Council no-shows thwart legislation

Only four of the seven council members attended the special meeting.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- City council approved legislation related to a plan to link Youngstown State University to downtown, but things didn't go according to plan.
Councilman Mark Memmer, D-7th, who helped organize a special meeting at 6 p.m. Friday, expected six of the seven council members to attend. Only four showed up.
To make the legislation effective immediately, it needs to be approved via emergency, which means the OK of at least six council members.
The special meeting was held because the legislation passed Wednesday by a 5-1 vote.
The four councilmen who attended Friday's meeting voted to approve the legislation. But council rules require legislation not passed via emergency to sit for 30 days before it becomes law.
Tired of delays
The four pieces of legislation related to the plan, known as the Lincoln-Rayen-Wood development district, were supposed to be up for a final vote at council's June 21 meeting. However, some council members were tired of delaying the plan, and pushed for Friday's meeting.
Those not attending Friday's meeting were:
Councilman Richard Atkinson, R-3rd and a supporter of the plan. Reached after the meeting, Atkinson said he had told the city clerk's office he couldn't attend the meeting because of a prior commitment -- a church activity with his children.
Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, who opposed the plan but voted Wednesday in favor of approving it by emergency. She couldn't be reached to comment after the meeting. The clerk's office said Rimedio-Righetti had a family event already scheduled for that time and wouldn't attend the special meeting.
Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2nd, who opposes the plan, was unable to be reached by the clerk's office to be told of Friday's meeting.
YSU construction
The plan includes the construction by YSU of a $30 million College of Business Administration on Phelps Street, and an extension of Hazel Street to provide another connection between the university and downtown.
The Hazel Street extension and a planned rezoning of the 38-acre area drew criticism from some business owners in that location. Some council members say those two aspects of the plan may be eliminated.
Council passed amendments Wednesday to legislation permitting the city's board of control to seek more public participation and conduct further studies of the area. The changes didn't provide specifics.
YSU officials had said before Friday's meeting that there wasn't a problem with a small delay in passing the legislation because the university doesn't plan to acquire property for its college until early next year.
Against it
Joseph Grenga, who owns a business needed to extend Hazel Street, criticized council for holding the Friday special meeting, which he attended. Grenga doesn't want to sell his property and is concerned it will be taken from him by eminent domain.
"It's underhanded," he said of the meeting. "If you call down to city hall at 6 p.m. on Friday, no one is there. Who's around on Friday night? No one. But they decide to hold a meeting at that time."
skolnick@vindy.com