Youngstown ends the year with great news from feds

Since taking office in August, Youngstown Mayor Charles Sammarone, a veteran of city politics, has stressed two things: accountability on the part of public employees and transparency of government at all levels. Sammarone, who served as a member of council, city council president and water commissioner, is firm in his belief that taxpayers have a right to expect efficient, courteous service and he’s making sure that City Hall delivers. And while that might not win him a popularity contest with those on the public payroll, his initiatives are resonating.

Case in point: The decision by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to include Youngstown in the Obama administration’s Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) program, which is designed to help communities improve the operations of their governments. Youngstown is only one of seven selected nationwide. The others are Cleveland, Fresno, Calif., New Orleans, La., Memphis, Tenn., Chester, Pa., Detroit, Mich.

Youngstown had initially been assessed in April, but then a HUD official indicated that the departure of former Mayor Jay Williams to Washington — he is now administration’s auto czar — made the city ineligible to participate. As we said in an editorial in reaction to the decision, “It seems inconceivable that a federal program designed to provide guidance and economic recovery would be governed by such a subjective standard.”

Fortunately, an objective standard was used in a second visit to Youngstown by federal officials to continue the assessment, which is why the city is now a participant.

As M. Kristin Johnsen, the lead official of Strong Cities, Strong Communities for Northeast Ohio, said in a letter to Mayor Sammarone: “We were very excited to meet members of your cabinet and to learn about your focus on improving the efficiency of the City’s operations. We have determined that your initiatives are well aligned with our initial recommendation for engagement.”

Top-to-bottom review

In addition to conducting a top-to-bottom review of Youngstown’s operations, including looking at staffing levels, federal officials will also work with city to develop an operational plan. In addition, an individual involved in a fellowship program under the auspices of HUD will be assigned to Youngstown for two to three years.

For city residents who have long decried the inefficiencies of government and have been demanding a new way of providing the services that taxpayers finance, Youngstown’s inclusion in the HUD program is a Christmas gift that will keep on giving.

Why? Because new sets of eyes will be looking at how Youngstown conducts its business. In that regard, we would urge the mayor to make the consolidation of the Youngstown Health Department with the Mahoning County Health Department and the consolidation of the city’s 911 emergency telephone system and the county’s system top priorities.

We also believe that the municipal court needs a close look. Is there justification for three full-time judges in a city that has a population of less than 70,000?

The Obama administration is to be commended for recognizing that Youngstown needs the help and guidance of the federal government. It is now up to the mayor and council to ensure that the program isn’t paid lip service.