Metro digest || New YSU president
Announcement expected on new YSU president
YOUNGSTOWN — The seventh president of Youngstown State University is expected to be announced today by the university’s board of trustees.
The trustees are meeting in special session at 2:30 p.m. in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center on campus. The board has indicated it anticipates voting on a successor to David C. Sweet at the meeting and has invited area business and community leaders to attend the session and a reception immediately following.
Sweet is retiring in June after serving as YSU president for 10 years.
Lowellvile council to seek income-tax rise
LOWELLVILLE — The village council has voted 6-0 to put a request for a half-percent income-tax increase on the May ballot. Council voted at a special meeting Monday.
The income tax would rise from 1. 5 percent to 2 percent. It has not changed since the 1970s, said Mayor Jim Iudiciani.
Iudiciani and council members say they need more money in budget carry-overs to make sure they are able to compete for state road, curb and sidewalk projects. They said at a public hearing earlier this month that without the increase, the village can’t move forward with improvements.
The income tax affects people who work in the village or who live there and work where there is no income tax.
Going to winter meeting
LIBERTY — Pat Ungaro, Liberty Township administrator, and trustees Jodi Stoyak, Jason Rubin and Stan Nudell will attend the Ohio Township Association winter meeting Thursday and Friday in Columbus. They are paying their own ways; no township funds are being used.
The meeting offers courses specifically for new trustees on the responsibilities and duties of their office. Among workshop topics are zoning, legal matters, joint economic development, grants, conflict management, ethics, health care and roads.
‘Winter Coat Giveaway’
YOUNGSTOWN — The Greater Youngstown Point Inc. will sponsor a “Winter Coat Giveaway” on Friday and Monday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All coats are professionally dry-cleaned and in excellent condition. Individuals with the last name beginning with the letters “A” through “M” will be served Friday; “N” through “Z” on Monday.
Please bring photo identification. Proof of household size also is required if you are in need of coats for others. The Greater Youngstown Point is located at 1555 Belmont Ave., Suite 3, adjacent to Goldie’s Flower Shop. Coats are provided through the annual “Button-Up” program sponsored by Help Hotline.
The Point provides safe, decent and sanitary daytime shelter for the homeless. For more information, call the office at (330) 480-0310.
Police seek gunman
NILES — Police are searching for a man who pulled a gun on a motorist Sunday evening in the parking lot of Regal Cinema at the Eastwood Mall.
A man told police he was backing his vehicle out of a parking space near the theater at 6:22 p.m. when a man kicked his vehicle and yelled that the driver almost hit him.
The driver said he got out and confronted the pedestrian about kicking the car, and the pedestrian struck him in the face, knocking off his glasses. During a scuffle, the pedestrian pulled out a gun from his waistband, the driver said.
The driver backed away and called 911 from inside his car, he said. Two nearby Niles police officers responded immediately.