×

Steubenville Council discusses litigation issue

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville Council met in executive session Tuesday to discuss a proposed settlement to litigation over Steubenville’s 25 neighborhood conservation districts, but not everyone was happy about it.

After voting no on the motion to go behind closed doors again to discuss the proposal, 5th Ward Councilman Willie Paul said he was tired of talk and wanted a decision. The vote was 6-1.

“How much longer are we going to talk about this matter?” an irritated Paul said. “I really think we’re beating a dead horse. I’m tired of going into executive session and talking about the same thing. We’re paying a lawyer to get on the phone with us, that’s got to be costing us money, and we’re worrying about what we’re paying the (complainant). I really think we’re wasting time.”

Steubenville’s neighborhood conservation district ordinance, adopted in 2014, allows property owners within specific residential neighborhoods to request NCD status “to preserve the attractiveness, desirability, and character” of their neighborhood by precluding all or certain types of rental properties, “thereby avoiding the potential negative effects rental properties can have on a neighborhood with regard to property deterioration, increased density, congestion, noise and traffic levels and reduction of property value.”

To be designated as an NCD, at least two-thirds of the property owners in the target area must agree, and every property owner in the zone must receive and initial a fact sheet detailing their rights and responsibilities. Rental properties existing before the neighborhood conservation district is implemented were grandfathered in, so unless the owners fail to renew their rental registry, they can remain.

Owners who fail to renew their rental registrations have up to two years to list their property with a real estate agent and find a buyer.

There are currently 25 NCDs in Steubenville.

But in October 2019, a mother evicted from the four bedroom, 1.5-bath home she’d been renting on Belleview Boulevard because her landlord missed the rental registration renewal deadline filed a complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, which ultimately found the NCDs have had a “disparate impact” on poor minorities. OCRC ruled that, “since the ordinance took effect non-whites had been largely relegated to poorer areas not designated as neighborhood conservation districts, creating a ‘disproportionately adverse effect’ based on the race of its residents.”

Paul reiterated he wanted to “get it done tonight,” but Law Director Costa Mastros said that wasn’t possible even if they reached a consensus in the closed-door session: Legislation would have to be introduced at a future council meeting and voted on during a public session.

“I believe this should be the last time we go into executive session,” 6th Ward Councilman Bob Villamagna said. “I agree with Willie, we’re talking this to death now.”

In other business, council applauded city’s snow crews for keeping streets passable during Monday’s storm.

“I think our city crews did an outstanding job,” Villamagna said. “Coming down here tonight, even the berms were clear.”

“Crews were out all through the night (Monday),” City Manager Jim Mavromatis said. “Everyone had to suffer (Tuesday) morning with the ice, but other cities had it tougher with trees downed and power outages. We had some, but it was minor. We had some accidents, but a lot of people followed guidance (and stayed home).

“Clearly, we’re not out of the woods yet, more snow is coming, but our salt supply is in good shape right now.”

First Ward Councilwoman Asantewa Anyabwile presented a resolution proclaiming February as Black History Month to Evangelist Ruth Stinson, noting her efforts to promote black history.

Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn told council the Parks and Recreation Department has scheduled its annual Easter Egg hunt for March 27. Donations of wrapped candies are encouraged and can be dropped off either at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center or at the reception desk in the Steubenville Municipal Building.

Council passed the third reading of an ordinance changing the name of Steele Avenue to Mucci Way, honoring former longtime mayor and councilman Domenick Mucci, and heard second readings of ordinances that would rezone property Steubenville City Schools owns on Stanton Boulevard from community commercial (B-2) to public and semi-public (P) and seek proposals for professional counseling services under the state’s Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today