YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Law Director has responded to a statement made by the Youngstown City Council on Wednesday after a meeting scheduled for Nov. 17 had been canceled. 

In City Council's statement, city clerk Valencia Mallow, the Law Department did not submit the items and legislation up for discussion by the deadline of Wednesday, Nov. 10.

However, Youngstown Law Director, Jeff Limbian responded to the statement claiming that the narrative for canceling the meeting is "misguided" stating that Rule 43 specifies the official deadline for ordinances and resolutions to be filed is Friday at Noon, not Wednesday.

"The Rules of City Council state with specificity that the deadline for proposed legislation is Friday at noon for meetings scheduled for the following week," Limbian said.

Limbian went on to state that some months ago, he was in talks with Councilwoman, Lauren McNally about moving the time up to Wednesday to accommodate the council's decision to move the meeting up to Monday, but stated that this did not mean the official Rule could be changed.

"You and Council Member McNally and I can have an understanding to attempt to have the legislation to you by Wednesday at noon as an effort of accommodation. However, you and Council Member McNally and I cannot unilaterally nor collectively amend the Rule to officially switch the deadline," Limbian said.

"Subsequent to the Law Department efforts to meet your needs, our efforts met with a new challenge. Suddenly, any legislation, which did not meet the newly manufactured 'deadline' of Wednesday at noon was utterly turned away as untimely. It was considered untimely, even though proposed pieces of legislation were forwarded to your office before the real City Council Rule deadline which remained Friday at noon," Limbian said.

Limbian went on to address the language used by Mallow directed at the Law Department in her statement, adding that Mallow neglected to mention that she was taking Friday off.

"You use words and phrases like 'repeated attempts,' 'failed again' and 'constant struggle' to describe the Law Department. You have my cell phone number. You never use it. We have worked outside the Rule to accommodate you. You should have mentioned that you were taking Friday off and we would have stayed late on Tuesday as we have in the past," Limbian said.

Limbian ended his response by stating that he will continue to try to accommodate the City Council's needs as best as he can and will continue to aim for Wednesday at noon and also offered to help draft a rule change for Rule 43, which states the deadline is Friday at noon.

"I hope we can work together more civilly and cooperatively in the future," Limbian said.