Council delays vacating street pending further investigation

NILES -- Council unanimously approved a request to vacate a portion of one city street, but it tabled action on vacating a second street to allow the law director more time to investigate the request.
Tom Dodrill of Woodglen Avenue had signed the petition requesting that a section of Firman Street, also known as Nair Street, be closed to public traffic. But he told council during Wednesday's meeting he thought he was signing only a neighbor's petition to pave a new driveway.
If the street is vacated, he said, his family's property will be landlocked, and the family will be unable to develop any access to it.
Law Director J. Terrence Dull asked council not to act on the request until he has a chance to further investigate.
In the meantime, council did approve a request to vacate a portion of Mines Road that is surrounded on all sides by the Eastwood Mall complex.
Also at the meeting, council agreed to hire Christopher Taneyhill, Warren's chief building official, as needed to perform building inspections when Anthony Vigorito, Niles building and zoning inspector, is unavailable.
"This is to cover me if I am off on vacation or if I am off for any other reason," Vigorito said. Taneyhill will be paid $19 per inspection.