YOUNGSTOWN -  A Youngstown city councilman isn’t happy about the demolition of a vacant downtown restaurant one day after he said someone was interested in renovating the building.

During Monday’s council finance meeting, First Ward Councilman Julius Oliver questioned why the former Anthony’s On The River restaurant building on Oak Hill Avenue was demolished this past Saturday, five days before the council was scheduled to vote on emergency demolition of the building.

Oliver says he told Mayor Jamaal Brown and Fire Chief Barry Finley on Friday that someone was interested in renovating the building but didn’t learn about the demolition until Saturday morning when the building was coming down.

Chief Finley told council members that he later was told that more bricks had fallen from the building, and he considered its possible collapse a danger to members of the public who might be passing by, as well as his firefighters who may be called to a fire there.

Blight Remediation and Code Enforcement Superintendent Michael Durkin said he was irritated by Oliver’s assertion that something “secret” was going on to hastily demolish the building before the council had a chance to vote on spending the $48,000 for demolition.

Oliver disagreed that the building was a hazard, saying it was set back from the sidewalk, and someone could have repaired the roof and removed the mold.

Councilman Mike Ray told fellow members that he believes the issue was a matter of not communicating very well that happens from time to time.

The committee meeting may be seen on YouTube