Youngstown council supports medical-pot facilities

By David Skolnick | June 8, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

City council unanimously approved a resolution expressing its support for the location of medical-marijuana cultivation facilities in Youngstown.

The 7-0 vote Wednesday came after the Rev. Al Yanno, pastor of Metro Assembly of God on South Avenue, speaking on behalf of about 40 people at the meeting, urged council to not back the resolution.

The Rev. Mr. Yanno said medical marijuana would lead to the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state.

After the meeting, he said of council members, “I’m obviously disappointed, but their minds were made up before I spoke. They had no intention of ever listening. They went through the motions.”

Councilman T.J. Rodgers, D-2nd, said, “We support the cultivation of medical marijuana in our city. We approved the resolution as a way to strengthen our bids” for cultivation facilities.

Council heard from five groups wanting to grow medical marijuana in Youngstown. The May 15 meeting was informational.

The state will grant licenses, probably in September, to 24 growers statewide.

Also, council approved a two-year agreement with the union that represents 70 wastewater plant members that includes no pay increases.

The union voted Tuesday for the contract.

Council also voted to accept a fact-finder’s report that calls for no salary increase over the next three years with its 42-member ranking police officers union.

That union’s members met late Wednesday to consider the proposal. But union officials couldn’t be reached by The Vindicator to comment on the vote.

If the union rejects the report, the two sides go to binding arbitration.

Meanwhile, council also authorized the board of control to negotiate a deal with Campus Associates LLC to lend the company up to $4 million to build the Enclave, a $16 million, 194-bed student-housing complex at Youngstown State University.

The company must provide an irrevocable letter of credit from a lending institution to get the 12-month, 0.25-percent interest loan.

Council also authorized the board to give the company a $500,000 grant from the city’s water fund.

Construction is to start next month and be finished in August 2018 in time for next year’s fall semester.