YOUNGSTOWN CIC heads point to achievements

There appears to be confusion within city council, the CIC president said.
THE VINDICATOR
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Top officials at downtown's redevelopment agency aren't too worried about city council's move to sever ties.
Neither is the agency's new executive director.
The executive committee of the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. approved hiring Jason Whitehead on Thursday.
Whitehead, of Boardman, spent the past 10 years as corporate administrative manager at Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church.
Whitehead said he hasn't focused on CIC's uncertainty. City council moved Wednesday to dissolve its contract with CIC and end funding. Mayor George M. McKelvey -- who gets the final say as leader of the city board of control -- said he doesn't intend to dissolve the contract, however.
Whitehead said learning the political landscape will be his greatest challenge. Nonetheless, he is confident he can implement CIC's five-year plan. That includes generating more funding than just what the city provides, he said.
CIC officials call council's surprise move to end the contract with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber to operate the agency "unusual." The chamber has a contract with the city to operate CIC. The chamber hires CIC staff with the consent of the agency's executive committee.
There just appears to be some confusion within council, said G. Richard Pavlock, CIC president.
Despite past council complaints about lack of productivity, the agency has had many accomplishments, he said. CIC also has restrained spending, he said. CIC could force the city to provide more funding but hasn't, Pavlock said.
There needs to be better communication with council, he said.
"Clearly, there was a disconnect," said Reid Dulberger, chamber executive vice president.
CIC's reaction
CIC was surprised and didn't expect council to act, he said, especially because of pending projects. CIC is in the midst of proposing an $8 million addition to the George V. Voinovich Government Center.
The state Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the Mahoning County Children Services Board would bring 130 jobs to downtown.
Additional talks with council are needed, he said.
Whitehead replaces Robin Rogers, whom the chamber fired in March. Rogers is under a police investigation in the theft of 16 checks totaling more than $39,000 from CIC. She has denied any wrongdoing.
Dulberger said Whitehead faced more interviews with the chamber than Rogers did. The chamber also did the usual reference, credit and criminal checks that it requires before hiring, he said. Dulberger acknowledged the chamber may have failed to do all those background checks before hiring Rogers.
"We may have missed a step in the previous case," he said.
The chamber picked Whitehead because he had the best blend of skills and experience, such as creating consensus, carrying out plans, operating facilities, marketing and working with nonprofit groups, Dulberger said.
The chamber refuses to disclose the CIC director's salary.
rgsmith@vindy.com