Youngstown City Charter Review Commission
Meeting Notes: February 23, 2012
Meeting Began: 5:00 p.m.
Meeting Adjourned: 6:36 p.m.
Present: Jerome Williams, Chair, Phil Kidd: Nikki Posterli;
Jacqueline Taylor; Leona Crogan: Glenda House; Sandra Horton-Teague; William H.
Carter; Thomas Rusback, Michael O’Hara
Special Guest:
- Law Director Tony Farris, Michael Kraynanski, (I.T. Department), Chuck Shasho (Deputy Director of Public Works), John Casciano (Water Commissioner), Captain McKnight (Youngstown Police Dept sat in for Chief Foley), Jennifer Lewis (Civil Service Administrator), Erin Bishop (Acting Health Commissioner), Sarah Brown-Clark (Clerk of Courts), Sharon Woodberry (Director, Economic Development)
- Chairman Jerome Williams called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the City Law Department Conference Room, City Hall 4th floor
Information to be reviewed (Suggestions)
- Review Commission’s Charter concerns with Department Heads
- Commissioners should attend Council meeting (determine which meeting at next commission meeting).
- Also Commission should check with the State Auditor on 7th floor regarding ethics issues and concerns
- Speaking at the public forum. Going straight down the list.
- Providing additional copies of the Charter for the public
- Tape recorder, pen, pencils, paper and charters needed for forum (Google Spreadsheet).
- Sign in sheet at Forum
- Resubmission to media about forums
- Jacqueline Taylor suggests getting large census map for the meetings to show inequality of Wards.
- Chair/Vice –speak with news media (make appearance on news)
- Email concerns after the 1st forum.
New Business Agenda moved up due to Mayor’s visit with
Commission
- Captain McKnight (Youngstown Police Dept-sat in for Chief Foley) regarding Sections 48 & 49 of Charter further standing on inspecting. Health inspector and housing should be all under one roof.
- Michael Kraynanski-Computer I.T. Department (Finance Dept)- Michael Kraynanski says that the Charter does not mention the Computer or I.T. division because their were no computers during the creation of the Charter. So, Computer or I.T. Department needs to be added to the Charter. The I.T. (Information Technology Department needs to become its own individual department due to the future growth and needs of the city. I.T. supports all of the cities departments and interfaces with the county. Currently, the I.T. Department falls under the Finance Dept.
- I.T. currently has a staff of 12-14 staff members and share staff with the Youngstown Police Dept.
- I.T. does not generate revenue.
- Mike Kraynanski volunteered to provide tours to commission members and provide any other information.
- John Casciano-(Maintenance, Water, Parks and Recreation) –See no changes needed to the Charter.
- Charles Shasho—Public Works would like to see updates to the Charter regarding public wiring, maintenance and repair needs to address traffic and wastewater. This information is not listed in the Charter, but it needs to be.
- Charles Shasho—thinks that having Demo & Code Enforcement as a department of its own is a great idea. He agrees with Mayor Sammarone’s suggestion. However, planning should be separate from public works. Public Works entails Roadways, bridges, sewage and demo.
- Tony Farris –(Law Director) provided a handout with all suggestions. Suggested that Occupational Taxes should be deleted from the Charter, it has not been used in 80 years. He also suggested that all ambiguous language be re-written or deleted.
- Sharon Woodberry (Economic Development) is under the Finance Department. The Economic Development Department’s purpose needs to be defined more clearly. Charter also needs to state whether or not the Economic Development should report directly to the Mayor of the City of Youngstown or the head of Finance Department department.
- Economic Development currently has 2-3 members. They work with other business organizations to continue to provide services.
- Nathan Bell-(Housing Rehabilitation Inspector) CDA –( William (Bill) D’Avignon-Community Development Agency Director) –The Ohio Revised Code provides a sufficient definition of their departments duties, task and purpose. No Changes are needed.
- Jennifer Lewis (Civil Service Adminstrator)—Revised Code for this department is updated frequently. So no changes are needed.
- Erin Bishop (Acting Health Commissioner)—Consolidation of city and county health departments may affect the services that are provided to the public. The city office is centrally located. They generate about $600,000 annually. They provide birth certificates for all who were born within the state of Ohio.
- Sarah Brown-Clark (Clerk of Courts)—consolidation of courts would greatly impact the justice system. Access to justice would be affected. People would suffer from a Consolidation. Will provide additional information of how the Clerk of Courts provides for the Municipal Courts.
- Phil Kidd’s organization will provide pencils, pens and paper at the forums.
- Items will be discussed item by item on the list. Phil Kidd will also type questions from those with concerns at the forum using a projector.
- Jerome Williams (Chair) Tape recorder needed for forum.
- Phil Kidd –will contact media again to get word out about forums.
- Jacqueline Taylor suggests getting large census map for the meetings to show inequality of Wards.
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