WARREN - A resolution asking the mayor and safety-service director to begin discussions with Trumbull County on how to share police and save money is on Wednesday's City Council agenda.

The resolution, outlining the need for council to ''take all necessary steps to provide the highest level of service to Warren residents through all means,'' requests that city administrators pursue with the Trumbull sheriff and commissioners ways to merge services.

Among them are things like ''joint purchases of safety-related unique equipment, vehicles and fuel; joint dispatching and emergency call response; joint staffing and command; and joint investigations.''

The resolution is sponsored by Council members Dan Crouse, Andrew Barkley, Al Novak, Helen Rucker and Marti Morn, but their five votes alone are not enough to pass the measure. Council President Robert Marchese has indicated, though, that he also supports the idea.

Unable to attend council meetings since breaking his leg after a fall at home in late April, Marchese said he would find a way to be at Wednesday's meeting if he's needed to break a tie.

''Whether it's this piece of legislation or something else, it's my function to be a tie-breaker, and I would use a wheelchair if needed even if that is not in the best interest of my recovery,'' Marchese said.

Rucker, D-at-large, said the purpose of the legislation is to begin talks about joint ventures with the county, particularly with purchasing efforts.

"I talked to the county. They are having financial difficulties, too," she said.

Warren laid off 20 police officers Jan. 1 to trim a $3.2 million general fund budget shortfall. Five more are slated for layoff Sunday to trim an additional $1.5 million shortfall caused by lagging income tax revenue.

Barkley, D-3rd Ward, said the resolution is not a call to disband the police department, but a request to consider sharing services with the county.

"We can't answer the question without studying it," Barkley said.

But Councilman Bob Dean, D-at-large, whose name does not appear among the five co-sponsors, was critical of the resolution.

"The sponsors of this resolution did not do their homework. They don't have any idea how a police department is run or what it takes to patrol this community. There are career law enforcement individuals who can provide insight, such as Capt. (Tim) Bowers, but they were never asked," Dean said.

Dean said Mayor Michael O'Brien and Safety-Service Director William ''Doug'' Franklin already are working on joint agreements with the county, and Warren has had a mutual aid agreement with the county for many years.

Warren police Lt. Joseph Marhulik said he is not opposed to regionalization, but thinks council should look at all the city departments where there is duplication - not just the police department.

"Let's also look at operations, the health department, engineering, the dog warden," he said.

Sheriff Thomas Altiere said some shared services already exist with his department and Warren police, but more sharing agreements are being pursued, including the possibility of ammunition purchases and joint training.

Tony Paglia, vice president for government affairs for the Regional Chamber, said the chamber supports regionalization and would eventually like to see a Metro police force in Trumbull County.

''A metro force is more of a long-range effort, but we can look at small things like establishing a uniform reporting system and radio system so that all the departments can talk to each other. I told all sides we would be willing to help facilitate this process," Paglia said.

Franklin said the county and city do have an ongoing communication on a number of issues, but he thinks it's important for both entities to continue exploring avenues where shared agreements would be more efficient and save taxpayers' money.

"The average taxpayer is laid off or had their pay cut, and it's going to continue to get worse. If we don't voluntarily look at regionalization now, we will be forced into it in five years," Marchese said.

mkosinski@tribtoday.com