Thursday, October 27, 2005
Only one member has perfect attendance at CIC board meetings.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- More than half of the downtown redevelopment agency's board members -- including three of its officers -- missed most of the organization's meetings during the past year.
The Vindicator reviewed the attendance records of the 25-member Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp.'s board meetings since October 2004.
The CIC scheduled 13 meetings between Oct. 21, 2004, and this past Tuesday. Of those, nine took place, and action could be taken at only seven because of a lack of quorum at two meetings.
The records show that:
UThe CIC canceled four of its monthly meetings because less than a majority of the members could commit beforehand to attend.
UTwo meetings -- on Sept. 27 and Tuesday -- took place, but no action could be taken because a majority of members didn't attend. At the Sept. 27 meeting, only eight members attended. At Tuesday's meeting, 11 members showed up.
UThe CIC had to have two executive committee meetings to approve legislation after failing to get quorums at two board meetings. The seven-member executive committee can act in place of the full committee.
UThirteen of the board's 25 members missed more meetings than they attended during the one-year period. Nine of them attended only three meetings.
Reasons given
Among those attending only three meetings include Patricia Syak, CIC board secretary and executive director of the Youngstown Symphony Society; and Richard Schiraldi, CIC board treasurer and a partner in Cohen and Co., an accounting, auditing and business consulting firm.
Syak said she missed most CIC meetings because they are scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of the month at noon, and symphony society board meetings are set for the last Tuesday of the month at noon. The two often conflict.
That has also caused a problem for Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, who is the CIC vice president. Gillam sits on both boards, and attended four CIC board meetings in the past year.
Schiraldi couldn't be reached Wednesday to comment.
Possible actions
The CIC's staff is checking the bylaws to see if the number of members needed to conduct business at meetings can be reduced.
Also, Jason Whitehead, the CIC's executive director, said he is asking members if a change of date and time is needed to get better participation.
The board's members are professionals, and sometimes more pressing matters arise and they can't attend the CIC meetings, Whitehead has said.
Youngstown Finance Director David Bozanich is the only CIC member to show up for all seven meetings, and the two nonmeetings.
"I feel it's my obligation to be there," he said. "If you're going to participate in an organization, you do the best job you can do and that means showing up for meetings."
Those missing only one meeting were Mayor George M. McKelvey; William Binning, chairman of the Youngstown State University political science department; Thomas Humphries, president of the Regional Chamber; and James D. Miller, president of Midwest Safety Systems.
skolnick@vindy.com