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Mayor promotes a city official to head a new department
YOUNGSTOWN
In her new city job, T. Sharon Woodberry will work with small community groups to improve life in the neighborhoods while still dealing with major companies looking to expand in or relocate to Youngstown.
Mayor John A. McNally promoted Woodberry on Friday from economic-development director — a post she’s had for seven years — to director of the community-planning and economic-development department.
The department combines the city’s economic-development office and community-development agency starting next month. The department was created by a charter amendment that passed with 64.6 percent of the vote in the Nov. 4 election.
“I want more concentration on the main corridors and the neighborhoods,” McNally said. “I’ve been impressed with [Woodberry’s] understanding that this position can focus on the large projects and on community development. This will require her to be out in the neighborhoods.”
Woodberry’s appointment is contingent on city council officially creating the position and approving the salary. That is expected at council’s next meeting Wednesday.
Her yearly salary would be $79,102. She makes $68,889 annually in her current job.
“I’m excited by this opportunity,” Woodberry said. “The mayor has been very consistent in his vision of improving the neighborhoods. By merging the two departments, we can have more success. We’ve seen success in our business parks and we want to see that spread into the communities.”
Woodberry will oversee a staff of 10 to 12 people. The mayor doesn’t expect to hire someone to replace Woodberry as economic-development director.
The new department initially will work out of an office on the sixth floor of the city-owned 20 Federal Place downtown office building starting in February, Woodberry said.
CDA is currently on the second floor of the City Hall Annex, and economic development is on the ground floor of 20 Federal Place. McNally eventually wants the office on city hall’s second floor, and to relocate municipal court and the clerk of courts, which currently occupy that floor, to the City Hall Annex.