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youngstown Panel to review city’s charter
YOUNGSTOWN
A committee will meet Monday for the first time to review the city’s charter and make suggested changes for voters to consider during the November general election.
Mayor Charles Sammarone followed through on what he said last month about forming an 11-member committee with him appointing three members and one appointment each from the seven city council members and council president.
The city charter calls for “a charter review committee [to] be convened by the mayor every four years to review and consider recommending amendments to the charter.”
The last charter review committee was formed in 2004 by then-Mayor George M. McKelvey.
That committee placed two charter amendments on the ballot. Both passed.
“I want the committee to look at how the charter can improve government and make the people running government more accountable to the tax- payers,” Sammarone said.
Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th, said what worked for Youngstown in 1950 may not work for the city today.
“We’re the incredible shrinking city,” he said in reference to the city’s population significantly declining from 168,330 in 1950 to 66,982 in the 2010 census. “The commission should look at what do we need to right-size our city.”
Sammarone wants the commission to look at two issues — developing a more-detailed ethics policy for city employees and officials, and requiring city council approval on all contracts of at least $10,000 instead of the current $25,000 minimum amount.
“Those are my two main issues,” he said. “That should strengthen the city and hold people accountable.”
The commission would have until June to propose charter amendments, Sammarone said.
Most of the appointments to the commission are made.
Sammarone selected Phil Kidd, Bill Carter and Leona Crogan to the commission.
Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st, chose Glenda House, and T.J. Rodgers, D-2nd, selected Jacqueline Taylor.
Councilman Nate Pinkard, D-3rd, chose Sandra Teague.
Ray selected Scott Schulick with Councilman Paul Drennen, D-5th, choosing Thomas Rusback.
Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th, selected Jerome Williams, and Councilman John R. Swierz, D-7th, named Michael O’Hara to the committee.
Council President Jamael Tito Brown appointed Nikki Posterli.