Warren council defends WRAP

WARREN — One city council member called for an independent investigation of the Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corp., while other council members said the agency’s services are vital to the city.

Those were some of the comments during a special council meeting Tuesday to discuss the future of WRAP.

The meeting had been called by Council President Robert Marchese to allow Community Development Director Michael Keys and WRAP Executive Director Anthony Iannucci an opportunity to answer 71 questions that Councilman Robert L. Dean Jr., D-at large, had submitted to them.

Dean said most of the questions came from concerned citizens and surrounded the status of economic development in Warren — especially in the downtown area — and WRAP’s role in revitalization efforts.

Dean also planned to introduce an ordinance Feb. 14 that would reappropriate the $51,250 set aside for WRAP and its economic development assistance to a contingency fund in the Community Development Department. The Feb. 14 meeting was canceled because of a snowstorm.

For full story, see Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.