43
Youngstown mayor hires buildings/grounds commissioner
YOUNGSTOWN
Mayor Jamael Tito Brown appointed Kevin Flinn, a licensed real-estate agent, as the city’s buildings and grounds commissioner.
Flinn of Youngstown will be paid $70,299 annually in the position.
The city has been without a buildings and grounds commissioner since April 2017 when Sean McKinney resigned to run for mayor.
McKinney lost by 201 votes to Brown in the November general election.
Seven people – including former 6th Ward Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, who finished a distant third in the mayoral election – applied for the commissioner’s job.
Flinn has 20 years’ experience managing commercial and residential properties as owner of FPG Property Management LLC. He was also a contractor for the city’s high-grass abatement program from 2009 to 2015.
“Flinn’s experience in these positions is directly applicable to the position of commissioner of buildings and grounds for the city of Youngstown,” Brown said.
Last week, Brown hired Dawn Turnage as parks and recreation director, and Michael Abouserhal, a retired certified public accountant, as an “executive on loan” on a temporary basis through April 30.
On Jan. 2, Brown appointed Jeff Limbian as law director and made Deputy Finance Director Kyle Miasek the interim finance director.
The mayor is conducting a national search for a finance director, but doesn’t plan to hire anyone until at least after the city budget is adopted. The latest the budget can be adopted is March 31.
Brown expects to fill a number of other cabinet positions in the coming days.
That includes fire chief, police chief, water commissioner, public works deputy director and prosecutor.
After making those hires, Brown said he will conduct searches for other cabinet positions, including director of downtown events, director of community planning and economic development, and law department attorneys.