Youngstown council delays votes on downtown loitering, trash pickup

YOUNGSTOWN

City council members postponed a vote to make it illegal to sit, lie down or loiter on downtown sidewalks, streets or within 50 feet of a business.

Some members expressed concerns this evening that the proposal is too restrictive and that police officers need more training before the law is enacted.

Mayor John A. McNally, who sponsored the legislation, however, said after the meeting that police would enforce the proposal “ordinance or not.”

Council members referred the legislation to its safety committee for further discussion with a possible vote during the next full council meeting July 13.

Most council members said they support the proposal, but it needs to be discussed further and fine-tuned.

Councilwoman Lauren McNally, D-5th, said the proposal could discourage people from coming downtown because they’ll be concerned that police will approach them while waiting for friends.

Officers aren’t going to harass or question “everyone about what they’re doing,” said police Chief Robin Lees.

McNally, Lees and Law Director Martin Hume said downtown business owners and residents are complaining about large groups of people standing outside their places of business and their apartments.

Some are drinking; others are doing drugs, McNally said.

Also, council declined to vote on ordinances outlining what will be permitted to be dumped into new 96-gallon garbage receptacles being distributed to the city’s 22,000 residential garbage customers and restricting the amount of trash that could be placed curbside without additional fees.

Council also postponed a vote on giving the city authority to board up a vacant structure’s doors and windows immediately.

Council did vote to borrow up to $5.6 million for an $8 million project to convert the city hall annex at Front and Market streets into new municipal court and clerk of courts facilities as well as the site of the city health department.