Friday, June 20, 2003
The committee will have $7 million to distribute next year.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Independent judgment will be used to help determine if local infrastructure projects receive state Issue 2 money for at least another year, despite protests from Youngstown officials.
Youngstown officials had asked the District 6 Public Works Integrating Committee to create an objective criteria it can use to determine a project's importance to the region. The state has followed the committee's annual recommendations as to which infrastructure projects in Mahoning and Trumbull counties should receive Issue 2 funding.
The committee voted 7-2 Tuesday to add language to its review criteria stating its members can use independent judgment to help determine regional importance.
Against idea
One of the two opposing votes was cast by Carmen Conglose, Youngstown's deputy director of public works.
"Why the committee is so resistant to adopt some objective criteria for [regional importance], I really don't know," Conglose said "It's basically left up to everyone's imagination as to what's regionally important."
The committee is set to hand out $7 million in state funds next year.
A subcommittee chaired by Conglose had proposed the additional language, which also allows committee members to give a project credit for how it adheres to local and state plans and guidelines. The committee reviews how it judges projects each year.
Committee alternate Dr. John Smythe said communities that seek Issue 2 funding should have faith in the expertise of the committee members.
"The members of this community are professionals, they know their business," he said.
Conglose, however, said he felt the "independent judgment" language would allow committee members to judge projects based on politics or personal likes and dislikes.
Also opposed
Canfield City Manager Charles Tieche also cast an opposing vote on the regional importance criteria. He said he believes the proposal to change the language should be discussed in greater detail.
The committee's handbook had stated that it could give credit to a project for "other factors of regional importance." Nothing more was written on the subject.
This year, Youngstown applied for $946,000 in Issue 2 money to help pay for the Federal Street reconstruction project. Projects that receive the most points are recommended for funding first.
After a debate that was heated at times, the committee awarded the Federal Street project 10 out of 30 points under its regional importance criteria. The project did not receive funding.
hill@vindy.com