YOUNGSTOWN Arena board rejects city pact

Authority will be the only real issue when council and the civic center board talk about a deal.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Negotiations over authority are to continue next week now that the civic center board has rejected a proposed contract with the city.
The board rejected the city's proposal 6-3 Thursday after a 30-minute closed session.
Instead, the board voted to have its executive committee talk early next week with city council's finance committee about working out a deal. Board members said they agree with city council that the contract needs to be resolved quickly.
Authority will be the only real issue, said board Chairman Leonard Schiavone.
Council's finance committee -- with six of seven councilmen in support -- approved a proposed contract Wednesday. The proposal said the civic center board would be an advisory panel. The board would carry out the proposed downtown project but the city would have final say over all spending, officials said.
Previously, the arena board proposed a contract that gave it all the authority.
"Yes" votes: Civic center board members Charles P. Sammarone, Joseph R. McRae and William Binning voted for the city proposal.
There needs to be checks and balances and the city proposal establishes that, said Sammarone, who also is council's president.
The city controls the $26.8 million in federal funds secured so far and created the board, so there is little choice but to move forward, Binning said.
"We are an agent of their will," he said.
Other board members are looking for more negotiation because the project is so large, Schiavone said. Most members had only a half day to look at the city's proposal. They didn't want to rush that fast, he said.
"Everybody wants to move forward . . . but we're still dealing with a lot of money," Schiavone said.
Wednesday, however, council's finance chairman said the proposed contract doesn't have any wiggle room. James E. Fortune Sr., D-6th, said council is responsible for what happens to the money so council must have final authority.
Budget: Regardless of the contract status, the board will approach council at Sammarone's urging about securing a budget for the first six months of next year.
The budget is needed primarily to cover costs of hiring a project director. There is no time to waste, Sammarone said.
The board is talking with both finalists, Compass Facility Management Inc. of Ames, Iowa, and the Gateway Group of Cleveland. Each finalist has since talked with the other, Schiavone said.
That indicates each may be hired to do specific tasks. Board members have said each company has its own strong points.
rgsmith@vindy.com