PROPOSED CHANGES

PROPOSED CHANGES

Park and Recreation Commission

Youngstown City council and the city administration are proposing sweeping changes to how the Park and Recreation Commission operates. The charter amendments will be on the Nov. 6 election ballot. Here are some of the key proposals.

Requires commission contracts and purchases to follow the same procedure as other departments. It must receive approval from city council and the board of control.

Permit the mayor, with the consent of a majority of city council, to remove members for incompetency, gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, drunkenness, misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance or other official misconduct. There is no provision in the charter addressing the removal of members.

Makes the mayor the appointing authority for all permanent park and recreation employees except the director. The commission is currently responsible for the hiring of all permanent park and recreation employees.

Changes the appointment power of the five members. Council and the mayor would each get two appointments with the city board of education getting one. Currently the mayor, council and the school board each get one appointment with the judges of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court appointing two members.

Reduce the length of terms from five years to four years.

Source: Youngstown City Council ordinance approved Sept. 7