Jonathan Blackshire, president of the Wick Park Neighborhood Association, spoke Wednesday in opposition to Youngstown’s plans to close the North Side fire station. Staff photo / David Skolnick

YOUNGSTOWN — Numerous North Side residents urged city officials not to close the North Side fire station.

But despite their pleas at Wednesday’s city council meeting, fire Chief Barry Finley said he plans to shut down Station No. 7 on Dec. 1.

Finley told The Vindicator after the meeting — at which eight people spoke in support of saving the 116-year-old North Side fire station on Madison Avenue — that unless “something comes up” by the end of the month, “we’re out of there Dec. 1.”

Finley said he and Mayor Jamael Tito Brown were looking at four different sites on the North Side for another station, but nothing is imminent.

The downtown station would respond to fires on the North Side beginning in a few weeks, he said. Finley said that station is less than a mile from the Madison Avenue location.

“I have to do what’s in the best interests of the city,” he said. “If people think I’m going to put them in jeopardy, they don’t know me. I would never put citizens’ lives in danger.”

The city’s lease with NYO Property Group, which owns the station, expires at the end of the month. City Law Director Jeff Limbian has said Dominic Marchionda, NYO’s managing partner, called to discuss a rental renewal, but the city administration isn’t interested.

Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st, who has the Madison Avenue station in his ward, said he recently spoke to Marchionda about donating the station to the city and he’s considering it.

The station purchase in 2009 was included in a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity in an indictment last year against Marchionda and ex-city Finance Director David Bozanich. They’ve pleaded not guilty.

But Finley and Limbian say the station is no longer functional for the city’s needs.

The firefighters union and several North Side residents say the decision leaves them in danger.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Jonathan Blackshire of Baldwin Avenue, president of the Wick Park Neighborhood Association, said the decision to close the station is part of a “pattern of mismanagement by this administration.”

He said the station doesn’t have to close and the city isn’t doing enough to protect citizens.

“We want to find a solution and have a solid plan,” Blackshire said. “Right now, we feel this is a hazardous, haphazard move.”

At the request of Oliver, Brown said he’d be willing to have a community meeting to discuss the decision.

Rachel Parent of Bryson Street said: “It is unacceptable that the administration waited until Oct. 15 to announce the closure of the station.”

She also said that a major renovation project next year to Fifth Avenue would delay response time from the downtown station even more than normal.

Daryl Harvey of Scott Street said: “How can we close a fire station and give us no service, none. Every other side of town has a fire station. All I can say is don’t close No. 7.”

Asked about the comments, Brown said, “Those who are criticizing are those who don’t understand. We’ve been here for two years and it’s been a longstanding problem.”

Also, council voted 6-1 Wednesday to reduce the number of fire battalion chiefs from six to three, eliminating them through attrition. Not including the payment of severance packages, the city would save about $130,000 annually for the reduction of each battalion chief, said Kyle Miasek, interim finance director.

One battalion chief is leaving Dec. 3, another in about 18 months and it isn’t known when the third would leave, Finley said.

Fire union officials say the decision puts firefighters at risk as the second battalion chief at a fire serves as the safety officer.

Finley said Wednesday that he and two battalion chiefs would be training captains and lieutenants to serve as safety officers next year.

Councilwoman Lauren McNally, D-5th, voted against the reduction, saying Finley needs to first come up with a comprehensive plan for the department before she’d agree to cuts.

“It’s been chaotic and confusing at the department,” she said.

Finley said he’s putting together a plan.

“I’ve been bombarded with everything and I’m doing the best I can,” he said. “I have a plan for the department and it starts with what my department is completely lacking, which is training.”

dskolnick@tribtoday.com