Youngstown council accused of 'playing politics' with committee assignments

January 4, 2016 at 10:06p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

The new Youngstown City Council got off to a shaky start during its first meeting, leading long-time council President Charles Sammarone to chastise members for “playing politics.”

At the heart of the conflict at Monday’s reorganization meeting was selecting four of its seven members to serve on what is called the “standing committee,” which recommends who serves on council’s 12 committees.

After council rejected the makeup of the standing committee three times, Sammarone, who is also a former mayor, became visibly angry.

“I don’t want to sit here until midnight playing politics and that’s what you’re doing,” he said. “I’ve been here 32 years and this is the first time we’ve had to go through standing committee votes three times. We’re all Democrats. I was here when there were Republicans and it went easier than this.”

A few moments later, Sammarone, who doesn’t get a vote, said: “This is the worst meeting I’ve been to in 32 years to pick a standing committee.”

After that, four – returning members T.J. Rodgers, D-2nd; Nate Pinkard, D-3rd; and Mike Ray, D-4th; as well as newcomer Basia Adamczak, D-7th – were recommended and that group was narrowly approved by a 4-3 vote.