LORDSTOWN Village is looking for residents to serve on improvement panel

The Community Improvement Corporation, established by ordinance in the 1980s, last met in 1996.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- The village wants to revive its Community Improvement Corporation and seeks residents with financial knowledge to serve on it.
Earlier this year, council talked of restarting the CIC, which hasn't met for five years.
"We're looking for residents with financial backgrounds to serve on the CIC," said Mayor Arno A. Hill.
People interested should contact Ron Barnhart, planning and zoning administrator, at (330) 824-2510 or Walter Craigo, CIC president, at (330) 824-2674 by Sept. 28.
Purpose of panel: State law allows municipalities to establish CICs. The CIC may issue bonds, execute development agreements with developers and use public funds to encourage development in the village.
Officials say that a CIC enables municipalities to do things they can't without a CIC.
"A CIC can own property to attract businesses," said Craigo, a former village mayor.
Craigo said village council must change the ordinance that established the panel in the 1980s.
Under the ordinance, four of the trustees must be elected or appointed village officials. Two trustees must be representatives of financial institutions. The ordinance specifies one member from Bank One Northeast Ohio, with which the village formerly did business, and one member from Second National Bank of Warren.
Changes: Another trustee is to represent the Lordstown Chamber of Commerce, but members said earlier this week they don't believe the chamber remains active.
"There's no longer a chamber of commerce in Lordstown," Craigo said.
Three trustees are to be at-large members or village citizens appointed by the other trustees.
The section specifying the two banks also will be removed, he said.
Craigo said he wants to continue as a member of the panel.
Village officials have listed a provision requiring the CIC to obtain council approval to spend any of the money the village allocated the entity in the budget. About $10,000 remains in the village budget for the CIC.
They also pointed to the fact that all of the members were volunteers who maintained full-time jobs. Craigo hopes the restructured panel can meet next month.
dick@vindy.com