Councilmen table legislation until program can be studied further<!—->.

Thursday, February 21, 2002

Councilmen table legislation until program can be studied further

Ironton city councilmen have tabled legislation which would employ two grant writers for the city.

City officials recently learned of the grant-writing program sponsored by the Scioto County Community Action Organization through council newcomer John Elam. Under the program, former employees of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant in Piketon would receive a job as a grant writer with their salary paid for by a one-year grant.

Although the grant writers’ salary would be paid through a grant, the city would need to offer the grant writers insurance coverage and provide the "necessary instruction, supervision, support personnel, and equipment" needed to perform their duties.

There was some dissension among councilmen whether or not to table the legislation. Councilman Bob Lipker said, "we’ve had three readings," on the issue and it was time for councilmen to either "vote yes or no." Lipker voted against tabling the legislation, and so did Elam and fellow council newcomer Bob Isaac.

Council chairman Jesse Roberts said tabling the proposal wasn’t a move against hiring the grant writers, but he felt there were some parts of the arrangement that needed to be worked out before the city entered into the contract.

Roberts said he thought the legislation would be removed from the table and brought to a vote soon.

So far, city council has six applications in hand and council will enact a deadline for applications.