YOUNGSTOWN — Legislation today by city council to reconsider a $48,000 bill for the emergency demolition of the former Anthony’s on the River building appears to be headed for defeat again.
During and after a Tuesday finance committee meeting, four council members said they opposed making the payment while three indicated support.
Council voted 4-3 on Aug. 26, 2020, against paying the bill from Steel Valley Contractors of Youngstown for the demolition that happened four days prior.
During Tuesday’s discussion, Councilman Anita Davis, D-6th Ward, who previously voted against the payment, said she didn’t like how the administration handled the demolition, but the bill needs to be paid — or companies will ask if the city is going to “stiff” them on payments too.
However, Councilman Jimmy Hughes, D-2nd Ward, who voted Aug. 26 to pay the bill, said Tuesday that he didn’t support legislation to make the payment.
The 110-year-old building at 15 Oak Hill Ave. was demolished without the administration letting city council members know before the work began, even though it was on the agenda for a meeting four days later.
Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, who strongly opposed the demolition, said there wasn’t a good reason to tear it down and didn’t know why it was up for reconsideration.
Councilwoman Basia Adamczak, D-7th Ward, who voted against the payment the last time, said it shouldn’t be on today’s agenda.
In addition to Hughes, Oliver and Adamczak, Councilwoman Samantha Turner, D-3rd Ward, said after the meeting that her vote will be against the payment as it was Aug. 26.
Law Director Jeff Limbian said an attorney for Steel Valley Contractors recently informed him the company is going to sue for nonpayment.
“Rather than go through litigation, we want to bring it to council with the hope of a change of heart,” he said.
If the city has to hire outside legal counsel, it could cost about $25,000 in attorney fees, Limbian said.
Finance Director Kyle Miasek said it was in the city’s “best interests financially to pay the vendor.”
Two Bridges LLC, the owners of the property, and the city have filed federal lawsuits against each other with the company seeking damages contending the demolition was improper and the city wanting the business to pay the demolition costs.
CHARGING STATIONS
As with the Anthony’s demolition and other issues, council members complained Tuesday about poor communication from the administration on an ordinance to accept a $60,000 grant from the state Environmental Protection Agency for eight electric-vehicle Level 2 charging ports. Half would be at the Kress parking lot, used by water customers and located behind city hall, and the rest at a Fifth Avenue and West Federal Street parking lot, next to the downtown fire station.
The issue was the administration knew about the grant in February, but waited until now to inform council. The grant has to be accepted by Monday or forfeited, said Charles Shasho, deputy director of public works.
Council members spent several minutes asking questions about the city’s responsibility for the charging ports and complaining that there isn’t time to discuss their concerns in a committee meeting before today’s vote.
“It seems pretty complicated,” Councilwoman Lauren McNally, D-5th Ward and finance chairwoman, said to Shasho. There’s the “costs, safety precautions, what’s needed from the city and manpower. Did you figure we’d apply for the grant and figure it out after?”
Shasho said the details will have to be worked out later, which isn’t uncommon, adding: “We’re at the point of, do we accept the grant and then we’ll discuss implementation.”
Oliver added: “I want to see the days end when we’re given information at the last minute, but I’m repeating myself.”
When Shasho said the administration found out about the grant in February, McNally said, “Why didn’t you bring it to us in February? That would have cleared up a lot of this.”
McNally said she was “really, really frustrated” with the lack of communication by the administration toward council.
Oliver said: “It’s time for us to really start demanding respect as city council” because the administration “feels like they can run over council.”
Also, council is expected today to approve spending $325,000 in a fund from speed camera citation collections to buy six police cars and related equipment. It was deferred two weeks ago for further discussion by council’s safety committee.
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