YOUNGSTOWN - At Youngstown City Council on Wednesday, the council approved ratifying the tentative agreement between the city and Teamsters Local 377.

Members of the street department's union have been in negotiations with the city for months. The union was looking for higher pay and the availability to schedule vacation and sick PTO during busy work months.

People who plow and fix the streets in the City of Youngstown have said they are underpaid and overworked. Seven years ago there were 36 workers in the Youngstown Street Department who would do things like fill potholes and plow streets but now they are down to 24.
 

As staffing in the department continues to struggle, council members told 21 News Wednesday they're glad a decision was reached before the snowy winter weather rolls around. 

Council also moved the 'Mow to Own' program to a second reading before it's voted on. The way "Mow to Own" works, people living around vacant lots can maintain the property in exchange for ownership of it. This is all an effort to improve the appearance of vacant lots in the city. The application fee would be $190 and those caring for the property must prove they can maintain it for at least a year.