43
Campbell receives funds for poor neighborhoods
CAMPBELL
City residents living in moderate- to low-income neighborhoods will have the chance to apply for repair and maintenance projects beginning in the middle of October, said city Administrator Lew Jackson.
Ahead of Wednesday’s city council meeting, Jackson announced that applications for residents hoping to use the city’s $450,000 of the Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) funds for 2018-19 will be able to apply in mid-October.
The CHIP grant is federal money distributed by the state to be used for residential and infrastructure improvements in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Campbell partnered with Struthers and Mahoning County to apply for the grant.
Also at the caucus session, water Superintendent Joe Tovarnak alerted council the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency would be conducting an inspection of the city’s water plant later next week.
The fate of the plant, which is in dire need of major repairs, has generated a debate in the city over whether to sell the plant or maintain control over the facility.
During the council meeting, Councilman Bryan Tedesco, D-2nd, said the city had saved $18,000 over the last six months as a result of a total conversion of light bulbs in city hall to LEDs.
Also, Council President George Levendis said he would forgo his $3,500 salary – which he has done for the last eight years – and instead donate it to Clerk of Council Dina Hamilton.
Hamilton has taken on additional duties as a payroll and pension clerk, but her salary was not increased due to a lack of money in the city’s general fund.
Tedesco said he also forgoes his $2,400 salary to help pay down delinquent water bills in the city.
Levendis works as a bridge painting superintendent in the private sector, and Tedesco works for Ohio Edison.
The next council meeting will be Oct. 3.