Firm chosen to design office for JFS

All three finalists were 'highly qualified,' the chairman says.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Building Commission has selected Olsavsky-Jaminet of Youngstown as its preferred architectural firm to design office space for the county's Department of Job and Family Services in Oakhill Renaissance Place.
Olsavsky-Jaminet was chosen Monday from three Youngstown architectural firms the commission had designated last month as finalists for the job after reviewing five applicants for the work. The other two finalists were MS Consultants Inc. and Ricciuti Balog and Partners.
The county plans to move JFS from rented quarters at 709 N. Garland Ave., to Oakhill, at 345 Oakhill Ave. Oakhill is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.
A panel of county officials will discuss compensation with Olsavsky-Jaminet, and the commission has scheduled another meeting for 9 a.m. Monday. The panel will consist of Atty. David C. Comstock Sr., commission chairman; county Administrator George Tablack; James Fortunato, county purchasing director; and Pete Triveri, county facilities director. Comstock said he hopes the commission can enter into a compensation agreement with the firm at that meeting.
Background
Comstock said one consideration in Olsavsky-Jaminet's favor was its familiarity with Oakhill, where it has already done extensive work. That firm designed quarters for Mahoning Valley Hospital, which occupied part of Oakhill while it was owned by Southside Community Development Corp. The county bought Oakhill after SCDC filed for Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy May 3.
Comstock said the choice was difficult because all three finalists were "very competent" and "highly qualified."
The building commission consists of county Commissioners Anthony Traficanti, David Ludt and John McNally and four appointees of the commissioners, Comstock, Joseph Sylvester Jr., John N. Logue and C. Robert Buchanan.