NOVEMBER ELECTION Get rid of council aides, trio says

Money saved on council salaries could pay for demolition of old houses.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A few citizens say they will seek a November ballot item that would abolish city council aides.
The citizens -- Maggie Lorenzi of Midlothian Boulevard, Michael O'Hara of Lynn Avenue and Josephine Hulett of Himrod Avenue -- also urge city voters to reject any charter amendments that council might put on the ballot.
The three, who've scrutinized council in the past, complained at a press conference Wednesday that the city fails to follow numerous charter requirements.
Their first target is council paychecks.
The group will try to collect enough signatures to get an item on the Nov. 2 ballot that abolishes council aides.
Aides are paid $27,800 a year and have benefits. Council members make $600 per year. Aides usually are council member spouses.
The group calculates a $350,000 annual savings by also factoring in benefit costs. That money could be used to demolish blighted houses or bring city workers back from layoff, Lorenzi said.
Council is considering a suggested charter amendment that would abolish the aides. Instead, the salary would go directly to council members.
The item is in the legislative committee and could come to a vote at the Aug. 18 council meeting. Council would have to put any proposed charter change on the ballot by Sept. 2.
What's planned
Lorenzi said the group will seek their own ballot item regardless of council's move. The Mahoning County elections board said the group needs 1,813 valid signatures to put the item on the ballot.
Lorenzi said her loose band of activists will seek out other groups in the city to help gather signatures. People who want to volunteer can call the homes of O'Hara at (330) 788-6837 or Hulett at (330) 746-6889.
The group also will urge city voters to reject any charter item that council might put on the ballot. The city needs to start following the charter before amending it, they said.
The group gave a long list of examples in the charter they say council or city officials fail to follow.
The alleged violations range from improper procedure and legal language in council legislation to conflict of interest, specifically, profiting from the aide salary since the money usually goes to the same household.
Council also is considering for the ballot a suggestion to abolish the two four-year term limits for city office.
The city's charter review committee also may send four other items to council that could end up on the ballot: requiring the city to update its comprehensive plan at least every 10 years; giving extra credit to city residents with passing civil service exam scores; requiring the board of health and park and recreation commission to follow the city's affirmative action policies on contracts; and creating a personnel department.
rgsmith@vindy.com