Official: Decision on JFS is needed soon

Commissioners were to appoint a JFS deputy director.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally IV said he and fellow commissioners must reach a decision soon on the location of the county's Job and Family Services offices.
McNally said, however, he is still considering all options and is not ready to voice his opinion on a possible move.
At issue is whether the county should invest in improvements to the current JFS location in McGuffy Plaza on the city's East Side, or look at other locations.
Commissioners have been in ongoing talks much of the year with Southside Community Development Corp., which has proposed the county move JFS and then other county offices to Oakhill Renaissance Place, the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.
Development corporation officials have had an offer on the table since spring 2004 to donate the former hospital to the county and contribute $500,000 for renovations. They said the county could save the $450,000 spent each year in rent for the McGuffy Plaza location.
McNally did not say he was against a possible move of JFS to the city's South Side, but that commissioners must consider the best use of property it already owns, and whether taking on the responsibility of additional property would be wise given the county's financial position.
Deficit projected
Mahoning County Auditor Michael Sciortino has projected a $9 million deficit for 2006, with about $4 million of the $28 million expected revenue from two 1/2 percent sales tax issues already earmarked in 2006 and 2007 to pay back a $7 million debt for mandated jail operations.
Commissioner President Anthony Traficanti told development corporation officials last month he liked the offer, but managing the property the county already has and dealing with the overcrowding problems at the county jail have distracted commissioners from making a decision.
Commissioner David Ludt said he has been in favor of the county's taking over the former hospital site since the development corporation first offered it to the county. He said the corporation has assembled a group of people he has faith in to make decisions about the condition of the property and any potential liability.
Commissioners' focus on JFS in recent weeks, however, has been on personnel. Commissioners were expected to appoint the second of three deputy directors for JFS today.
John Zachariah, who has been JFS executive director about four months, received the r & eacute;sum & eacute;s 70 people interested in one of the three new positions.
The new deputy directors will oversee human services, finance and child support enforcement. Zachariah said salaries will range from $68,000 to $75,000. Zachariah's salary is $79,000.