YOUNGSTOWN Keep jobs for police, union chief says

David Bozanich will again be city finance director.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- As the city considers laying off workers, the police union president says layoffs of officers would compromise the safety of residents and visitors.
"Any further reduction in numbers within the patrol unit will surely have a negative impact on the ability of the police chief to control crime," said Patrolman Barry Ervin, president of the Youngstown Police Association.
With six police officers among the 45 city employees taking a $10,000 incentive to resign or retire at the end of this month, the number of patrol officers will be the lowest in 10 years, he told city council Wednesday.
Ervin said his union is willing to consider a temporary agreement that could cut overtime costs in exchange for a guarantee of no layoffs of police union members.
With the city facing a financial crisis, several dozen city employees from a variety of departments, including at least 15 police officers, attended as he addressed council.
The city is projecting a $1.7 million deficit for this year after subtracting the savings that the incentive generates. Laying off about 40 city employees, based on an average $40,000 salary, would eliminate the deficit, officials have said. No decisions have been made yet on whether or where to cut jobs.
Finance director
City council also unanimously confirmed Mayor George Mc-Kelvey's appointment of David Bozanich as finance director, effective July 1 at a salary of $68,916 a year, to replace Barbara Burtner, who is taking the incentive. Bozanich, who is now assistant finance director, had previously served as finance director under the administration of Mayor Patrick Ungaro.
By a 4-3 vote, council defeated an ordinance that would have rezoned a vacant former bar at 1504 Himrod Ave. from residential to commercial to accommodate a proposed barber- shop.
Josephine Hulett, of Himrod Avenue, who led a petition drive by neighbors against the rezoning, said the barber shop would have brought litter and noise to the neighborhood in the form of boom boxes and car horns.
The vote
Voting to defeat the ordinance were Richard Atkinson, R-3rd; Rufus Hudson, D-2nd; Michael Rapovy, D-5th; and Ron Sefcik, D-4th. Voting in its favor were James Fortune, D-6th; Artis Gillam, D-1st; and John Nittoli, D-7th.
Percy Squire, a lawyer and owner of Riverbend Stop 26 Broadcasting, which includes WGFT-AM and WRBP-FM, said that Tom Joyner, a nationally syndicated radio announcer, will do his program before a live audience from 6 to 10 a.m. Aug. 30 at Edward W. Powers Auditorium. Joyner reaches a daily audience of 8 million through 120 stations.
Admission to the event will be free.