindful our taxpayers want us to provide more services at less cost. Ultimately, the committee studying this issue presented us with a plan, which would reduce cost to Lakemore, while providing more resources to Springfield Township Police Department. Regionalization and consolidation is the wave of the future as communities explore less expensive and more efficient ways to provide services to their citizens.
We highly encourage our citizens to read the proposal still posted on our website at (www.springfieldtownship.us) or pick up a copy at Springfield Township Hall. We want the citizens of Springfield and Lakemore to fully understand the great detail given to the costs that have been identified and considered.
The writer misquotes one of the Trustees as saying the estimation of some costs (where the exact dollar amount is unknown) could cause the Trustees to vote against the proposal. So there can be no misquoting the point made was this: Some components of cost are known but the exact dollar amount cannot be determined presently. One example is overtime hours incurred by officers called to testify in criminal court proceedings. This particular cost would hinge on the type and number of serious crimes committed within Lakemore over the next year. Under the agreed upon plan, Lakemore will continue to cover these costs, whatever the expenses prove to be within the normal department operation. To state a dollar amount on these particular costs now would risk grossly overestimating or underestimating the plan’s overall cost.
The contract approved provides for review of the effectiveness of this plan. As Trustees, we will ensure such a review is done by people best able to evaluate the services provided and its related costs.
A transparent review process will be accomplished by your elected officials held accountable by you the voters, with assistance from police officials charged with operating the department. Either community can end this arrangement for any reason upon 6 months notice if it provides no benefit.
Contrary to the writer’s claim that Lakemore loses the benefit of mutual aid, the arrangement approved exemplifies the best of the concept of mutual aid. If events demand it, the officers assigned to protect Lakemore will have the back up of the entire Springfield Township Police Department.
Additionally, the departments pledging mutual aid to Springfield will also be available to respond in the event of a serious emergency, just as occurred in the recent tragic homicide incident that occurred in Lakemore.
To address the writer’s cronyism charge, the current Springfield Board of Trustees have made unparalleled strides in bringing new people (many as unpaid volunteers) with specific talents into the township government. The past exclusionary practice of automatic Board, Commission or Committee reappointments has been replaced with a comprehensive application and interview process to bring the most qualified people into the township government. The writer’s cronyism charge therefore is totally without merit and insulting to the many new people who have come forth to make this a better community in which to live and work.
Finally, the writer raises some questions about costs associated with last year’s Rock the Docks festival. He fails to point out the countless citizen hours to put on the festival. Also, we utilized Summit County SWAT, at no additional cost for their presence. Our Volunteer Police Auxiliary unit provided 56.5 hours free. In addition, the Juvenile Community Service unit was supervised by our officer and provided 64 hours of trash clean up detail.
As to paid employees, 2008 being the first year for the event, was a learning experience. This year, procedures will be in place to more efficiently use our employees, with all costs being carefully considered to save our taxpayers money while improving the quality of life for our citizens.
Our residents have spoken to us via the township survey. They want to move our community forward and not backward by offering more recreational activities within the township and investing in projects that will in turn attract investment dollars into Springfield Township.
Thank you to the citizens of Springfield for helping us to move our community forward into a bright future.
The Springfield Township Board of Trustees
Vince J. Mealy, Dean A. Young and Deborah Davis
