In order to continue to clean up the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. site on Sharpsville Avenue in Sharon, James B. Winner is asking Sharon City Council for help.

Winner asked council Thursday to act as the applicant for a $7 million state loan. Winner said he has no guarantee he's going to get the money to help complete the $18 million renovation project, but city employees won't have to do much work if the city acts as the applicant.

Winner said he is also trying to get a $1.25 million Department of Community and Economic Development loan for infrastructure work at the site. As that loan is paid back, the city will get the money, essentially making money for the city, he said.

Solicitor William Madden said the loan has to go through an industrial development authority, so Sharon would have to form an authority. It's up to Mayor David O. Ryan to appoint the authority members, he said.

Solicitor Lou Rotunno asked to have at least two council members appointed to the committee if it's legal and there's not a conflict of interest.

Winner said he will pay any costs the city might incur through forming an authority.

"Your exposure in this, I don't know what it would be. I don't think you have any downsides," Winner said.

Madden said he had a concern because the city would be liable if the loan was not repaid or the project was not conducted properly.

Winner said the project -- which includes an addition to the existing building, repairing the roof, pressure washing the walls and floors and black topping a parking lot -- will be carefully monitored.

This portion of the renovations is the third phase in the attempt to clean up the site which closed in 1985. Winner said he doesn't know exactly what the fourth phase will entail but the floors may have to be sealed.

Resident Carol Swartz asked Winner what the chances are that a business would move into the building.

Winner said he can't say but that he has had several inquiries about the building over the past few years. The people inquiring always lost interest when they couldn't be guaranteed a date that the building would be ready, Winner said.

Winner tried to reassure councilmembers that the project will be completed. He told them he has invested more than $11 million of his money into the project, and he doesn't want to let the site just sit there.

"I think it's imperative that Westinghouse be utilized," Councilman Raymond Fabian said.

His fellow councilmembers agreed. There was a unanimous vote on a first reading of an ordinance to establish an industrial development authority.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharon-herald.com