Final meeting for 6 lawmakers

The mayor praised council for its role in improving the city.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

CITY HALL REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — Glowing words about them and by them, votes on 21 late items, the rejection of 16 old pieces of legislation and a bit of questionable spending dominated the final city council meeting for six outgoing members.

One of those members, Paul Pancoe, D-6th, is working out of town and didn’t attend Wednesday’s meeting.

“I have been proud to work with you,” said Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, the only member of the current council returning next year. “I’ll miss you. I’ve learned a lot from all of you during these past four years.”

The city’s term limits law left Councilmen Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st; Rufus Hudson, D-2nd; Richard Atkinson, R-3rd; and Michael Rapovy, D-5th, unable to run this year for re-election. Pancoe and Councilman Mark Memmer, D-7th, lost Democratic primaries in May to retain their seats.

Most of the late items were submitted during the past few days; the deadline to turn in legislation is the Thursday before a council meeting.

One late item was sponsored by Mayor Jay Williams honoring council, a resolution the members approved without comment.

Williams’ resolution stated the city “has measurably improved during their tenure,” but didn’t list any accomplishments because they “are too numerous.” Williams’ resolution also stated: “Future generations will be able to reflect back on this period as a pivotal turning point of the renaissance of the city of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.”

One late item sponsored by Gillam had the lame-duck councilman transfer $1,052 from his discretionary fund to his travel fund. The money was primarily used to reimburse him for a legislative conference he took earlier this year without prior council finance committee approval.

Also, council President Charles Sammarone transferred $3,000 from his travel fund to his discretionary fund to help fund the First Night Youngstown event Dec. 31.

First Night had sought $15,000 on Dec. 5 from council, $10,000 more than council has given the event in recent years. Because of First Night’s financial problems, council opted to raise its contribution to $6,000.

Since that meeting, First Night received more than $10,000 to more than make up its shortfall. Even so, Sammarone agreed to give the money to First Night because it needed it for extra costs and to run its office.

Like Gillam’s request, council approved Sammarone’s proposal.

Memmer didn’t like Sammarone’s request — and he was the most outspoken council member about Gillam’s unauthorized trip — but he voted in favor of both as a courtesy council members give one another for their discretionary fund requests.

Memmer said First Night needs to work harder to obtain more noncity funding for its event, adding that the city’s contribution to it is “outrageous based on a per-person cost” compared with other events and festivals that receive city money.

Also Wednesday, council rejected 16 old pieces of legislation, some sitting in committees from as far back as 2003. Among the oldies, but apparently not goodies, were votes to support the November 2006 city school tax levy, a requirement to have those running for elected city posts undergo criminal background checks and two zoning change proposals from 2003.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, council held a moment of silence for Jeffrey Chagnot, the city’s former economic development director, who died earlier that day. Chagnot retired June 30 after spending 30 years working for the city, including 18 as head of the economic development office.

skolnick@vindy.com