CORTLAND — City council has voted 5-2 to create the new position of economic / community development manager.

The initial reading was given at a meeting earlier this month, with the second reading set for Monday’s meeting.

Mayor Deidre Petrosky said she will choose the person to fill the position, and she has named Jeffrey L. Jiang, who will be paid $28.70 per hour. Petrosky said she has discussed the position since January.

The ordinance states that after three years on the anniversary date of employment, the position will be paid an additional amount of 3%, after seven years, 5%, after 11 years, 7%, after 14 years, 8%, after 20 years, 10% and after 25 years, 11%.

The duties of the position will be to handle economic and community development-related matters in Cortland.

Voting against the motion were council members Richard McClain and John Picuri.

Picuri asked if the position was advertised, to which Petrosky responded it was not.

In other business, council rejected by a 5-2 vote a memorandum of understanding with the Trumbull County Combined Health District for the lease of space at 194 W. Main St.

Voting against the motion were council members Don Moore, Jim Bradley, Kathy Fleischer, McClain and Picuri.

Petrosky said the city needed alternative space to house the administrative offices temporarily starting in 60 days.

The health district owns a building at 195 W. Main St. in the former Farmers Bank Building. She said the health district offered space on the second floor.

“The opportunity for this space has presented itself,” Petrosky said.

If the city moved to the second floor, it would be responsible for paying utilities. Petrosky said another location is needed for public safety when work is being done at the administration building. The city is in the process of constructing a new safety service complex.

MOSQUITO LAKE PARK

Council also entered into a capital improvement community park recreation conservation project at Mosquito Lake State Park through a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The project includes constructing restroom facilities, planting grass areas for space for picnic tables and benches, and adding a pathway to connect the area to Turkey Run Trail.

The city was awarded $404,000 for the project,

In other business, council entered into an agreement with Shelly and Sands Inc. of North Jackson for the resurfacing of various roads this summer.

Scheduled for paving are Corrin Circle, Charles Street. Emerson Circle, Fairview Avenue, Frostwood Drive, Richard Avenue, sections of Fowler Street, Heritage Lane, and Woodview Drive, Fairway Drive, Heather Lane and portions of North High Street.

The local share of the project is $275,000.