CITY COUNCIL Phone pole issue is up in air

Legislation is being sought by council to merge two administrative positions.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- How to get rid of 19 unwanted telephone poles is up to city council.
Telephone utility SBC erected the poles last fall along North State Street, between Prospect Street and Smithsonian Avenue.
The city had paid $2.25 million in 1999 to have all utilities underground as part of the widening of State Street (U.S. Route 422) -- with no poles showing
Nonetheless, SBC erected the poles and originally wanted to charge the city $325,000 to remove them.
Mayor James J. Melfi told lawmakers Monday night that SBC now wants $120,000 to remove the poles.
Melfi recommended that city council pay the $120,000 through a street department fund and pay SBC monthly installments.
Councilman Joseph Christopher, D-at-large, however, suggested the city should not pay SBC anything because the city has no contract to pay any money to SBC or its predecessor, Ameritech, for underground lines.
Christopher asserted that the telephone company was to put its lines in the same conduit used by the Ohio Edison Co. to bury its lines.
Councilman Larry Williams, D-2nd, chairman of the utilities committee, agreed with Christopher.
Williams said he wants the poles to be removed because they're in the middle of where the sidewalk along North State will be constructed as part of the widening project, are close to the fronts of businesses and are obtrusive.
SBC's offer went to council's utilities committee. Melfi pointed out SBC needs an answer within a month to coincide with the sidewalk construction.
New position
In another matter, lawmakers tabled proposed legislation to create the position of assistant engineer/zoning inspector.
Melfi said after the meeting that he will name former zoning inspector Rex Funge to the $34,117-a-year post of service director effective Sunday. As part of Funge's duties, the mayor explained, Funge will work with zoning issues.
With safety director Frank Rich resigning effective Sunday, service director Jerry Lambert will be moved to Rich's $35,516-a-year job.
Randy Weible, superintendent of parks, was to fill Lambert's post -- but Melfi said Weible has decided to stay where he is and not become service director.
During the council session, Councilman Thomas Seidler II, D-3rd, asked that legislation be prepared to combine the positions of safety and service directors.
Seidler said that the unionized city employees have taken a three-year wage freeze and combining the posts would be a cost-cutting measure.
In another matter, council approved legislation to advertise for proposals from logging companies to harvest timber on city-owned property.
Originally the proposed legislation was to harvest timber around the Girard Lakes, but Seidler asked and received an amendment to harvest an all city property.
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