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Youngstown council OKs hiring of firm for study
YOUNGSTOWN
City council approved hiring a firm to evaluate and improve how city government operates.
Wednesday’s approval was a formality as the PFM Group, which is conducting the study, started interviewing city department heads April 9.
The company will receive $250,000 for the study with the city providing $150,000 of it.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Raymond John Wean Foundation are each giving $50,000 toward the cost of the study.
“It’s going to make the city more efficient,” said Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th. “It’s a small price to pay if you’re going to improve city services.”
The study is part of the city’s involvement in the federal Strong Cities, Strong Communities [SC2] initiative.
The program is designed to give struggling cities the needed resources to spur economic development and operational efficiency.
Youngstown is among seven cities selected by the federal government for the SC2 program.
The study will examine city operations to reduce expenses, and provide short-term and long-term recommendations throughout the year.
“The study will analyze how we use resources and if we’re operating effectively,” said city Law Director Anthony Farris.
Also Wednesday, council agreed to:
Allow the board of control to apply for a $5,725,000 loan from the state to pay 90 percent of demolishing the water department’s maintenance garage, which is nearly 100 years old, and build a new one on West Avenue.
Allow the board of control to pay to install an 1,800-foot-long pipeline to connect city water to Aqua Ohio. The latter wants to purchase water from the city.
Buy eight surveillance cameras for up to $60,000 to monitor illegal activities related to water and wastewater operations, such as damaged fire hydrants and stolen manhole covers.
Provide up to $100,000 for water and sewer work to Iron City Wood Products, a Campbell pallet- assembly and freight company planning to expand to Youngstown’s 18-acre Ross Industrial Park on Albert Street on the East Side. The company plans to spend about $900,000 for the project.
Council also heard from Tom Cvetkovich, a city resident, who wants a ban on fracking in the Meander Reservoir and Mill Creek watersheds.
“Everyone acknowledges that there is risk in an endeavor as complex and huge as” fracking, he said. “The question is when do the quantity, severity and nature of those risks outweigh the benefits.”