Agency to reduce its role in revitalization

The city has 'outgrown' the needs for a CIC, its finance director says.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. voted to reorganize and remain part of the revitalization of downtown but not as the city's exclusive economic agent for that area.
The CIC largely gave up powers it never used, said Reid Dulberger, a Regional Chamber vice president who oversees the CIC and will start serving next week as its interim executive director.
The CIC had the power to take property through eminent domain and to borrow money for development as a city entity, Dulberger said. The CIC did neither since its creation in 1988, he said.
The CIC board voted Tuesday to permit two members of its executive committee to negotiate with the city's board of control to terminate a contract, effective Dec. 31, as the city's exclusive downtown economic development agent.
Terms of deal
Youngstown City Council is to approve legislation tonight to have the board of control negotiate that deal.
Under that deal, the city would have full control over downtown development except for established, ongoing or planned CIC projects and a few other buildings owned by the agency.
"The CIC has done a great job, but we've kind of outgrown the current operating status of the CIC," said city Finance Director David Bozanich, a CIC member.
As an official arm of city government, the CIC was restricted in certain areas, such as having to conduct business only if it had a quorum, Dulberger said. The latter has been a longstanding problem for the agency.
The 25-member CIC board should shrink to 15 members by the end of the month with the 10 public-sector appointees expected to resign by that time. The CIC could increase the number of board members by appointing two or three city officials.
Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2nd, a CIC member, said he doesn't think any resignations should be submitted until the agreement between the two entities is finalized. He was the only CIC member at Tuesday's meeting to voice that concern.
Will still exert control
The CIC will retain control over the George V. Voinovich Government Center, the construction of the 7th District Court of Appeals building, the demolition of the Masters building complex for a parking lot, and five buildings west of the Youngstown Business Incubator. Those buildings are slated to be demolished and replaced by a 25,000-square-foot Youngstown Technology Center.
The CIC and the city will work out which entity will control about four vacant downtown buildings owned by the agency, said Edwin Romero, CIC legal counsel.
The CIC and the city plan to swap properties with the CIC taking full control of the Masters building property in exchange for a parking lot on West Commerce Street across from the Erie Terminal building, Romero said.
The CIC voted Tuesday to transfer its interest in the Erie Terminal building to the city.
The city is offering $300,000 to the state to buy the building. The state is the first mortgage holder on the property that housed the Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency until it left about a year ago.
The city wants to invest money in improving the building to be used for office space, condominiums or some other purpose, Bozanich said.
Also, the board accepted the resignation of Jason Whitehead, its executive director, effective Dec. 31. Whitehead's last day at the CIC is Friday, although he is using vacation time next week. He is leaving to serve as chief of staff for Youngstown Mayor-elect Jay Williams.
skolnick@vindy.com