Term limits removed from ballot

Voters likely will see the term-limit item on next year's primary ballot.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A law department mistake means voters won't choose in November whether to dump term limits for the mayor and council.
Council voted Wednesday to pull a term-limit item off the November ballot.
Council approved legislation last month giving voters the chance to abolish eight-year term limits for the mayor and city council members come 2008. The charter review commission recommended the move.
The legislation was flawed, however, said Law Director John McNally IV.
The paperwork removed the term limit but failed to set future terms at four years. If the item had passed, terms in city government would have reverted to the state law of two-year terms, McNally said.
The law department made the mistake, he acknowledged.
It's too late to get the correct item on the November ballot but there is time to remove the question, he said.
Instead, voters likely will be asked whether they want to eliminate term limits at next year's primary, he said.
Dropping the term limit still would take effect in January 2008 if voters approve next year. That's the same date the change would have registered if voters approved it this year.
Working on building sale
Also Wednesday, city officials said they are confident they soon will complete a sale of the Wick Building downtown.
Council sent a piece of legislation to a second of three readings in anticipation of a deal. The legislation authorizes the board of control to sell the building.
Negotiations are continuing with Percy Squire, a prominent Columbus lawyer and a Youngstown native. Finance Director David Bozanich said he expects to reach a deal within a few weeks.
The legislation can wait until a deal is reached so council can decide if it wants to make the move, he said.
Squire has proposed a deal that includes paying $100,000 for the building, spending about $280,000 on replacing the elevator and investing $150,000 in renovations.
Bozanich said he optimistic because Squire recently completed a $15 million financing deal involving radio stations he owns.
The city has been trying to sell the building since it was donated a decade ago. The city would lease space from Squire for a few offices in the building, including economic development.
Any deal with Squire will be conditional on his paying all his debts to the city, Bozanich said.
Squire owes the city about $90,000 for back rent and income taxes related to the Wick building. A dispute over a previous purchase offer for the building created the back rent issue.
rgsmith@vindy.com