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Passage of Niles plan stalls despite demand
By Jordan Cohen
NILES
City council could be in trouble with the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission after failing Wednesday to complete passage of the revised financial-recovery plan from fiscal emergency. The commission had demanded submission of a completed plan by its meeting today.
Instead, council could only give the legislation a first reading after Steve Papalas, D-at large, and Steve Mientkiewicz, D-2nd, voted against suspending the customary three readings that would have enabled immediate passage of the five-year plan. The seven-member council needed six votes to suspend the rules.
The point of contention for the two councilmen is the decision by Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia to retain three full-time dispatchers at the city police station instead of moving them to the Trumbull County 911 Center. On Tuesday, state auditors told council that moving the dispatchers would give the city more than $621,000 in a financial carryover, compared with only $290,000 if the dispatchers stay.
“We could use that money to repair 87 hydrants or maybe bring back some of the [laid off] safety forces,” Papalas said. “In my opinion, we don’t have an alternative.”
More than 65 people, most of them city employees, packed council chambers. Several of them shouted out negative comments as Papalas spoke.
Before the vote, Papalas unsuccessfully tried to pass an amendment to move the dispatchers. Only Mientkiewicz sided with him.
Councilman Ryan McNaughton, D-at large, criticized Papalas for his last-minute maneuver and admitted he was upset that the plan could not get beyond first reading.
“The fact we are going to continue on this asinine carousel is embarrassing to me,” McNaughton said.
Mientkiewicz said he had not intended to delay passage, but “it came down to dollars, cents and a cost-savings measure.
“It is more cost-efficient to contract with the county,” the lawmaker said. Other council members spoke in favor of retaining the dispatchers.
Council President Robert Marino, who is a commission member, said he hopes the panel will be patient, despite its edict. Marino has scheduled special council meetings for Monday and Tuesday to complete the readings and pass the plan.
“I’m going to ask [the commission] to give consideration that the legislation is in motion,” Marino said. The commission is required to approve the plan after its passage by council.
“I’m disappointed,” Scarnecchia said. “I don’t know how this will affect the commission.” Scarnecchia also sits on the panel.
The mayor had revised his plan because he opposes several components in the package put together by his predecessor, Ralph Infante, including the relocation of the dispatchers. His refusal to enact those provisions led to a scathing letter from state Auditor Dave Yost warning Scarnecchia he was failing to comply with the law. Jim Armeni, a state auditor liaison, who attended Wednesday’s meeting, made it clear that nothing has changed.
“The auditor stands by his statements,” Armeni told The Vindicator.
Scarnecchia’s plan, which balances the budget for five years, does not include any revenue from the 0.5 percent income tax increase on the March 15 ballot. The increase would generate $2 million annually for the safety forces and free up money for the deficit-ridden general fund. The mayor’s plan, however contains additional layoffs, possibly including more safety forces, if voters reject the tax hike. A loss also would force the mayor to move the dispatchers to the 911 center.
Marino warned of “dire, dire consequences” if the city fails to pass the tax increase.