WARREN Ohio Edison to add 50 jobs, council learns

WARREN -- Mayor Hank Angelo told council members that Ohio Edison is bringing 50 full-time jobs to the West Market Street facility. The addition of workers follows the company's $150,000 renovation at the building.
Angelo said he also received a letter from James Conrad, director of the Bureau of Worker's Compensation.
"The letter basically said that the decision has been made that the office is moving to Youngstown," Angelo said at Wednesday's council meeting.
The city learned earlier this year that the bureau planned to close its office in the Gibson Building on East Market Street and move the 74 employees to downtown Youngstown.
"I need for council and the citizens of Warren to understand that I don't understand," the mayor said.
He said BWC initially said the decision was based on a comparison of rents and that the move would mean a savings to the city. That comparison, however, was done before a Youngstown site had been selected, he said.
Once a site was selected as an addition to the George V. Voinovich building in Youngstown's downtown, Warren officials assembled a proposal with a lower rent and presented it to the state, the mayor said.
"I don't think the city of Warren has been given an adequate reason for why the office is moving out of the city," Angelo said. "It can't be a financial consideration."