Faulty calling system to be replaced by city

Council purchased 11 new Chevrolet Impalas for the police department.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city is replacing an outdated automated telephone system that provides information about police emergencies, neighborhood cleanups and other activities.
The City Watch Computer System gained a bit of notoriety in June 2005 when a few hundred 7th Ward residents received calls in the middle of the night about a cleanup program in the 6th Ward.
The police department, which oversees the system, shut it down late last year because of problems getting it to operate properly, said Police Chief Jimmy Hughes. The system is about four to five years old, he said.
The city board of control approved a request Thursday from Hughes to pay $10,622 to the Avtex Corp. of Bloomington, Minn., for a new system.
The system permits block watch and citizen coalition officials to send telephone messages to specifically targeted Youngstown residents about their meetings and events. The police department uses the system for Amber Alerts, and if there is a rash of burglaries in a particular area, to alert neighbors there.
The police department will permit only designated people from citizens coalitions and block watches to access the system, Hughes said.
The new system should be up and running sometime this summer, Hughes said.
Cruisers and car contracts
The board of control also approved the $189,828 purchase of 11 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles from Taylor Chevrolet of Lancaster.
The city had committed to purchasing General Motors vehicles for its fleet, when permissible, in November 2005 when a tentative deal to name the city-owned arena the Chevrolet Centre was announced. The city had used Ford vehicles for years.
Seven months later, a contract with GM and the city hasn't been signed. City officials say a signed contract with GM is just about wrapped up, something they've said for the past few months.
Other expenditures
The board of control also approved an additional $20,000 grant Thursday to a planned downtown wireless Internet restaurant and lounge.
The board agreed to give the money to George Lenahan, owner of the Rosetta Stone Cafe, because the cost of opening the facility increased. The board had approved a $37,500 grant to Lenahan last year.
The business is supposed to open later this year on West Federal Street, near Phelps Street, at the former site of Team Office, Woolworth's and Rite Aid.
The board also approved a $9,675 grant to Cedar's Lounge, 23 N. Hazel St. The restaurant and bar is investing $95,000 to purchase equipment and to make site improvements.
skolnick@vindy.com