YOUNGSTOWN

YOUNGSTOWN
Contracts and spending
The city's board of control approved these contracts and spending items Wednesday:
Renewed the contract of Veronica Foster, coordinator of the Weed and Seed program, a South Side crime prevention and neighborhood improvement program. She will make $32,385 in 2004.Clarence Boles, the 6th Ward city councilman-elect, complained about the Weed and Seed program. He said that an evaluation of Foster didn't contain specific goals and that she has been ineffective. Boles, a Weed and Seed board member, said the program needs a reorganization and asked to be made board chairman to oversee Foster. Police Chief Robert Bush Jr. said the local program is a model the U.S. Justice Department is using for other cities to follow. Mayor George M. McKelvey said the Weed and Seed board should address Boles' issues. McKelvey said he approved renewing Foster's contract based on the recommendation of Bush and the board.Awarded Foust Construction a $255,631 contract to do the first phase of the McGuffey Heights Drainage Improvement project, which is to alleviate flooding on the East Side.Severance of $5,796 for Joseph O'Neill, a fire department captain who retired Nov. 19.Payments to K.T. Lyden Construction of Youngstown for: $2,892 for emergency repair of a catch basin at Firnley and Idora avenues; $4,292 for emergency repair of a catch basin at 466 Clearmount Ave.; $4,850 for emergency repair of two catch basins on Goleta Avenue; $2,7630 for emergency repair of a catch basin on Kingston Lane; and $4,508 for emergency repair of a catch basin at Grandview Avenue and Albert Street.