YOUNGSTOWN — Legislation to reduce the salary of the community development agency director led to a somewhat heated discussion between Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and Councilman Julius Oliver, who is challenging him in the May Democratic primary.

The issue at Wednesday’s meeting was changing the salary for Beverly Hosey, first the acting director and then officially appointed to the position in April 2020.

At that time, the annual salary was $76,883.87, but city administration officials wanted to reduce it to $72,398.56 because some of the duties were removed from the job description.

But the city also was facing a lawsuit from Taron Cunningham, fired March 8, 2019, by Brown as the CDA director. That led some on council to postpone changing the salary as Cunningham won lawsuits against the city over his termination.

The 7th District Court of Appeals, though, dismissed an appeal in June 2020 from Cunningham “for lack of a final and appealable order.” Cunningham’s attorney asked the court to vacate the decision because it “committed an obvious error.” The court docket shows that nothing has been done with the case since August.

The legislation to reduce Hosey’s salary was discussed at Tuesday’s council finance committee. Initially, the legislation was to keep her at her current salary, but the discussion finally ended with a proposal to reduce it, though adding a 1 percent increase that all management employees received in January. That left her annual salary at $73,122.61.

Oliver, D-1st Ward, asked Brown how the salary was determined.

“City council needs enough information to make an informed decision,” he said. “In this case, I don’t have enough information.”

Brown responded that the matter was discussed Tuesday during a committee, and that’s where the conversations should be held, not during council meetings.

“If you can’t make an informed decision, ask before a council vote,” he said.

Brown also said the city had to move forward with the job and not wait for the Cunningham case to be resolved.

“I can’t wait on a what if,” he said. “We need to run the city.”

Law Director Jeff Limbian added he told Oliver a year ago and a week ago that the legal issue had nothing to do with the salary for the new CDA director.

“This shouldn’t be a political issue,” Limbian said in a shot at Oliver, who has frequently criticized the law director and opposed giving him a raise. “It should have to do with the economic issues of the city.”

Oliver and businessman Ryan Kelly are challenging Brown in the May 4 Democratic primary for mayor.

Despite saying he didn’t have enough information and that Brown and Limbian didn’t give him a direct answer, Oliver joined five other members of council in voting Wednesday to reduce the job’s salary to $73,122.61.

The only no vote came from Councilwoman Samantha Turner, D-3rd Ward, who has objected to salary increases for Limbian and the finance director, but supported this increase as well as raises handed out by Clerk of Courts Sarah Brown-Clark.

OTHER ACTION

Health Commissioner Erin Bishop told council there are 800 people on the city’s COVID-19 vaccination waiting list and that number of vaccines will be coming next week so it will get down to zero.

She said those who want to sign up for future vaccinations and are eligible for them under state policy, can go to the city’s COVID-19 website at covid19.youngstownohio.gov and click on the vaccine request form or call 330-743-3333 and follow the prompts.

Council also approved allowing the board of control to spend up to $1.2 million to seek proposals and enter into a contract with a company for the replacement of a 16-inch waterline on Front Street between Marshall Street and South Avenue.

The work is to start in April and take about 90 days to complete.

Council also voted to allow the board of control to enter into a contract with a company to perform construction inspection and administration for the Crescent Street Bridge removal at a cost of up to $100,000.

The demolition of the 78-foot steel girder bridge over an abandoned railroad line, just west of West Rayen Avenue, should start in the spring and be done in the summer.