Monday, April 14, 2014
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McNally
YOUNGSTOWN
Shortly after John A. McNally’s Nov. 5 win in the Youngstown mayoral race, he said he’d have decisions on who would serve in his incoming Cabinet by mid- December.
He followed through on that time frame for most positions.
But it is mid-April and the mayor hasn’t selected a city prosecutor and a deputy director of public works, and will restart his effort to find a replacement for Finance Director David Bozanich, who McNally said in mid-December would be leaving no later than July 1.
“These are important, but I’ve been busy with other issues,” McNally said.
The mayor said he doesn’t want to rush decisions on the three selections with the holdovers from Charles Sammarone’s mayoral administration remaining in those spots for at least the time being.
McNally said Law Director Martin Hume has interviewed several candidates for city prosecutor and a decision on who will fill that post is expected Wednesday.
Dana Lantz, prosecutor for two years who’s worked for the city since 1998, was among those who applied for the job.
McNally also is looking to hire another assistant prosecutor at some point this year.
McNally said he interviewed three people for deputy director of public works — including Charles Shasho, who’s had the job since 2008.
“I hope to make a final decision on that position by the end of the month,” McNally said.
Retaining Bozanich on an interim basis was among the first announced Cabinet selections McNally made Dec. 16, a little over two weeks before he officially became the mayor.
At the time, McNally said he intended to have a new finance director to city council by July 1. Council is required under the city charter to confirm a mayor’s selection for finance director.
The delay is because, McNally said, he wasn’t satisfied with the applicants for finance director.
“I will post the finance director position and seek interested applicants,” McNally said.
The mayor said he and the law department are looking at a new job description because he wants to combine the community development and economic development departments, and wants to see if a charter amendment is needed to do so and how that would impact the finance director’s job.
Bozanich is “willing to stay on for the rest of the year if I need him to,” McNally said.
Bozanich retired Dec. 28, 2012, and immediately was rehired through the end of 2013 by then-Mayor Charles Sammarone. Bozanich has worked in the finance department for more than 30 years, including the last 12 as finance director.