After heated debate, Youngstown hires YNDC for property work

YOUNGSTOWN

The city’s board of control finalized contracts to purchase grass-cutting and property-cleanup equipment and sign a deal to have the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. oversee the work, a week after the proposal led to a heated debate.

The board of control approved the $102,168 annual contract Thursday with YNDC and also agreed to spend $86,989 on equipment, including industrial lawn mowers as well as trimmers, chain saws, blowers and a wood chipper.

YNDC will supervise and manage 20 low-income people between the ages of 18 and 24 who will cut grass, clean debris and illegal dumping sites, do light landscaping and board-up vacant structures.

Having YNDC do the work resulted in a heated discussion last Wednesday among members of city council and Mayor John A. McNally in which the agency was accused by a couple of council members of racial bias and preferential treatment to certain parts of the city.

Read more of the story in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.