YOUNGSTOWN — The city has received resumes and letters of interest from 10 people wanting to be the next downtown events and citywide special projects coordinator.

Youngstown last had someone in the position Jan. 15, 2020 — almost 20 months ago.

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown started a search in February 2020 for a replacement, but that came to a full stop because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the cancellation of numerous events. Even though the pandemic is at a near eight-month peak, downtown events resumed about two months ago.

That prompted the need to start another search, Brown said.

The city has been “inundated” with requests for downtown events in the past couple of months, Brown said.

A screening committee of downtown business and organization leaders, along with other members of the community, will start interviewing the candidates this week, Brown said. The committee will provide a list of the top three to five candidates, and Brown said he’ll select from that group.

He added that he wants to hire a coordinator as soon as possible.

The prior search resulted in 33 applicants for the job by the Feb. 25, 2020, deadline.

The latest call led to 10 people applying, including three who sought the job last year.

Brown’s office provided the names of those seeking the coordinator’s position to The Vindicator, but has not yet provided their resumes and letters of interest.

The three applicants who are seeking the job again are:

Derrick McDowell, founder of the Youngstown Flea, a market for vendors. He purchased 365 E. Boardman St., a vacant downtown building in October, for the market and other mixed use community space. McDowell also has been the community engagement and inclusion director for the city-owned Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre since May 2019. Brown was involved with the decision to hire McDowell for the amphitheater job.

Nicholas DuBos, resident director at Duquesne University for the past 21 years.

David Craig Hight Sr., Mahoning County High School supervisor.

The other applicants are:

Nia Simms, executive director of Michael Anthony Productions since June 2019, the entertainment editor of the Buckeye Review and project coordinator for Lenders for Progress. She is on the Nov. 2 ballot for a seat on the Youngstown Board of Education and has been a past unsuccessful candidate for the school board.

Allison Henline, education and outreach programming manager at the Shaker Historical Society.

Stephanie Ujhelyi, a longtime newspaper reporter who works for The Review in East Liverpool and its sister papers in Columbiana County.

Sandy Britt, a deputy clerk of courts for the city since June 2000.

Gene L. Valentino, a business development consultant.

Booker T. Newberry IV and Kenneth M. Aspenleiter. Information about the two wasn’t available though Newberry’s father was a soul singer and keyboardist in the mid-1970s, most notably with the group Sweet Thunder.

City council voted Jan. 15, 2020, not to renew the annual contract of Terrill Vidale, through his 2Deep Entertainment business, for the job. Without funding, Vidale lost the job.

Vidale was paid $42,436.56 annually on a contract without benefits.

The annual salary for the job is now $44,081.23 and includes benefits as Brown decided to go back to making the position a city job as it was traditionally.

Vidale was the third coordinator in a little more than six years for the city.

The coordinator reports directly to the mayor and works closely with the 1st Ward council member, downtown businesses, property owners and stakeholders as well as with people, groups and organizations interested in using the downtown central business district for activities or special events.

The coordinator’s primary purpose is to provide, coordinate and assist in implementing marketing, promotional and social events that promote the city and foster downtown development and redevelopment.

dskolnick@vindy.com