Officials pass budget of $74 million for 2006

State law requires passage of a budget by Saturday.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- City council passed a budget of about $74 million, including about $27 million in the general fund for 2006.
The budget compares with about $71 million for 2005, with the increase largely due to inflation, according to city Auditor David Griffing. Under state law, council had to pass by Saturday either a full-year 2006 budget or a three-month appropriation.
The full-year budget council passed Wednesday night was unchanged from the proposed budget submitted by Mayor Michael O'Brien.
Council also ratified a new three-year labor contract with 75 city firefighters belonging to International Association of Firefighters Local 204. Included in the agreement are 2 percent annual pay increases, 2 percent pension pickup by the city and a new health care plan designed to save the city $144,000 a year.
Also ratified was a new three-year agreement with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 74, which represents 217 city service workers in all departments. The agreement provides 1.5 percent annual pay raises to AFSCME workers, whose salaries average about $35,360 a year.
Ordinances and abatements
Council passed an ordinance to rezone from residential to commercial about 15.8 vacant, wooded acres along the north side of East Market Street abutting Howland Township. Property owner Martin Finegold has said he plans to sell the land to a company that would build a large store there.
Council passed an ordinance to enter into contract with an independent public accounting firm to audit the city's books for 2005, 2006 and 2007. Griffing said an independent firm can do the audits faster and cheaper than the state auditor's office.
Council consented to a 75-percent, 10-year real and personal property tax abatement agreed to by Trumbull County commissioners for Consolidated Container Co., a manufacturer of plastic bottles and containers, at 2880 Sferra Ave. N.W. The company plans an expansion with retention of 13 jobs and addition of 15 new ones in Warren.
Other action
Council also passed resolutions commending Virginia Bufano, D-1st, who has served 20 years on council, and Councilman Felipe Romain Jr., D-at large, who was appointed in 2003, for their service on council as they leave office Saturday.
Council introduced an ordinance that would concur with Mayor O'Brien's offer of a $90,000 annual water bill credit to Trumbull County for keeping its Department of Job and Family Services in downtown Warren for at least 10 years at current staffing levels. After the mayor made the offer, commissioners voted to buy the Park-Porter Building, 280 N. Park Ave., to house JFS.
The lawmakers placed in second reading an ordinance that would require placement of residential garbage in city-issued 90-gallon containers that can be automatically hoisted and dumped into the city's garbage trucks and raising the city's charge from $45 to $50 for the second city-issued container. The first container would remain free. The ordinance would also require placement of leaves in biodegradable bags, such as paper bags.