YOUNGSTOWN — With a new mayor starting next month, city council voted down a request from the current administration to create a new job in the community planning and economic development department.

Council voted 5-2 Wednesday against legislation, sponsored by outgoing Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, to establish the position of site development coordinator, which would pay $71,785 annually.

“Why not let the new mayor come in and see if we need all these positions,” said Councilman Pat Kelly, D-5th Ward, who voted against the legislation. “Let him look at the jobs and decide what he wants to keep and what he wants to reject.”

In addition to Kelly, other council members voting against creating the position were Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward; Jimmy Hughes, D-2nd Ward; Samantha Turner, D-3rd Ward; and Amber White, I-7th Ward. The only votes in favor came from Mike Ray, D-4th Ward, and Anita Davis, D-6th Ward.

During its Nov. 19 meeting, council gave the legislation to create the new position a first reading.

Oliver, who didn’t attend the Nov. 19 meeting, said the city needs the position as well as others in the community planning and economic development department.

“We can revisit the position when all of my colleagues feel more comfortable,” Oliver said.

Brown, who didn’t attend Wednesday’s meeting because he was the emcee at the annual Winterfest dance for special needs students at Ciminero’s Banquet Centre in Niles, is leaving the mayor’s office Dec. 31. He lost a reelection bid to Derrick McDowell, an independent who takes over Jan. 1.

Council voted 4-2 at the Nov. 19 meeting against permitting the board of control to enter into a marketing consulting contract to “create a comprehensive marketing plan / campaign” that would “highlight Youngstown’s assets and position the city for business growth, visitors and residents,” according to the rejected legislation.

Those voting against it said they wanted to give McDowell the opportunity to consider the contract.

INCREASED CONTRACTS

Three amendments to increase the maximum amount for contracts, including two that already received approval from the board of control to go over the initial limits, were approved Wednesday after lengthy discussions.

One ordinance, approved 6-1 Wednesday with White casting the lone no vote, dates back to Oct. 2, 2024, when council permitted the board of control to enter into a contract for up to $560,000 with a company to improve the downtown area damaged by the May 28, 2024, explosion at the former Realty Tower and its subsequent demolition.

Parella-Pannunzio of Youngstown was hired Oct. 24, 2024, for $545,717 for the work on Market Street in front of the former Realty Tower site and on East Federal Street from Market to Champion, between where the building was and the Stambaugh Building. That work included repairs to the streets, sidewalks, utilities, landscaping, plants and planters, curb ramps and catch basins.

The board of control agreed Dec. 30 to increase the payment to $694,392 for electrical upgrades as well as expanding the sidewalk and curb replacements.

Charles Shasho, deputy director of public works, said Wednesday that the job was needed in a hurry after the Realty explosion and subsequent demolition, and unanticipated additional work was discovered.

Council voted 7-0 Wednesday to increase spending to $2.95 million from $2.8 million, approved March 19 by the legislative body, for a major improvement project to sections of Boardman and Walnut streets downtown.

Parella-Pannunzio was awarded this contract April 24 for $2,778,645. The board of control approved an increase Sept. 11 to $2,861,833 for a water tie-in and trenching for lighting. That pushed the contract over the $2.8 million limit set by council.

A third amended ordinance passed 5-2 with White and Kelly voting no for planning, design and construction management services for Madison Avenue, Westbound Service Road and Eastbound Service Road.

The limit approved Oct. 1 by council was for $125,000 for the work. The amendment would increase that maximum amount to $222,100.

The board of control today is expected to approve a contract for $222,040 with Technical Resource Consultants LLC for that work.

Also Wednesday, council voted 7-0 to authorize the board of control to solicit prices for a proposed storage building for the city-owned Covelli Centre and Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre.

The legislation is for the pre-engineered metal building and building shell.

That purchase will not exceed $145,000, according to the legislation.

The city would still need to pay for the foundation, electrical and plumbing work as well as labor to put up the building.

The building is expected to be ready by spring.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS PROJECT

Council also heard Wednesday from Shasho about a project to remove 10 traffic signals, primarily along Market Street and Indianola Avenue, and to replace seven others at intersections on those two roads.

Some council members expressed concerns about removing some traffic signals on Market Street because school-aged children cross the street.

Shasho said two traffic studies were done on the corridors to determine how many vehicles were at each intersection and whether signals were still warranted.

The project is expected to begin in the summer of 2027 and could take up to a year to complete, Shasho said.

The city received funding for the project from federal grants provided through the state, Shasho said.

The project is estimated to cost $2,958,750 with $1,942,537 for the construction phase. The rest of the cost is for engineering, construction administration and inspection, and for the purchase of right of ways and utility relocations.

Shasho said the project is moving forward despite concerns expressed by some members of council.

If the city rejects the federal funding, Shasho said it jeopardizes getting future grant money for intersection work.

The locations where the traffic signals will be removed will instead have stop signs and improved pedestrian ramps, he said.

The Market Street intersections are at Auburndale, Hylda, West Warren, Delason and Myrtle avenues. The Indianola intersections are at Hillman Street, Oak Hill Avenue, Rush Boulevard and Gibson Street. Also, the project includes the removal of traffic signals at the intersection of Glenwood and Parkview avenues, which is near Glenwood’s intersection with Indianola.