Where it all began:
Struthers was originally a part of Poland Township until 1902 when the settlement of Struthers became a villiage therby establishing its own independent governmental structure. Struthers became a city in 1920 as a result of the population exceeding 5,000 community members.
Struthers was originally a part of Poland Township until 1902 when the settlement of Struthers became a villiage therby establishing its own independent governmental structure. Struthers became a city in 1920 as a result of the population exceeding 5,000 community members.
Government Today:
- Mayor-Council statutory form of government
- Consists of an elected mayor who serves as the cities administrative officer
- Consists of a council which serves the municipality's legislative body
- Council has the authority to formulate and adopt city policies and the mayor is responsible for carrying them out
- The executive form of government consists of an elected mayor, auditor, law director, treasurer, and president of council
- Since Struthers is a statutory city they have home rule powers (the right to local self-government including the powers to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare. This also means they have the right to license, establish debt, and tax), but operate under government structure according to the state of Ohio.
- Mayor Terry P. Stocker pictured to the left
- The safety service director (Ed Wildes) appointed by the mayor is responsible for overseeing daily operations of all departments and is executive head of the police and fire departments. Also responsible for enforcing all zoning and property maintenance codes
- The mayor is also responsible for appointing numerous boards and commissions to carry out administrative services such as:
- Civil Service Commission
- Planning and Zoning Commission
- Board of Health
- Tax Commissioner
- The auditor (Christina Bohl) is responsible for overseeing all expenditures of the city and to make sure that they follow the laws. Informs the mayor and council on financial concerns towards the city. The auditor also holds the funds and city budgets for major projects for the city. In charge of appointing a tax revenue board to monitor income taxes. The treasurer (Matthew M. Rhodes) stores away and maintains records of funds into which sources of revenue are used. The treasurer also invests available city funds and issues all checks.
- Law director (Dominic R. Leone III) Provides legal advice and direction to other officers of government. Serves as prosecutor for Struthers Municipal Court.
- President of Council (Henry D. Franceschelli SR) governs all meetings of the City Council and appoints all committees. Enforces rules of council. If the mayor is unavailable this individual serves in his place as active mayor. Coordinates activities between the mayor and council.
- City Council: legislative branch (consider the passage of laws)
- Seven members elected for two year terms
- 1st Ward Councilman-Anthony C. Fire
- 2nd Ward Councilwoman-Carol A. Crytzer
- 3rd Ward Councilman-Robert D. Burnside
- 4th Ward Councilman-Robert D. Carcelli III
- Council-at-large-Michael S. Patrick
- Council-at-large-Joseph N. Rudzik
- Council-at-large-Ronald M. Mathews
- Responsibilities of Council: review, revise, and approve the city costs, give permission to Board of Control to enter contracts for various projects and bargaining agreements, and making public policy and providing needed services
- The current committees of the council include: finance and legislation, police and fire, parks and recreation, business and zoning, public utilities, general improvements, claims, adjustments, and state and federal grants
- For a law to be enacted a proposed law must gain the majority vote by city council and then signed by the mayor to be enacted. An override can occur if there is two thirds (5) votes from the council
Municipal Court:
- Makes up the judicial branch of the cities government
- Judge is the head of this branch (James R. Lanzo)
- Elected to a six year term
- To run for judge, participants must have been an attorney for five years
- Struthers Municipal Court handles: civil cases where argued amount is up to fifteen thousand dollars, criminal misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings for felonies committed in the correct geographical location. (Struthers, Poland Village, Poland Township, New Middletown, Springfield Township, and Lowellville)
Mayor Terry P. Stocker
Safety Director Ed Wildes
- City Hall-6 Elm Street, Struthers, Ohio 4471
- (330)755-2181 extension 110
- Fax- (330)755-1550
Safety Director Ed Wildes
- Located at The Department of Public Safety and Services located in City Hall
- (330)755-2181 extension 112
- (330)755-2181 extension 119
- Located at City Hall
- (330)755-2181 extension 127
- Fax-(330)755-2916
- City Hall
- (330)755-2181 extension 118
- City Hall
- (330)755-2181 extension 137
- City Hall
Board of Health:
- Members- Ron Carcelli, Frank Divito, Margaret Glura, Joan Tutko, Sharon Vidman, Terry Stocker
- Health Commissioner- Dr. John Yemma
- Medical Director- Dr. Peter Andrews, DO
- Environmental Health Office- Lori Diorio, BS,RS. Located in City Hall (330)7552181 extension 123
- Nursing Office-Donna Rios, MS,RS. Located at Mauthe Park Multipurpose Building 156 Smithfield Street, Struthers, Ohio 44471 (330)755-7977
- Environmental Health Responsibilities:
- Nuisance Control-Resolves environmental health nuisance complaints (nuisance wildlife, noxious odors,lead-based paint hazards, drainage, and trash
- Vector Control
- School and Pool Safety
- Food Facilities
- Plumbing Program
- Private water and sewage systems
- Nursing Responsibilities:
- Provides blood pressure screenings, health maintenance injections, and influenza vaccine administration
- Answers questions about health issues facing adults
- Provide up to date information to the public
- Home visits are provided to the elderly
- Nurse works with WIC
- Provides information about lead and other poisonings, child safety seats, and child safety issues to families
- Provides care to the handicapped and those with special needs
- Home visits to new mothers are provided through the Help Me Grow Program
Community Planning:
- After years passed without the city's senior citizen transportation service the city pushed to get the bus running once again. This bus will take residents of Struthers to and from doctors appointments, banks, grocery stores, and shopping centers three or four days a week. The bus had not ran since March 1997 when the company was pulled out of service due to maintenance issues. This past August the city was approved for the van and with numerous funds and generous donations the Struthers community was able to purchase a used twelve seat van from Lowellville. September 30th, 2014 was the vans first day of operation. This gives Struthers elderly population a great advantage of transportation for their needs and a sense of independence. Pictured to the right is Mayor Stocker sitting in the driver seat of the van.
Strengths:
The city of Struthers seems to have a very structured form of government. Each position in the government is headed by one of the citizens in Struthers who is very knowledgeable on their city. The Board of Health covers all of the vital necessities that a city needs. The nurses in the community offer many services to both the old and young populations providing primary, secondary, and tertiary preventions. The public is provided with up to date health information and can receive preventative vaccines and screenings in their city. The city also provides home visits to the elderly who are not capable of leaving their homes. It is very important that these individuals are not forgotten and receive the care that they can not always get to.
Weaknesses:
Many of the renovations and additions to improve the city have took place in years and months in the past and the city has not had any new ideas to add into their community planning. This fall the city finally gained a bus that is available to the elderly who have trouble leaving their homes. This is very vital to the citizens so that they are not secluded from society and so that they can receive proper care, nutrition, and social interaction.
The city of Struthers seems to have a very structured form of government. Each position in the government is headed by one of the citizens in Struthers who is very knowledgeable on their city. The Board of Health covers all of the vital necessities that a city needs. The nurses in the community offer many services to both the old and young populations providing primary, secondary, and tertiary preventions. The public is provided with up to date health information and can receive preventative vaccines and screenings in their city. The city also provides home visits to the elderly who are not capable of leaving their homes. It is very important that these individuals are not forgotten and receive the care that they can not always get to.
Weaknesses:
Many of the renovations and additions to improve the city have took place in years and months in the past and the city has not had any new ideas to add into their community planning. This fall the city finally gained a bus that is available to the elderly who have trouble leaving their homes. This is very vital to the citizens so that they are not secluded from society and so that they can receive proper care, nutrition, and social interaction.
References:
http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/news/1544/pictorial-book-delves-into-struthers-history
http://www.mrsc.org/subjects/governance/formsweb.aspx
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/home+rule
http://cityofstruthers.com/mayor.aspx
http://www.mahoningbar.org/about_us/judiciary/struthers/struthers.htm
http://taxattorneys.legalmatch.com/OH/Struthers/tax-law-attorney.html
http://www.thenewsoutlet.org/2012/12/maplecrest-nurse-state-inspection-reports-dont-tell-whole-story-2/
http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/news/1544/pictorial-book-delves-into-struthers-history
http://www.mrsc.org/subjects/governance/formsweb.aspx
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/home+rule
http://cityofstruthers.com/mayor.aspx
http://www.mahoningbar.org/about_us/judiciary/struthers/struthers.htm
http://taxattorneys.legalmatch.com/OH/Struthers/tax-law-attorney.html
http://www.thenewsoutlet.org/2012/12/maplecrest-nurse-state-inspection-reports-dont-tell-whole-story-2/