CIC OKs changes to code of regulations

The CIC has struggled in the past to get enough members to its meetings.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Policy changes, including allowing members to participate in meetings and vote on legislation via telephone, will make it easier for a downtown property development agency to conduct business, says its officials.
The Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. approved changes Tuesday to its code of regulations.
The CIC has struggled over the years to conduct business because it lacked a quorum -- a majority of members -- at meetings.
The new rules will help with that issue, said Jan Seidler, the CIC president.
A reason cited in the past for poor turnout is that CIC members, mostly local business leaders, can't attend meetings because work commitments or their involvement with other boards conflict with CIC meetings.
The new rules permit directors -- they were called trustees until Tuesday -- to participate in CIC meetings on the telephone, Seidler said.
"It's more in line with how corporations operate," he said.
Also, as long as there is a majority of CIC directors at the beginning of a meeting, business can be conducted even if enough members leave early thus eliminating a quorum. That happened at Tuesday's meeting shortly after the changes to the agency's code of regulations were approved.
Months of work
A CIC committee spent months examining the agency's rules and recommending changes.
A December 2005 reorganization effort drastically changed the CIC. The board voted to no longer serve as the city's exclusive downtown economic agent, and to reduce its board from 25 members to 15. The 10 board positions eliminated were city appointees.
With that change, the CIC is no longer considered a public body and no longer has to follow state laws that oversee public entities.
For example, the CIC board doesn't have to open its meetings to the public, although it continues to do so, and officials say they have no plans to close them.
The CIC board agreed to add four members. Two of the appointees are the Youngstown mayor and the city's 1st Ward council member. The downtown is in the city's 1st Ward.
The CIC board will make the two other appointments based on recommendations from its nominating committee.
The new rules changed the name of Seidler's position from executive director to president. Also, G. Richard Pavlock, board president, is now referred to as board chairman. James Miller was appointed to the post of board vice chairman.
skolnick@vindy.com