DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County Council adopted legislation at its March 3 meeting that allows the start of a pilot program to help local homeowners on the verge of foreclosure.

The program, a partnership between the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority and the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS), will allow families whose income is up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline to seek help. Qualified homeowners could receive up to $5,000 in assistance. Participants also will be required to undergo financial counseling services and develop a financial plan.

The legislation was introduced during the meeting and received first-reading passage. During the previous week’s committee meetings, the proposed program had been discussed in detail.

Still, Councilwoman Louise Heydorn (R-District 3) had a list of questions to ask during this week’s meeting about the program. She was concerned that 40 percent of the $500,000 being allotted for the program was being earmarked to administer the program.

Steve Zimmerman, assistant director of administration and finance for DJFS, said the 40 percent will go toward salaries as well as case management, collecting data and the costs associated with putting a lien on the properties in question.

Heydorn also questioned the use of the 300 percent of poverty guidelines as a qualification, noting that that would be $5,300 for a family of four per month.

Zimmerman said the program is a pilot and is based on a similar one recently begun in Lucas County, which used the 300 percent figure. He said it’s possible parts of the program will change once it is begun.

“This is going to be trial and error with these 60 families,” Zimmerman said. “We may make some adjustments.”

Heydorn said she ultimately would support the program but she felt that several of her questions needed to be raised.

“Is this the best use of county money?” she asked. “Forty percent for administrative costs is a little on the high side, but I’m not going to vote against this because I know the need exists.”

Implementation of the program began March 4 and it will run through June 30. Depending on its success, the program may be renewed for an additional year. For more information, call (330) 376-9099 or go to www.akronhousing.org/foreclosure-prevention.aspx.

Council also passed on first reading a resolution authorizing the county executive’s office be recommended for a state of Ohio Industrial Site Improvement Fund grant of up to $750,000 for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. project. According to the legislation, the grant program is to assist economically disadvantaged counties improve infrastructure or remediate contaminated sites which are used for commercial or industrial purposes.

In other business, because of the absence of three Council members — Nick Kostandaras (D-District 1), Cazzell Smith (D-District 5) and Paula Prentice (D-District 8) — who were attending a National Association of Counties conference in Washington, D.C., legislation regarding the purchase of property in Cuyahoga Falls and Barberton for the Summit County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) could not be voted on. The legislation was on second reading and needed eight votes to pass, but Heydorn asked to abstain because she knows some of the current property owners.

The two properties will be the site of new buildings for the MRDD board. The two new locations will fill the need for services once the MRDD board closes its Bath location on North Cleveland-Massillon Road, a site that has been chosen as the location of new headquarters for InfoCision.

Jason Dodson, an attorney in Summit County Executive Russ Pry’s office, said one of the transactions must be finalized by March 16, which is the day before the next regular Council meeting. He asked if Council would consider holding a special meeting to vote on the issue after committee meetings March 10. Vice President Tim Crawford (D-District 7) said Council would consider the request.

Also Monday, Council adopted all legislation unanimously agreed to by committee, including:

• the formation of the Summit County Green Policy Task Force, which will be made up of 10 people appointed by the executive and confirmed by Council. The purpose of the task force will be to examine and recommend plans for the county that would encourage environmental protection and economic growth; pursue methods of increasing energy efficiency of county buildings and promoting the construction of green buildings; increase the county’s use of alternative fuels; improving waste management policies; and recommending a plan to promote awareness and environmental literacy throughout the county.

According to the legislation, the task force, once formed, will meet for six months and then make a report to Council and the executive;

• the Capital Improvements Program for 2008-13 which includes allocation of $3.6 million for 2008 projects; and
• a $50,000 grant to the All-American Soap Box Derby for 2008.

Summit County Council is scheduled to meet for committee meetings March 10 at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St.