rsmith@tribtoday.com
WARREN City Council debated during Wednesday’s virtual meeting about the need for reinstating the deputy clerk position.
Councilman Ron White, D-7th Ward, is seeking to have the job reinstated because council’s current clerk, Brenda Smith, has not taken more than one or two vacation days in a row for nearly a decade because of her job responsibilities.
Council President Jim Graham voiced his support for the idea of bringing back the deputy clerk position, saying council and the city has been fortunate that Smith has not had to take multiple weeks off.
“What would happen if, God forbid, Brenda would have to take two months at a time off?” Graham questioned. “The city would be in trouble.”
WARREN The Warren Police Department will be purchasing four body cameras that will be worn by officers patrolling city streets.
Other Valley departments, such as Girard, Niles and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department, are also using cameras worn by their officers.
The idea of these cameras is endorsed by Valley community activists, including pastors, civil rights leaders, mayors and law enforcement.
The Warren cameras are expected to be assigned to police cars, so they will be spread among multiple officers on any given day.
Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at Large, and Cheryl Saffold, D-6th Ward, have long advocated for the city to purchase the cameras. Earlier this year, both police Chief Eric Merkel and Mayor Doug Franklin spoke in favor of purchasing the cameras.
Girard police Chief John Norman looks at body camera footage from one of his police officers on Wednesday. Girard has had the devices for its 24 officers since February 2019. The city paid $12,000 for the cameras and data storage.
WARREN The Warren Police Department will be purchasing four body cameras that will be worn by officers patrolling city streets.
Other Valley departments, such as Girard, Niles and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department, also are using cameras worn by their officers.
The idea of these cameras is endorsed by Valley community activists, including pastors, civil rights leaders, mayors and law enforcement.
The Warren cameras are expected to be assigned to police cars, so they will be spread among multiple officers on any given day.
rsmith@tribtoday.com
WARREN City council members voted 6 to 4 Wednesday to allow the city law director to create a new position in the law department that does not have a job description, while eliminating an attorney in the department.
The new legislative aide / projects and contracts coordinator will earn approximately $52,000 per year, which is $13,000 less than it would cost to hire a lawyer, according to Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa.
Council members Ken MacPherson, D-5th Ward; Cheryl Saffold, D-6th Ward; Ronald White, D-7th Ward; and Helen Rucker, D-at Large, voted against creating the position. Councilmembers Larry Larson, D-1st Ward; Alford Novak, D-2nd Ward; Greg Greathouse, D-3rd Ward; Mark Forte, D-4th Ward; Gary Steinbeck, D-at Large; and John Brown, D-at Large, voted in favor of it.
rsmith@tribtoday.com
WARREN City council is looking to approve a 2021 initial general fund budget that is nearly $600,000 more than the measure passed at the end of 2019, according to city records.
The 2021 budget proposal set to be approved by city council has the city earning $28.9 million in general fund revenue compared to $28.2 million passed at this time last year before the coronavirus pandemic took a toll on the U.S. and local economies.
The city is projecting it will lose about $39,000 in total income tax revenue it projected to have by the end of 2020, compared to the end of 2021. When this year’s budget was approved, officials expected the city to collect $20,513,000 in total income tax revenue. Next year, the city is expected to collect $20,552,000 in income tax revenue.