An objective evaluation of JEDD plan warranted

Before the battle over Youngstown’s joint economic development district plan evolves into an all-out political and legal war that neither the city nor Boardman and Austintown townships can afford, an intervention is necessary.

With all the public statements that have been made by the elected officials — no one should be surprised that each is playing to a specific constituency — further discussions by them can only end badly.

We, therefore, believe a committee of business and community leaders would be in the best position to objectively evaluate the JEDD plan that has caused so much controversy and consternation in Boardman and Austintown.

The trustees in those communities view it as Youngstown making a grab for dollars it cannot generate within its own boundaries. But Mayor Jay Williams and top members of his administration contend that the creation of joint development districts is neither new nor self-serving. The goal is to create a regional approach that would benefit all participants.

But the stumbling block is the city’s idea for levying an income tax on employees who work for existing companies in Boardman and Austintown that use Youngstown water.

Bracing for a fight

That issue is a non-starter for Boardman trustees Kathy Miller, Robyn Gallitto and Larry Moliterno and Austintown trustees Bo Pritchard, David Ditzler and Lisa Oles. They view the city as using its drinking water as a hammer and they’re bracing for a fight — in and out of court. Their constituents are telling them to do whatever is necessary to stop what they see as Youngstown’s suburban expansion.

It would be one thing if the negotiations had reached an impasse. Instead, the city keeps insisting that it has court rulings to justify its use of water as a bargaining chip, and the townships respond with a “Get your best hold.”

The positions are hardening, and before long failure to reach agreement will trigger aggressive moves that will benefit no one.

An independent committee under the auspices of the Regional Chamber would take the issue out of the political arena and put it in the hands of individuals who are on the front lines of the region’s economic recovery effort.

Youngstown, Boardman and Austintown could appoint one representative each from the private sector, but a majority of the members would be selected by the chamber.

The chamber has been in the forefront of the campaign to have local governments and other public entities, such as school districts, think in terms of the common good as opposed to their own parochial interests.

The city’s JEDD proposal would require give-and-take by all sides and elected officials who must protect the interests of their communities are not equipped to bridge the divide that already exits between Youngstown and its suburbs.

Indeed, the chamber is ideally suited to allay the fears of residents in Boardman, Austintown and other communities that Youngstown’s goal is to annex adjacent land outside its boundaries through the use of water.