FARRELL, PA. City hires Sharon native as new economic development director
The state kicked in $82,000 to help pay the director's salary for three years.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- The city has finally filled a vacant economic development director's post.
Randall J. Williams, a Sharon native now living in Erie, will take over the job one week from today, said LaVon Saternow, city manager.
Saternow made the announcement after Monday's council meeting.
The post has been vacant for several years as Farrell, rated as a financially distressed municipality by the state, had little money to fill the job.
The state stepped in to help, providing Farrell with an $82,000 Distressed Cities Grant to pay all of Williams' first-year salary, 50 percent of his second-year salary and 25 percent of his third-year salary.
Starting salary
He will start at $35,000 a year, Saternow said.
One of the terms of the grant is that Williams will also make himself available to aid the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission in projects it might be developing.
Saternow said Williams' first order of business will likely be the state's $500,000 grant to the city to help finance a $1 million expansion of Hillside Industrial Park in the city's Northwest Gardens area and improvement of a commercial district along Idaho Street between Spearman and Fruit avenues.
Farrell also wants to restart its low-income housing rehabilitation program, and Williams would take the lead there as well, Saternow said.
He has an extensive background in grant writing, and that's something the city needs, she said.
His background
Williams most recently worked as administrator of the Keystone University Research Corp. in Erie but has also worked at Mercyhurst College in Erie and Allegheny College in Meadville.
He holds a bachelor's degree from Mercyhurst and a master's in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Williams was one of 19 applicants for the job.
In other business, the city will file civil complaints against seven landlords who owe a total of $20,000 in delinquent sewer fees on properties they own in Farrell.
Sharp Collections of Sharpsville has been unable to get them to pay their debts, and the next step is to file suit in district justice court, said Mayor William Morocco.
Councilwoman Helen Marenchin said one of those on the list has run up a $10,000 sewage bill.
"That's too far out of line," said Councilman Mark Petrillo, urging council to take some action to prevent delinquencies from ever getting that large.
Councilman Robert Burich said council did pass an ordinance several years ago calling for water shut-offs for delinquent accounts.
However, Atty. Steve Mirizio, city solicitor, said the city may not be allowed to shut off water at rental properties just because the landlord has failed to pay the sewer bill.
gwin@vindy.com