Fiscal crisis looms for city

Campbell pins its hopes on business development.
& lt;a href=mailto:kubik@vindy.com & gt;By MARALINE KUBIK & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CAMPBELL -- The city is operating in the red and will likely be in fiscal emergency next month.
Robert P. Yankle, city council president and chairman of the finance committee, made the announcement at Wednesday's meeting.
"The outlook on the city isn't too bright," he said. "We're spending in the deficit."
Campbell has about $200,000 in unpaid bills, Yankle said, and a lack of funds.
Here's why
A variety of circumstances caused the shortfall, most notably the shutdown of Cold Metal Products, the city's largest employer, in August 2002, and delinquent taxes, Yankle said.
The last time Campbell declared a fiscal emergency was in the 1980s, Yankle recalled, and it was under similar circumstances, the foremost being the fall of Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube Co. The city remained in fiscal emergency for 18 months then, he said.
Financial help
This time, the city may not have to wait that long before getting financial help.
Construction of the Walton Street Bridge in Struthers, which is expected to begin this spring, will make 1,500 acres of brownfield along the Mahoning River more accessible and will likely spur business development.
Because much of the brownfield lies in Campbell, the city would benefit from its redevelopment.
New business, he added, is what the city needs to regain its fiscal stability.
Legislation passes
During the meeting, council unanimously passed these pieces of legislation:
U An ordinance authorizing the city to enter an agreement with Neptune Equipment, based in Cincinnati, for maintenance of city-owned equipment. The five-year program will cost $4,350 per year.
U An amendment to a three-year ordinance passed in December so that employees granted leave because of injuries suffered in the line of duty will receive full pay granted that their absence does not exceed 90 days. An earlier ordinance set the absence for one year. Also, the attending physician will re-establish the recommendation every month rather than every three months. The amendment also stipulates that union and nonunion employees be responsible for the same insurance copayment.
U A resolution authorizing the Mahoning County auditor to remove an $835 lien on 391 Whipple Avenue, owned by Kaliope Trikili.
U A resolution authorizing the director of administration to advertise for bids and the board of control to enter a contract to buy chemicals for the water plant for two years.
& lt;a href=mailto:kubik@vindy.com & gt;kubik@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;