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Youngstown-Mahoning consolidation deal could come by Oct. 1
YOUNGSTOWN
The city already is discussing a consolidation of its building department with Mahoning County and could have a deal in place before Oct. 1, Mayor Charles Sammarone said.
The city’s board of control, of which Sammarone is chairman, approved a contract extension Thursday to have the county’s building department inspect new construction and building-improvement projects in Youngstown. A three-month deal recently expired, and the two sides agreed to extend it through June 2013 with specific provisions.
The first provision was for the two to enter into consolidation talks by Oct. 1. Sammarone said the two sides started meeting late last week.
The deal also calls for approval of a consolidation by Feb. 1, 2013. Sammarone said Thursday that he expects a deal by Oct. 1.
“I’m hoping to have it done as soon as possible,” he said. “I don’t see any problems as long as we keep the lines of communication open.”
That was a problem a few weeks ago, said Sammarone and other city officials, when an assistant county prosecutor, on behalf of the county, sent an email to the city stating the cost of each inspection was being increased from $60 to $100 without any previous notice.
County Commissioner John McNally IV said the fee could be resolved — and it was — but the most important issue was a permanent deal to have the county take over the city’s building department.
Also Thursday, the board of control accepted a $25,000 grant from the Youngstown Foundation to help offset the cost of a $250,000 ongoing study to evaluate and improve how city government operates.
The city already received $50,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the same amount from the Raymond John Wean Foundation.
The city is continuing to seek grant money for the study, which could be done as early as September, Sammarone said.
The board also signed a contract Thursday with the V2 Wine Bar Trattoria, located in the Federal Building on the corner of West Federal and North Phelps streets, that will allow the business to provide free valet parking for its customers at a nearby city-owned lot.
The contract calls for V2 to pay $200 a month for 20 spots between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. weekdays, and from 9 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Monday. The lot is on West Commerce and West Wood streets, between North Phelps Street and Wick Avenue.
“It’s a smart move on their part,” Sammarone said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if other businesses did it, too.”