Mayor, council at odds over Youngstown redistricting

YOUNGSTOWN

City council voted today to hire a Westlake firm to develop plans to redistrict Youngstown’s seven wards, but the mayor says the administration won’t pay for work he calls unnecessary.

The 5-1 vote at the end of the meeting came as a surprise to Councilman Paul Drennen, the lone no vote, and to Mayor John A. McNally, who says the board of control — of which he is chairman — won’t vote to pay the fee to Triad Research Group, the company chosen by council.

McNally says the dozen maps provided by Youngstown State University’s Center for Urban and Regional Studies to city council about nine months ago are acceptable. YSU’s center received $3,854 from the city for its work.

Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th, said most members want a second opinion. If the board of control won’t allocate money for Triad, council members will draw new ward lines themselves, she said.

Also today, council heard from four people who spoke against the Ohio Department of Natural Resources issuing a permit to Industrial Waste Control/Ground Tech Inc. and Austin Master Services to handle potentially radioactive materials generated from shale drilling at 240 Sinster Court.

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