CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION Panel delays personnel office action

There was debate about several proposed city charter amendments.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's charter review commission is to act next week on a recommendation to create a personnel office.
The commission held off making a move Thursday because legal language on the procedure for creating such an office was unclear, said William Carter, commission chairman.
Commission members favor having such a department, he said. But they would want it staffed by reorganizing city workers, not by hiring new people, Carter said. Legal language drafted to create the office didn't specify that, he said.
The commission will meet Thursday to finalize several recommendations.
Discussion coming up
City council's legislative committee plans to discuss all of the commission's recommendations Aug. 16. The idea is to have council deal with proposed charter amendments at its Aug. 18 special meeting. Council has until Sept. 2 to get any proposed charter amendments on the November ballot.
There also was debate over an item that would move the park and recreation commission under the mayor's authority. There were unresolved questions Thursday about whether such a move was legal under state law. There was also talk of moving parks under another city department.
Among other proposed amendments the commission is considering sending to council are:
URequiring the city to update its comprehensive plan at least as often as every 10 years, immediately after each U.S. Census occurs. There was debate Thursday over which city department should be required to do the work.
UGiving extra credit to city residents with passing civil service exam scores, similar to the extra points given to veterans.
URequiring the board of health and park commission to follow the same affirmative action policies when awarding contracts that apply to the rest of city government.
Proposed amendments
Already before city council is a proposed amendment that would abolish eight-year terms limits for the mayor, council president and council members, effective Jan. 1, 2007.
Another proposed amendment up for council consideration is abolishing council aides and raising council salaries. Salaries would rise from $600 a year to the $27,800 a year now paid to their aides, typically their spouses or other family members. The council president's annual salary would rise from $900 to $28,100 under the proposal.
rgsmith@vindy.com