MEETING Council rejects proposal for residents to keep vicious dogs

City auditor says the general fund may end the year $100,000 in the red.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- City council has soundly rejected a proposal that would allow residents to keep pit-bull terriers and other dangerous dogs.
In a 6-0 vote, lawmakers turned away the proposal that would permit residents to keep such dogs with certain restrictions.
The measure's sponsor, Councilman Jeremy Williams, D-4th, did not attend Monday night's meeting. City law prohibits the housing of pit bulls and other vicious dogs.
Councilman Frank Migliozzi, D-1st, chairman of council's health and safety committee, said his committee recommended against the proposal because of liability concerns on the part of the city.
During council's Oct. 25 meeting, Williams said he had two residents of his ward who consider their pit bulls family pets, and Animal Charity League has threatened to seize them.
Under Williams' proposal, residents would have been able to keep such dogs if they first notified the mayor's office and had proof of $100,000 in liability insurance.
Park site
In another matter, several residents spoke against using any of city-owned Liberty Memorial Park as the location of the proposed new high school.
Council members and members of the board of education met in executive session after Monday's regular meeting to discuss the issue. No decision was made by lawmakers.
The park is one of three sites being considered, said schools Superintendent Joseph Jeswald. The others are a portion of the Mahoning Country Club near Prospect Elementary and intermediate schools and the current high school site.
The Ohio Schools Facilities Commission has agreed to pay $17 million of the $22 million project to replace the 80-year-old school.
One of those who spoke against using the park for the school was Jane Harris, a former school board member who also served on the last park commission.
The commission ran the park until about 1997, when it was turned over to the city. Harris maintained that the park must be used for recreation.
Harris termed the park the "only beauty spot in the city used by people."
"We have a habit of getting rid of anything old," Harris said in asking council to maintain the park for further generations.
General fund
In other business, auditor Sam Zirafi told council the city's general fund could end the year $100,000 in the red.
Zirafi asked lawmakers to consider at the next meeting transferring $89,000 to the general fund, about $81,000 of which would come from the street utility fund. The $100,000 projected deficit includes the $89,000 transfer.
The city has an accumulated general fund deficit of $1.6 million.
Next year, the city will receive $332,000 from the passage of a 3-mill fire levy last Tuesday to maintain fire services. The city will begin receiving the money next year. A similar police levy failed.
Councilman Thomas Seidler, D-3rd, a member of the health and safety committee, said the committee will meet to consider recommending the police levy be placed before voters during a special election.
The police, he said, have indicated they will incur the cost of a special election on the department's behalf.
yovich@vindy.com