2-year plan presented for city

WARREN - City Council President Robert Marchese has laid out a 12-point plan of action for the next two-year council term that relies heavily on citizen involvement.

His plan includes creating citizen ad hoc committees to study a charter form of government, examine the future of Packard Music Hall and focus on youth recreation needs in the city. He said he is preparing legislation for the law department to create the committees.

"Council is not prepared to deal with a charter form of government. It requires a lot of background work. The citizen ad hoc committee will study the merits of charter government, prepare a written report for council by May 1 and either recommend putting the issue on the ballot or forgetting it," Marchese said.

He said he plans to talk to Joel Ratner from the Wean Foundation and Tony Paglia, director of government affairs for the Regional Chamber, about financially supporting the charter government endeavor. Marchese said their financial support would enable City Council to bring in an expert to create the charter for the ballot.

"This is not aimed at anyone in particular. Warren is one of the last statutory cities. But ultimately, the citizens will decide what kind of government they want," Marchese said.

A petition to place the charter issue on the March 2003 primary ballot failed, and Councilman Al Novak, D-2nd Ward, resurrected the idea by introducing legislation to start the charter process two years ago. However, it never made it beyond first reading.

The city operates as a statutory form of government under the laws outlined in the Ohio Revised Code in matters such as building codes, board appointments and hiring decisions.

But under a charter form of government, Warren would have more freedom to determine its laws. It could adopt nonpartisan city elections, place some officials - such as the law director and auditor - under the mayor, or eliminate the mayor in favor of a city manager.

On the future of Packard Music Hall, Marchese said he would like a citizen ad hoc group to work with hall director Christopher Stephenson and the hall's Board of Trustees to determine its future funding. He said he would like the committee to provide input to council by May 1.

The city administration is currently working with a private consulting group to find a promotions company for the music hall in an effort to improve its bottom line and wean the hall from its general fund subsidy.

"A citizen ad hoc committee should assist in this consulting process as residents are paying the tab and deserve to have input into the hall's destiny," Marchese said.

For youth recreation needs, he said he would like an ad hoc committee to create a database of youth recreation sites throughout the city. He said a second committee will study the possibility of a fixed route transportation system using existing church and agency buses and vans. That committee then will seek local grant funding for a one-year trial of the transportation system.

Marchese said a third phase of the youth recreation plan involves a discussion with community stakeholders to build a family recreation center in the city.

mkosinski@tribtoday.com