WARREN Council OKs plan for work on roads

Some residents are concerned parks aren't being maintained.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Council has passed an ordinance allowing the administration to begin road resurfacing.
Mayor Hank Angelo announced last week a plan to use $395,000 in motor vehicle license fees, $200,000 in community development money and $200,000 in money that previously was used to pay off short-term debt for road resurfacing.
The money used to pay off short-term debt was freed up with the sale of Anthem stock recently completed by the city.
Streets haven't been announced, but Angelo said they will be done on a priority basis. The ordinance passed Wednesday doesn't allocate money but authorizes the administration to advertise for bids to get the process started, so paving can be done this summer.
Angelo also has suggested implementation of a voluntary assessment program. Though council hasn't acted on it yet, if 60 percent of the property owners on a street agree to pay 70 percent of the cost of reconstruction of their street, the city would pick up the remaining 30 percent.
"The idea needs more discussion," the mayor said.
Street reconstruction involves paving as well as curb installation and fixing driveway approaches. About 30 percent of the city's streets are unimproved, meaning they haven't been reconstructed. The cost is about $285 per foot.
Many years ago, the city used forced assessments, requiring property owners to pay 20 percent. That program remains on the books but hasn't been used for years, Angelo said. Angelo's suggestion would replace that program.
Park maintenance
Council heard from several residents concerned about the condition of Southwest and Quimby parks.
Community Concerned Citizens is planning the city's first Juneteenth observance in Quimby Park Saturday. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery.
Mary Ann Franklin of the group said they've had difficulty getting help from the city in providing plumbing and electricity for the event. She also said a group of residents and Boy Scouts spent a full day cleaning up Southwest Park because it was so full of trash.
Barbara Phinisee of Orlo Drive also is concerned about the two parks.
"When I look at the parks, I don't see any pride in them," she said.
Fred Harris, city safety-service director, said the city is providing picnic tables for Saturday's event. The reason people can't use restrooms at the park is because there's no plumbing.
The parks were closed last year during the budget crisis, and the city struggled to open Packard and Perkins parks, the two largest.
Angelo said the city got an agenda from the citizens group about Saturday's event, but the program doesn't say what the needs are.
There are procedures that groups are asked to go through when planning an event in a park. Forms are to be completed and submitted so department heads have time to accommodate requests, Harris said.
dick@vindy.com