Ties remain despite expiring contracts

The Urban League will administer the services.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The soon-to-be former executive director of the city Human Rights Commission says he'll still provide advice and assistance to the agency if needed.
"I may be moving off the playing field and on to the sidelines like a coach," said William M. Carter, HRC executive director for the past 27 years. "But I'll still be here. It will be a smooth transition. I think it's going to be all right."
The city contracts with the Youngstown Area Development Corp., of which Carter serves as executive director, for HRC and other services. The YADC contract to run the commission expires July 28.
The city also didn't renew its contract with the YADC to run the Fair Housing Committee when it expired June 30.
The city allocated $65,000 in its 2006 budget to run those two agencies.
Mayor Jay Williams is hiring the Greater Warren-Youngstown Urban League to run the two agencies.
An ordinance proposed by the mayor on today's city council agenda seeks to increase the cost of providing HRC and FHC services to $80,000 annually.
Thomas Conley, Urban League president, said at Tuesday's HRC meeting that the league is close to signing a contract to provide services for the two city agencies. An executive director for the two agencies hasn't been selected yet, he said.
He told HRC members that there won't be changes as to how the agencies operate.
No surprise
Even before he began serving as mayor Jan. 1, Williams, the city's former Community Development Agency director, said he was concerned that Carter's organization had too many contracts with the city.
The YADC will continue to handle the city's Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise programs for now while the contracts are under review, Williams said.
YADC receives about $45,000 annually for the EEO program and $50,000 for the enterprise programs.
At Tuesday's HRC meeting, commission members praised the work done by Carter.
"Mr. Carter is quite knowledgeable on these issues, and he's done a good job," said the Rev. Kenneth Simon, HRC's acting chairman. "He's been a great asset to this commission and to this city."
skolnick@vindy.com