Youngstown council approves several measures but delays raising sanitation rates

YOUNGSTOWN

City council approved legislation tonight to replace its anti-begging law, accept a former grocery store location as a gift, pay to demolish four fire-damaged properties on Market Street, but held off on a proposal to raise residential sanitary rates to fund demolition.

The decision to not approve the 68-percent sanitary rate increase – along with a resolution to reduce water rates by 30 percent – didn’t come as a surprise. That’s because council members said Sept. 30 that they needed more information and were seeking answers to questions they have.

Some council members want the city to consider borrowing a large sum of money and do a major demolition project now.

Finance Director David Bozanich pointed to state law that states the city isn’t permitted to borrow millions to take down houses.

But Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st, said she wants a legal opinion from the city law department on that issue.

She also said that perhaps the city should look at lowering the water rate by 15 percent rather than 30 percent, and not increasing the sanitation rate by as much.

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