GIRARD — City council has approved the city entering into a cooperative agreement with the Western Reserve Port Authority for various projects.

Council voted 7-0 on the agreement that officials said will allow the port authority to assist with development of the Girard Lakes property, Wellman Theater, Ohio Leatherworks property and the city’s downtown.

Officials said Girard has engaged in various economic development projects and can use the port authority in the development of those projects.

Councilman John Moliterno, D-at Large, who has served on council since 2000, said the port authority can be the middleman and provide convenient access to various services and resources, such as engineering.

Moliterno said officials for years have discussed the Girard Lakes property, which he said he would like to see in “professional hands” with the port authority. Nick Chretien, planning and regional development manager for the port authority, said they have worked with local cities and land banks on different properties for development.

“We can help the city develop land and properties to help transform them into something productive,” Chretien said.

“You can get things done that we sometimes can’t,” Councilman Jeff Kay, D-3rd Ward, said about the port authority.

Safety-Service Director Mark Ragozine said the port authority has been involved in many projects in the Mahoning Valley and has become the “jack of all trades” to help make projects happen.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said the city can benefit from assistance from the port authority, which can help find developers. The city also can enlist the help of the engineers and planners the WRPA has on staff.

“They have different levels of expertise to help us with projects in the city,” Zuppo said.

SENATE BILL 56

In other business, council under emergency reading passed a motion “strongly opposing” the funding reallocations within the Senate Bill 56 and Gov. Mike DeWine’s blue book executive budget regarding taxes from marijuana dispensaries.

Zuppo said the city and many other local communities, such as Niles and Warren, object to changes to the tax distribution coming into communities that have dispensaries.

He said originally officials were told they would receive 35% of the taxes from such businesses with DeWine now changing to the state getting 20% and the cities nothing.

“I know many mayors and county commissioners in both counties are not happy with this. We looked at what Niles is passing when we prepared our resolution. This is not what we were originally told,” Zuppo said.

The city is expecting a dispensary to open in March off U.S. Route 422.

Warren council is expected to pass its resolution in opposition of SB 56 at Wednesday’s meeting.