YOUNGSTOWN Group gets new place for meetings

The city has roughly 40 active block watches with about 4,000 members.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The North Glenellen Avenue Block, banned from West Elementary School by the board of education because of liability concerns, can meet at a police training center.
The Youngstown Police Department training center at Mahoning and Eleanor avenues "will be made available until things get worked out with the board," Detective Jack Palma said Friday. "If we have to find other places for other block watches, we will."
Palma and Lt. Dave McKnight, both of the planning and training division, work with the city's block watches. They both believe the recent ban on such groups' meeting in schools can be resolved.
The liability issue arose after a man attending a Youngstown 2010 meeting fell off a chair at Chaney High School and had to receive medical treatment. He is a member of the North Glenellen Block Watch.
In response to the accident, the school board implemented a new policy this year that prohibits block watches from meeting in schools unless they have liability insurance, said Mike McNair, schools' spokesman. He said the groups can obtain insurance for about $500 annually.
Tax dollars
Earlier this week, Jackie Leson of Rhoda Avenue, a member of North Glenellen Avenue Block Watch, said her group -- "all homeowners who pay taxes" -- became upset when notified of the new school board policy. She voiced concern about where the group could meet that would be convenient.
Palma said there are roughly 40 active block watches in the city with about 4,000 members. The members are people concerned about their neighborhoods who pay taxes and vote, he said.
McKnight said five block watches and two citizens coalitions have their meetings at schools. The schools used were West, Jackson Elementary, North Elementary, Hayes Middle School and The Rayen School, he said.
"They like the schools -- it's their tax dollars that fund the schools," McKnight said. "That's why you have public buildings -- for the public."
McKnight said the board could consider putting a rider on its insurance to cover the block watches. He said the board and the neighborhood groups share the same goal and should be able to reach an understanding.
McNair said Friday that the school board's insurance carrier looked into covering the block watches but nixed the idea. He said the city might be able to offer the necessary insurance.
"I hope there is a way everyone can be accommodated," McNair added.
Neighborhood cleanup
McKnight, meanwhile, has a "clean up the neighborhoods" plan in the works that would blend block watches with student organizations. The idea is to collect $1 from each resident in the neighborhoods who would like to donate and use the money to give to school groups whose members would pick up trash on Saturdays, especially in vacant lots.
"This could be a citywide cleanup by next spring," McKnight said.
McKnight said he's already contacted The Rayen School, Chaney High School and Woodrow Wilson High School and intends to contact the junior high schools.
So far, Rayen's National Honor Society and Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps are interested, he said.
meade@vindy.com