COUNCIL| News and notes

Authorized the board of control to advertise for bids and sign contracts with the lowest and best bidders for site improvement and construction of the $41 million downtown arena project.
Authorized theboard of control to enter a no-interest, 18-month, $1.5 million loan agreement for Brilex Industries on Crescent Street, which would expand the plant, add equipment and grow from 30 to 36-40 employees over three years.
Amended the Community Entertainment District boundaries to include 372 W. Rayen Ave., where Charles Staples plans to establish a restaurant.
Heard the Rev. Melvin Rusnak, pastor of St. Stephen of Hungary Church, and the Rev. Jack Pettis, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, both on Wilson Avenue, complain about hundreds of tires dumped on Faunbauer Street off Wilson Avenue on the lower East Side. Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2nd, who represents the East Side, demanded that the tires be removed. His colleague, Clarence Boles, D-6th, said the city can use an $80,000 Mahoning County Green Team grant for their disposal, and private companies are willing to remove them.
Authorized the board of control to pay Thomas Pallotta & amp; Sons of Youngstown $20,534 for road repairs at Albert Street and McGuffey Road, where a waterline broke, causing major road damage and closing McGuffey temporarily.
Authorized applying for a $225,000 federal grant for 2004 for the Weed and Seed crime fighting and neighborhood improvement program on the South Side.
Appropriated a $10,000 to pay a special prosecutor to bring cases against violators of the city's lead poisoning regulations.