Youngstown council postpones vote on oil and gas drilling on city land

YOUNGSTOWN — City council postponed a vote tonight to seek proposals from companies interested in leasing city-owned land for oil and gas drilling.

Some council members said they wanted a little more time before making a decision on Mayor Charles Sammarone’s proposal.

Council could approve the legislation as early as its next meeting Oct. 3.

Five of the seven council members say they support the mayor’s proposal with Councilmen Mike Ray, D-4th, and Paul Drennen, D-5th, saying they want more information on drilling before making a decision.

The proceeds of the leasing would go to demolition and neighborhood improvement projects.

The decision to delay the vote was made in council’s finance committee meeting just before the full council meeting.

About 70 people attended tonight’s meeting in opposition to the drilling proposal. The audience cheered loudly for those who spoke against the proposal during the meeting.

A woman in the standing-room-only audience was escorted out of the meeting by security when she started yelling at council.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com