Mayor Sammarone continues to make changes in City Hall

You may not agree with all the changes Youngstown Mayor Charles Sammarone is implementing in city government’s operation — last week we expressed our opposition to one move — but he does deserve credit for at least making it clear that the status quo is unacceptable. On the first day he walked into office about a month ago, Sammarone, the former president of city council, notified city employees that he expected them to be at work by 8 a.m., and to put in a full eight-hour shift. As he put it, “If I’m at my desk at 7:45, they can start at 8.”

In the overall scheme of things, that may seem like an insignificant issue, but it isn’t. Requiring public employees to report to duty at a certain time and to put in a full day’s of work sends a message to the city’s residents and other taxpayers that public service is important to the new mayor.

The theme of accountability was reflected in his appointment of Capt. Rod Foley to be the police chief, replacing Jimmy Hughes. Foley, former head of the detective bureau, used the word “accountability” to describe his view of the chief’s job. It’s a word Sammarone uses often in conversation.

Our disagreement with the mayor involves his decision to fund the position of director of the Youngstown Park and Recreation Department, which former Mayor Jay Williams had left vacant since May 2007. Williams contended that city government could not afford the salary and benefits and, therefore, had his chief of staff and secretary, Jason Whitehead, serving as interim director.

Sammarone’s decision to commit between $55,000 and $61,000, with an additional 20 percent-plus for benefits, struck us as premature. We said last week that he should take the time to fully analyze the operating budget before making such a financial commitment.

While he does not appear to have changed his mind, he has made another move that we support.

Federal Place building

On Friday, the board of control, made up of the mayor and finance and law directors, voted to end the city’s relationship with Louis DeVicchio and Associates, which has managed the city-owned 20 Federal Place building (the former Phar-Mor headquarters) since July 2007. The contract will be terminated Dec. 1, for a savings of about $75,000 a year plus the new-lease bonuses the company receives. Thus far this year, the bonuses have totaled $8,543. In addition to being paid to manage the building, DeVicchio has subcontracted for services such as maintenance, security and cleaning, with a price tag of $325,000.

With the change, the city’s building and grounds department will be responsible for the former Phar-Mor headquarters. The head of the department, Commissioner Sean Mc-Kinney, has not had direct involvement in running 20 Federal Place. He oversees the street, recycling and demolition departments. He also is in charge of code enforcement and the city’s buildings and properties, primarily City Hall and City Hall Annex.

While McKinney will receive help from the finance department and the economic development department, it will be up to him to ensure that the city-owned office building in the heart of downtown is kept in tip-top shape and in good repair, and that the tenants are satisfied with the service they receive.

It is a huge responsibility, but Mayor Sammarone obviously believes the building commissioner is up to the challenge. We hope he’s right.