City council approves 6 percent finance director salary increase

YOUNGSTOWN — City Council approved a salary increase for the finance director during Wednesday’s meeting.

The ordinance will increase the finance director's annual salary by about 6 percent — from $83,948 to $96,553. Two members voted against the measure: Councilman Jimmy Hughes, 2nd Ward, and Councilwoman Samantha Turner, 3rd Ward.

The raise would go into effect in 30 days and would presumably go to Kyle Miasek who was appointed interim finance director in 2018 after serving 12 years as the deputy finance director.

The salaries of the finance director as well as the law director have not increased since 2007 due to the previous charter. The new charter amendment approved Nov. 2, 2020 ends the practice of tying the salaries of the finance and law directors to the mayor’s salary and instead allows city council to set the salaries.

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said during Monday’s finance committee meeting that the increase is necessary because the current salary would not attract anyone to the position in the case of a future hire.

Although Miasek is not planning to leave the position anytime soon, the city wants to remain competitive and retain staff for the future, Brown said. He said the city was lucky to have Miasek working in the department at the time he was appointed.

“[The increase] wasn’t for him,” Brown said. “It was for the position that we want to be competitive.”

Brown said Miasek was not receiving the same benefits that other department heads were, such as a car or the ability to accumulate sick and vacation days.

Miasek and Brown also looked at the difference between the salaries of the Youngstown Police chief and the highest-ranking captain. Brown used the 6 percent step seen in the police department to differentiate the salaries of the finance director and the chief information officer in the finance department.

The salary increase was possible due to savings within the department. By combining some positions, the finance department has saved about $375,000.

City council removed an ordinance from Wednesday’s agenda to increase the law director’s salary.

OTHER ORDINANCES:

The following actions were also taken at the meeting:

• City council approved for the city to enter into all necessary agreements with the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments for funding through fiscal year 2022. The $30,000 grant is for the Glenwood Avenue Active Transportation Improvement Plan, which plans to improve pedestrian, cycling and public transit infrastructure along Glenwood Avenue from Mahoning Avenue to Shields Road in Youngstown and Boardman.
• Council members approved the funding for the 2021 city of Youngstown Infrastructure Improvement and Safety Upgrade Program that will include repaving and traffic signal upgrades. Streets included in the project are: Salt Springs Road (Vestal Road to Belle Vista); Hillman Avenue (Myrtle Avenue to Warren Road); Burlington Street (Victoria Road to Belmont Avenue); Shehy Street (Wilson Avenue to Bruce Street); and Early Road (Route 422 to High Street). Traffic signal improvements are for the intersections of Front Street and South Avenue as well as Belmont Avenue and Francisca Avenue. The $1.2 million project would be funded by Ohio Public Works Commission and Public Works Capital Projects.
• City council approved the acceptance of the $10,000 U.S. Conference of Mayors 2021 Dollar Wise Innovation Grant. Brown said during Monday’s meeting that Youngstown was one of seven cities in the country to receive the grant. The grant will be used by Community Initiative to Reduce Violence and Flying High to address and eliminate barriers to job access and promote economic security and mobility for people in Youngstown.

This story was originally published February 4, 2021 at 4:11 AM with the headline "City council approves 6 percent finance director salary increase."