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Mahoning Plans to Fill WRPA Seat Next Week
WARREN, Ohio -- Mahoning County Commissioners say they intend to fill their vacancy on the Western Reserve Port Authority’s board of directors next week, following the appointment Wednesday by Trumbull County Commissioners to fill its two open slots (READ STORY).
The members of both counties’ boards of commissioners met Wednesday for about an hour in executive session regarding the port authority and its board’s plans to hire a new executive director.
Earlier that morning, the Trumbull County commissioners -- Frank Fuda, Mauro Cantalamessa and Dan Polivka -- appointed Sam Covelli, owner of Covelli Enterprises, and attorney David Detec to fill the unexpired terms of Scott Lynn and James Floyd, respectively, on the port authority board. That leaves one Mahoning County seat vacant since Richard Schiraldi resigned.
“Now we need to sit down and look at what kind of complementary skills we can bring” to the board, said Mahoning County Commissioner David Ditzler.
Ditzler expects the topic to be discussed at this morning’s commissioners meeting and a decision to be made next week. Several individuals have expressed interest in the appointment, he said.
“We want everybody to work as a team, Trumbull and Mahoning County representatives, to make the Valley a better place” and bring economic development and business here, working closely with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, Fuda said.
With regard to hiring a new port authority executive director, “That’s going to be determined shortly,” he continued. “The port authority is going to do that whenever they’re ready.”
Fuda is optimistic that the port authority -- which had been plagued by infighting -- is “going to go in a positive direction,” he said.
“Over the last number of weeks, we’ve been communicating with one another. We have a very good relationship now with all of the county commissioners’ offices,” said Ron Klingle, chairman of the port board
During the closed-door session, the six county commissioners heard via conference call from the Council of Development Finance Agencies, the consultant engaged by the port authority to help develop a strategic plan. Early next week the firm will present the first phase of its report and the results of the SWOT -- strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats -- analysis it conducted, and a representative of the firm will attend a meeting with commissioners, Ditzler said.
“We don’t want to micromanage the port authority board. We just want to be on the same page as we move forward.”
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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