YOUNGSTOWN Park board members reduce pavilion fee

A member will resign his spot Dec. 31 to avoid a possible conflict of interest.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Park board members have scaled back the increased fee approved just last month to rent the Wick Park Pavilion.
The board reset the fee Thursday at $75. Last month the fee was doubled from $50 to $100.
Board members made the first change to cover expected utility cost increases. Also, the building has new air conditioning, a commercial stove, 10 tables and 100 chairs, and a sidewalk.
Several groups that rent the building, however, complained they couldn't afford the higher fee and approached city council members.
Board members agreed to cut the rate increase since the $100 fee was a guess at what was needed to cover costs. They will re-evaluate the fee after a year's use.
To resign: William M. Carter confirmed that he will resign his spot Dec. 31, making Thursday his last meeting after five years.
The agency he directs -- Youngstown Area Development Corp. -- will monitor compliance with the park board's new minority hiring program. Carter had pushed the park board to adopt the minority hiring program, which the city also uses.
His position on the board and his work could be considered a conflict of interest, even if it's indirect, he said.
"The possibility of a conflict could be as bad as an actual conflict," he said.
Instead, Carter said he chose to resign to maintain the integrity of the minority hiring program.
City council makes the appointment to Carter's seat.
The board also agreed to raise the pay of the park department's executive secretary, a management position, from $23,300 to $26,900 in 2002. The raise puts the park department's executive secretary pay on par with all other such positions in city hall, said Joseph R. McRae, city parks director.
rgsmith@vindy.com