COUNCIL

COUNCIL
Approvals
In its first meeting in its newly restored chambers, Youngstown City Council approved these items Wednesday:
Repealed free, two-hour on-street parking for downtown visitors, in an area bounded by Front Street, Andrews Avenue, Wood Street and Fifth Avenue, and reactivated curbside parking meters there, effective Oct. 7, to raise revenue.
Appropriated $258,242 to replace sidewalks. Most of the money comes from Mahoning County.
Authorized the board of control to award contracts to the lowest and best bidder for a sewer vacuum and truck mandated by the EPA, not to exceed $250,000; a sewer cleaning machine not to exceed $25,000; and a camera and truck to use during sewer repairs not to exceed $250,000.
Authorized the board of control to waive competitive bidding and award a $120,000 contract to Hubb Systems of St. Louis for 20 laptop computers in police cars. Hubb is the only provider that meets the city's technical and legal requirements, and the state grant paying for the computers expires at the end of the month.
Authorized the board of control to apply for a state grant to do environmental assessments to properties on Logan Avenue and Albert Street.
Tabled a move to abolish the vacant position of Federal Plaza director.
Authorized the finance director to charge $1.07 million to the sewer department and $188,000 to the water department for extending utilities to the Ohio Works Industrial Park.
Authorized the board of control to seek bids and award a contract for health insurance for city employees and for city liability and casualty insurance.
Authorized the board of control to waive building permits and fees for renovations to New Bethel Baptist Church on Hillman Street and the Mollie Kessler School on East Wood Street.
Authorized the civil service commission to charge some entities for exam services.
Authorized the board of control to enter into an agreement with Brier Hill Slag Co. for redevelopment of almost 20 acres at Division Street along the north bank of the Mahoning River as an industrial park. This is the site of the former Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube coke plant, and concrete parts of the coke ovens are to be demolished. The city intends to sell the 20 acres to Brier Hill Slag for $1.
Approved a 75-percent, 10-year real and personal property tax abatement for Youngstown Specialty Metals Inc., a steel processing business, which will move from Wilson Avenue into a building it is acquiring on Andrews Avenue, and intends to create 10 jobs over three years.
Heard Warren Harrell, president of the Northeast Homeowners and Concerned Citizens Association, urge city officials to keep at least one fire station open on each of the four sides of town at all times as the city struggles with layoffs and staff shortages.
Set trick-or-treat hours for 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.