Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton The owner of this concrete pad along the base of Liberty St. has offered it to the City of Warren for $1 in exchange for the city taking responsibility for Breeze Point Circle — the street that surrounds the riverfront townhouses.

Monday’s Warren City Council meeting included a fair bit of deal making.

The council has tabled action on a proposal that would see the city take title to the concrete pad adjacent to the riverfront townhouses in exchange for taking possession of the street — Breeze Point Circle — around that development.

Public Works Director Mike Holtz said the original intent when the Innovate Warren brought all that new construction downtown was for the city to accept the street.

He said it may have a solid base but does not meet turning radius requirements by PennDOT to make it eligible for liquid field funding. As a result, the city has not to date accepted the street and the maintenance of its has remained with the developer and owner, Robert Yoder.

Holtz then told the council the crux of the deal — that Yoder was agreeable to subdivide the concrete pad to the city in exchange for the city accepting Breeze Point Circle.

Re-paving work needed on the street was estimated in the range of $50,000.

Councilman Douglas Hearn asked about what’s underneath the pad. “(Are there) any concerns about what we’re going to find?” he asked.

Holtz said there aren’t as the majority of the parcel was previously city-owned parking lot. “We’re familiar with what’s under that,” he said.

Wortman asked about the ongoing maintenance costs if the city takes the street.

Holtz said they would be “minimal” once the re-paving is complete “besides the winter maintenance and snow and ice control.” He estimated it wouldn’t need to be paved again for 12-15 years as it’s a low traffic street.

Yoder said he has “no problem deeding it over for whatever the value of it is plus the value of the infrastructure we put in. He would deed the property to the city for $1 with the provision that several spaces be set aside for bank employees.

Mayor Maurice Cashman said the property has intrinsic value based on the development role it could play and noted that Yoder would give it to the city for $1 and write it off the value for tax purposes.

Holtz told the council that DPW crews could, in-house, remove what’s on the pad. He estimated there would be space for 20 normal parking spaces on the site but said there has been discussion about turning it into parking spaces for boat ramps should the boat launch proposal come to fruition.

City Manager Nancy Freenock explained that the city currently owns the land where the road is constructed.

Wortman asked to table the item to provide time to “understand the city’s legal responsibility for the road.”

That motion was approved and the issue will be back before council at the December meeting.