Warren City Council has approved a maintenance agreement for the roundabout at Market St. and Pennsylvania Ave.

But some grievances were aired first.

Mayor Dave Wortman started by citing entities that have graded the state’s infrastructure at C- or D+ as well as challenges in EMS, healthcare and education funding but the state is “going to spend up to $5 million on a no return roundabout, $2.5 million more than the estimate that was used to sell and approve this project.”

He said $5 million is nearly half of the city’s budget and emphasized that “this council recommended the signal replacement” at the intersection. “This needs to be reevaluated. Failure to reevaluate and proceed with this roundabout is unacceptable and a wasteful use of taxpayer money.”

Wortman argued that the current cost means that “either PennDOT’s estimate process is broken” or that the estimated cost was “deliberately underestimated.”

He again called on “unelected bureaucrats” to be held accountable regarding this project.

Councilman John Wortman then made a motion to postpone action on the maintenance agreement “indefinitely.”

He argued the city has “no contractual obligation to maintain this roundabout.

“The Department of Transportation has made quite clear that they do not want this council or the citizens of Warren’s opinion on this project,” he said. “(They) don’t need any city money to pay for it.”

PennDOT Project Manager Christine Boyer-Krantz said the agreement covers landscaping in the center island and that if no agreement is in place by May 31 several items will be taken out of the project including a center island retaining wall as well as electric and wire hookups. The landscaping will be replaced with rocks with no agreement.

Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz was asked about annual maintenance costs and cited the electricity to power the lights as well as a “maintenance project every so often.”

Councilwoman Wendy McCain spoke about concerns of not having a center island that is appealing.

“The nicer version is going to cost taxpayers additional monies,” John Wortman said.

Holtz called the landscaping light “in comparison to everything else we do….”

“This project is already grossly over budget,” John Wortman added. “Any opportunities that we have as fiduciaries… to save financial resources with the state and city… we should take that opportunity.”

The motion to postpone signing the agreement failed 4-3 with Jared Villella, McCain, Phil Gilbert and Maurice Cashman opposing the effort.

Those four then approved motions to sign the agreement as well as a resolution authorizing the city to sign.