John Howley's goal is to transform the Township into a city. 

For months, we've heard rumblings of Joint Economic Development Districts, or JEDDs.  It's an acronym that's becoming all too familiar to residents in Boardman and Austintown.  The idea would impose an income tax on workers in those areas, much of which would go to the city of Youngstown.  Most of the reaction from the two townships has been negative, and some are afraid that resistance could lead to Youngstown annexing parts of the two townships.

"We don't want to be part of the city of Youngstown.  I'm not sure how far the city is, on even exploring that avenue.  But we want to make sure that the trustees know that we want no part of it.  If we are going to do that, we're going to become our own city.  Like I said before, fund ourselves.", explains John Howley,

Howley, a Boardman resident,  is looking to push the idea of the Incorporation.  He feels it may be the only way to keep control of all of the township, as well as a possible fix for some of their financial problems.   "I would like to see the trustees take and say okay.  The people would really rather become a city....Let's go ahead and have a serious town meeting with the people and residents of Boardman.  And see if this is something that they really want."

Some feel becoming a city is an option, but it shouldn't be the first one.  Edward D'Roc feels, "I would see that only as a last resort. But if need be, and they continue to use water as a means of extortion, and you can't circumvent the water argument.  We would have no other means but to do that."

Howley has begun to circulate a petition in Boardman, trying to gather support for becoming a city.