Correspondent photo / Kegan Wormley Judge James A. Melone addresses Struthers City Council about plans to renovate the chambers in City Hall during a meeting Wednesday.

Staff report

Judge James A. Melone addressed city council Wednesday regarding proposed renovations to the Struthers Municipal Court chambers in City Hall, aiming to modernize the space and improve functionality.

The court has recently begun conducting jury trials but the current setup lacks essential features such as a jury box and witness stand, requiring temporary chairs and tables to serve as substitutes.

“Lots of people didn’t even know we did that sort of thing here … It’s important we have that decorum, that it feels like a courtroom,” Melone stated.

The room has seen only minor alterations over the years, such as new flooring installed during the pandemic, while council meetings were held online, and a new tile ceiling. However, the chamber’s trademark wood paneling — a fixture for longer than some council members can remember — has overserved its sentence and requires some modern upgrades.

Among those will be an overhaul of the chamber’s audio-visual system. Currently, two separate camera systems are in use, creating inefficiencies. The project will consolidate them into a single system, reducing redundancy, technical issues and long-term costs. This will enhance audio and video clarity for council meetings and could even allow livestreaming of court proceedings if public interest warrants it.

Melone has reached out to Olsavsky Jaminet Architects Inc. to draft the designs, as they have previous experience remodeling the Youngstown Municipal Court’s chambers. While no firm timelines are set, the goal is to schedule construction during council’s recess in July and August to minimize disruption. During that period, however, court operations will have to temporarily relocate.

Funding for the renovations will come from the court’s budget. Melone has also recently adjusted the court’s financials, redirecting unused excess funds from court costs to the city’s general fund.