YOUNGSTOWN — With questions about the operations of safety forces, particularly with 15 police officers making more than $50,000 in overtime last year, city council asked the administration to have the state auditor conduct a performance audit of the police and fire departments.

“The importance of ensuring that the city’s safety forces are operating efficiently and effectively, especially given that these two departments represent the largest budget allocations in the city (general fund), is of utmost importance,” said Councilwoman Anita Davis, D-6th Ward, and a retired police detective sergeant who spent 36 years with the city police department.

The Wednesday letter from city council to Finance Director Kyle Miasek asks him to request the state auditor review how the two departments manage their resources, including equipment and vehicles; analyze staffing levels with a focus on staffing schedule and overtime practices; the management of contracts; and compliance with established policies and procedures.

The request comes after The Vindicator reported Feb. 8 that 15 city police officers made more than $50,000 in overtime in 2024 with Detective Sgt. Edward Kenney earning $150,681 — more than twice his regular salary.

Overall, police overtime in 2024 totaled $3.25 million compared with $2.92 million in 2023.

In that article, Davis said she wanted the state auditor to review the city police department to make sure there’s “not an abuse of the system. We see a pattern here.”

Council’s request Wednesday added other issues and the fire department.

While council members agreed on the letter, they didn’t pass any formal legislation Wednesday requesting the performance audit.

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said he has no objection to the audit but said it will cost the city money.

“We welcome a look at our books,” he said. “If there are efficiencies we haven’t found, we want them found. But we know what we’re doing.”

Davis said: “We want to make sure the money is being spent to the best of our abilities.”

She said she wants the performance audit to look particularly at police overtime, take-home vehicles and scheduling.

“Someone may see a pattern or not see a pattern,” she said.

Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th Ward, said, “The devil will be in the details. All of the items that we’re requesting, I’m not sure the state auditor can provide all of those things. If not, that would be something to work out.”

Miasek said he’ll reach out to the state auditor’s office once he reviews the letter.

“I’m looking forward to getting a hard copy so I can understand exactly all the details that you outlined in that document,” he said.

Davis said: “My reasons for this are because I want clarity.”

Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, said, “It’s our responsibility to our constituents to get down to the nitty gritty of the numbers. We have what is called a shrinking city, but our two biggest budgets keep growing. For me, what I just really want to know is the money going to the appropriate places.”

He added: “I want to justify and quantify those numbers to our constituents.”

Police Chief Carl Davis said last month that as the cost of salaries, benefits and overtime have risen, the department’s “static budget has made it increasingly difficult to manage personnel expenses effectively. Without a competitive pay structure, we continue to face challenges in both recruiting and retaining officers, which directly contributes to increased overtime spending.”

Davis said he expects it to continue as the department, like other police forces, struggles to attract candidates.

OTHER BUSINESS

Council also Wednesday authorized the board of control to sign a design and planning contract to repave three main streets on Youngstown’s West Side.

The professional services agreement would be for up to $50,000 with $27,000 reimbursed from the Ohio Public Works Commission.

The hired firm would provide planning, design and construction engineering services for a 2026 project to improve portions of Marshall Street, Salt Springs Road and North Belle Vista Avenue, said Charles Shasho, the city’s deputy director of public works.

The design work would start in August, but the project won’t begin until summer 2026, Shasho said.

The project is estimated to cost about $1.55 million with the state covering 80% of the expense and the city providing the remaining 20%.

The work includes paving, installing handicapped-accessible ramps and signage, Shasho said.

The work would be to:

* Marshall Street from Glenwood to Oak Hill avenues.

* North Belle Vista Avenue from Mahoning Avenue to Salt Springs Road.

* Salt Springs Road from the Interstate 680 ramp to Steel Street.

Council also agreed Wednesday to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation to accept a $300,000 Safe Routes to School program grant to make improvements near Volney Rogers Elementary School, a K-5 school at 310 S. Schenley Road, and Youngstown Preschool, the former Kirkmere Elementary School at 2851 Kirk Road.

Council voted to authorize the board of control to approve a $100,827 payment to A.P. O’Horo Co. of Liberty for emergency repairs made to a 24-inch water main on West Newport Drive in Mill Creek Park.

The break occurred Dec. 21 on the concrete mainline with city water department workers unable to perform the required repair work, said Harry L. Johnson III, water commissioner.

A.P. O’Horo was called in to make the emergency repairs with the formal bidding process waived.