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Steubenville City Council will decide Tuesday if it wants to tweak the rules for their controversial public forum.
The ordinance, introduced in December by then-Fifth Ward Councilman Willie Paul, would amend the rules to require members of the public who wish to comment to sign up by noon the day of the meeting.
Currently, the public can sign up during the meeting, but some city officials have long argued that having speakers sign up ahead of time allows them to research the issues they're concerned about and have the answers they're looking for.
Paul had said it also would prevent people from blindsiding members of council or department heads with unproven allegations.
Second reading also will be given to ordinances which, if approved, would do away with Neighborhood Conservation Districts and "dedicate $6 million, if necessary" to secure a HUD Choice Neighborhoods implementation grant. Both were introduced by Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo.
The city was one of nine communities to be awarded a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods planning grant last year to develop a strategy that would transform the North End community. At the end of the two-year planning process, HUD will award one of those communities $30 million to $50 million in additional funds to implement their plan.
Mayo contends that without the city "putting some skin in the game," Steubenville's odds of snagging the coveted implementation grant are slim.
Council's meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.