Legislation introduced to disband court

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A resolution says funding the court is putting city residents in danger.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — City council has been at odds with the Girard Municipal Court over financial issues for many months, now council may be taking steps to disband the court all together.

In legislation introduced by councilmen Tom Seidler and Dan Moadus and given a first reading Monday, council is considering a resolution petitioning the state Legislature to reassign the court to a different host city or merge the court with a court in a different city.

The resolution says the court has experienced a drop in its caseload over the past three years and an increase in operating expenses over the same period of time. The city is mandated by law to subsidize court expenses that exceed its revenue.

The resolution says the general fund — which pays for the court, the police department and fire department — has seen a reduction in revenue because of a dwindling tax base and other factors.

It claims the city's continued subsidization of the court will place the health, welfare and safety of city residents in jeopardy.

Fighting orders

City officials recently spent several days in the 11th District Court of Appeals fighting two orders for additional court funding issued by Girard Municipal Court Judge Michael Bernard in 2005 and this year.

Judge Bernard ordered the city to increase appropriations to the court for 2006 from $600,000 to $905,454. The magistrate in that case awarded the court a partial victory, ordering the city to appropriate an additional $180,000 to the court.

Council members placed an ordinance on the agenda for its next council meeting to address the additional funds the city must give the court. City officials or Judge Bernard, however, have until Wednesday to appeal the magistrate's decision.

Council also gave a first reading to an ordinance to set the salary of the clerk of courts at the Girard Municipal Court, but postponed that move indefinitely.

With the financial dispute between the city and court coming to an end, several council members are asking Mayor James Melfi when additional police officers will be hired in the city.

Melfi has said additional officers could not be hired until city leaders know how much money they will be ordered to give the court and how much money will be available in the general fund.

Understaffed

Police Chief Frank Bigowsky has consistently told council and city administration the police department is understaffed.

Councilmen Joe Shelby and Councilman Seidler questioned why four people had been hired in other city departments but no police officers had been hired. Seidler said the city is experiencing levels of crime unlike never before.

Melfi said police officers and employees in other departments are paid out of separate funds. Those employees hired in other departments, he said, were replacements for retirees in departments with enough funds to support the hiring.

Melfi said the police department may see some additional officers if the magistrate's decision concerning court funding stands.

"Barring any drawbacks in income tax ... we believe that we will balance the budget, reduce the deficit. ... Will there be funds available for additional police? It's a possibility," he said. "We have to be careful. We have to be cautious."

jgoodwin@vindy.com

Tuesday, September 12, 2006