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WARREN – City Council voted 5-4 Wednesday night to put former 1st Ward Councilman Larry Larson back in the seat he held before it was won by Pastor Todd Johnson in 2021.
Johnson resigned from the position effective Oct. 1 after announcing earlier this year that he would be relocating himself and his family to Jamaica, Queens, New York City.
After the votes were cast, Larson received congratulations from a number of people and told 4th Ward Councilman James Shaffer, “I guarantee I will do a good job.” Larson previously served four two-year terms as 1st Ward council member. He will serve the remaining 14 1/2 months of Johnson’s term.
All four people interested in the job spoke to council during the regular council meeting to discuss the reason they sought the position.
The others were Kim J. Johnson, who has worked many years in Warren City Schools and retired after 22 years in the Marine Corps; Joe Valimont, who ran for the 1st Ward City Council seat last November, losing to Johnson; and Felicia Davis, who ran for City Council in the past and created the nonprofit organization Dress 4 Success Office.
Because Todd Johnson was an independent candidate, a different process was used to vote on his replacement than usual. Instead of the Trumbull County Democratic or Republican central committees voting to select a replacement, the decision fell to the other nine council members.
But when the nominating and voting took place, members expressed confusion over how the process worked. Council member Honeya Price, D-6th Ward, asked for her vote to be rescinded at one point, so the voting started over.
Then Councilman Ron White Sr., D-7th Ward, nominated Kim Johnson for the seat, but the decision was made to nominate all four candidates “and vote on them,” Council President John Brown said. First came Larson, who got a majority vote.
When Brown asked for guidance on what to do next, Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa said it was up to City Council. Brown said the voting would continue and asked if anyone wanted to make an “amendment,” but Helen Rucker, D-at Large, who voted against Larson said, “It’s too late for that.” Brown announced Larson as the winner.
OTHER VOTES
City Council also gave a final vote to approve part of the parking ban that council members and city officials had been discussing at several meetings. The proposal changed a couple of times in recent weeks, but the final version establishes a parking ban on federal-aid and truck routes except for areas in the Central Business District if the vehicle is parked in a designated parking space.
Among the roads affected are parts of Parkman Road, West Market Street, Highland Avenue and Larchmont Avenue, Councilwoman Tina Milner, D-2nd Ward, said during the caucus session prior to the full meeting.
The part of the proposal to expand the existing parking ban on other streets in the city from midnight to 6 a.m. instead of the current 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. was rescinded and did not come to a vote.
Council also approved a large number of other ordinances after waiving the requirement that the legislation had to receive three readings on separate dates before passage.
One was giving city officials permission to apply for financial assistance to replace the city’s inclusive playground at Perkins Park and enter into contracts for the project because of the condition of the existing playground equipment.
Another was to give Mayor Doug Franklin and Service and Safety Director Eddie Colbert authority to apply to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund to help with “continued development” of the Mahoningside area near Summit Street, the Mahoning River and Mahoning Avenue for “construction of paved recreational paths, landscaping, benches, site amenities and related outdoor recreational improvements.”
Council also authorized the purchase of four new police cruisers and for electrical upgrades to the Warren Municipal Justice Building at 141 South St.
The ordinance states that the building “requires significant electrical upgrades” to assist the police department, Warren Municipal Court and City Council “in running those departments efficiently and effectively.” It identifies the following types of upgrades: breaker boxes, wiring, outlets, light switches, additional lighting, electrical supply sources to the HVAC systems and interior and exterior lighting.
And City Council approved repealing the city’s trees and shrubs ordinances and enacting new ones.