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Planning commission considers consultant for vital, unfilled role

WARREN — A position pivotal to the purpose of the Trumbull County Planning Commission is unfilled after a resignation, but the acting director of the commission is seeking proposals from consultants to keep the office responsive to the needs of developers and zoning officials.

Rich Fender resigned from the position of plats and zoning coordinator and his last day was last week, said Nicholas Coggins, acting director of the commission. Coggins is preparing to advertise to fill the position, but a consulting firm is necessary in the interim so the commission can fulfill its obligations, as required by county subdivision regulations and Ohio Revised Code, Coggins said.

“We need someone to be available in case someone walks in needing something,” Coggins said.

Phone calls or walk-in inquiries would be directed to the consulting firm.

Coggins is seeking proposals from three local consulting firms and has one so far, from CT Consultants of Youngstown. The proposal states the company would charge $130 an hour for the services of the company’s manager of planning services and $76 an hour for the services of a staff planner, not to exceed $5,200 a month, according to an email sent Friday to Coggins.

If the services were needed for an entire year, it would cost a maximum of $62,000, Coggins said. However, he said he intends to fill the position much sooner.

Fender was being paid approximately $39,000 a year, or about $50,000 with benefits.

The plats and zoning coordinator is responsible for reviewing and processing deeds and plats, enforcing county subdivision regulations and providing recommendations and technical assistance on township zoning amendments, according to a job description of the position.

The coordinator works on all residential and commercial projects to ensure regulations are being followed, provides technical assistance for township zoning amendments, maintains records of construction maintenance and performance bonds and provides mapping, among other duties, according to the job description.

The board voted to give Coggins permission to solicit the proposals and hire a consulting company. Coggins said he will confer with the board on the decision after he has seen the proposals.

rfox@tribtoday.com

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