Once again, the topic of hiring an economic development director dominated the meeting as the Ironton City Council ran into the same roadblocks that have emerged in recent months.

Council continues to agree that there is a need for economic development, but is still divided over when and how to get there.

It appeared that council had come to some agreement Thursday by passing an ordinance that declared economic development as a priority and called for a meeting with the mayor, his staff and City Finance Director Cindy Anderson within the next two weeks once the 2002 budget is completed.

However, the same disagreements soon came to the forefront.

Councilmen John Elam, Bob Isaac and Jim Tordiff had re-sponsored a resolution that would provide for the position in the 2003 budget.

After being voted down two previous times, the third time was not a charm as it was tabled until later discussion by a 4-3 vote.

Councilmen Bob Lipker, Brent Pyles, Richard Price and Chairman Jesse Roberts voted in favor of tabling it.

Tordiff said he feels the issue has been discussed more than enough since it was brought up in 1999 and that it is time to act.

"This is my top priority, even if it takes cuts in other departments or cuts in operating expenses," Tordiff said. "My position is that this needs to be added no matter what."

Although, he did say that with an expected carryover balance of $800,000 in the budget that he did not think any cuts would be necessary.

"I think it is time to stand up and be counted or get out of the way," he said. "It is time to say, 'Yes, we are going to do it now or no, we cannot.'"

Tordiff emphasized the importance of hiring someone full-time who is constantly working towards the city's goals.

"I have a gut feeling that this is very much supported by the people. Obviously, what we have done has not worked," he said. "We are not creating any jobs. The fact of the matter is that we need someone to look out for Ironton to not only secure jobs, but to make sure we do not lose any more."

Pyles and Price both expressed their support for economic development as a whole, but again said that it was too premature to discuss putting it into the 2003 budget.

"I am not saying by my vote that I do not support economic development," Price said. "By my vote I am simply saying at this point we are putting the cart before the horse."

Cleary said he thinks the city may have the money to create the position but would prefer to wait until the final budget from 2002 is completed because he does not want to see history repeat itself.

"My position is that we went through this in 1999 then got unfunded," he said. "To bring legislation and make a top priority is good, but we have to make sure the money is there."

In 1999, $75,000 was allocated to create the department. About half of that would have been used for salary, but the council at the time then decided that the funding was not there after all.

In other business, Council passed a resolution voicing concerns over Adelphia Cable's programming choices.

Several council members received a letter from Steve Trippe, Adelphia's area manager, stating that the company would be adding adult programming for digital subscribers in February or March.

This comes on the heels of an Oct. 25 meeting where Trippe met with council. Several members mentioned that the residents would like to see the Ohio News Network added to the service.

Trippe said he would look into it and get back to council. As of Thursday, he had not contacted council as a whole about the issues.

Effective November, the company imposed an increase of an average of $2 per month depending on the package and an additional $1 for the premium movie channels.

Elam said that in his personal discussions, Trippe indicated that he was fairly confident that they could provide ONN but has not talked to him since.

"(Adelphia) says they are in tune to the customers. Well, we are customers and I do not feel they have met that." Councilman Brent Pyles said. "I still do not see a commitment to what our residents want."

Council chairman Jesse Roberts asked the Mayor to contact Trippe to let him know the way council feels and ask him to come to the first meeting in February.

"Mr. Trippe needs to be here at the next meeting to answer our concerns and answer them with some finality," Robert said.

Adelphia's contract to provide cable service to the city expires in 2006.