The City of Newark Service Committee on Sept. 2 authorized staff to proceed with leasing city-owned property at 33 West Main Street and to negotiate a management agreement with a private real-estate company to operate the building.

A presenter referenced Ohio statutory authority (the transcript cites "Ohio revised code 72 7 21.23") as the basis for permitting the city-owned public building located at 33 West Main Street to be leased to private business until the city completes expansion plans for city administration offices and other public uses. Committee members said the city is updating leases that were in place when the building was purchased and requested authority to move forward with re-leasing.

The committee approved the initial permissive ordinance to allow leasing and later approved a resolution directing the director of public service to negotiate and enter a new management agreement with 33 West Main (the private operator) to manage the property; both measures passed by voice vote 5-0. The committee noted the management agreement would be subject to appropriation.

During the service committee discussion, speakers named included "Mr. Rhodes" and "Mr. Welch," who were referenced in the presentation, and council members moved and seconded the items (motion by Cost; second by Line). The committee recorded no public opposition during the meeting; one public speaker later asked about future plans for the location during the related zoning discussion.

Staff will proceed to finalize lease forms and negotiate the management agreement; the negotiated agreement will return to council for appropriation and final approval as required by municipal contracting rules.