WARREN COUNCIL Agenda

City council handled matters including these at Wednesday's meeting:
Introduced legislation to make changes in the city income tax department, including establishing the new full-time position of tax administrator, setting the salary, proposed at about $4,100 per month, and mapping out qualifications. Lawmakers have not indicated what the job description will be. Other legislation aims to eliminate the income tax department and to put the tax administrator under the leadership of the city auditor. This action comes after council earlier this year agreed to make the city treasurer's position part-time. Council will continue discussing the legislation.
Voted against legislation to regulate body piercing in the city. Councilman Alford Novak, D-2nd, was successful last month in getting legislation passed to prohibit body piercing shops from opening in the city. Councilwoman Sherry Cox-Calloway, D-at-large, sponsored Wednesday's legislation, saying she thinks body piercing, with proper regulations, should be allowed. Other council members said her legislation did not map out stringent regulations. Voting in favor of body piercing were Cox-Calloway; Ron White, D-4th; Brendan J. Keating, D-5th; and Dan Polivka, D-at-large. Helen Rucker, D-6th, was absent. Both ordinances were spurred by a request from Mark Vancil, who wanted to perform the procedure at Screamin' Tattoos on Elm Road.
Recognized this year's inductees into the Warren City Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. Honorees are Michael Capellas, 1972; Lt. Col. Frank Chance, 1946; R. Jeffrey Ding, 1971; R. Gregory Geletka, 1966; Richard Haupt, 1944; John Gherlein, 1944; Anthony J. Payiavlas, 1980; Maj. Timothy Raimey, 1978; Linda Broadbelt Rekoske, 1985; and Darryl White, 1981.
Accepted $58,150 from Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority to provide a police officer in a TMHA-run senior citizen complex from June 1 to May 31, 2002. TMHA has a contract with the city for police protection. The source of funding expired for one officer working in a TMHA computer center. TMHA officials say they found additional funding to move this officer to the high rise.
Passed legislation to prohibit vehicles from using engine retarders, such as Jake Brakes, inside city limits. Emergency vehicles are exempt from the legislation. Cox-Calloway voted against the legislation.
Introduced legislation to sell or exchange two parcels of city-owned land on South Main Street, adjacent to the Water Pollution Control Department. The parcels -- 2.8 acres and 3.2 acres -- are near the city's biosolids plant, which produces the organic fertilizer Nature's Blend. The city says it no longer needs the land and will sell or exchange the property, under the condition it's used for the sale, marketing and distribution of Nature's Blend. The legislation says special consideration will be given to bidders who wish to exchange equivalent property suitable for future expansion of the city's Water Pollution Control Center.
Councilwoman Virginia Bufano, D-1st, called a ward meeting for 7 p.m. Friday at Emerson School on Drexel Avenue N.W. to discuss the proposed 0.5 percent temporary income tax increase. The issue will be on the May primary ballot, and revenues would go to the police and fire departments.