Council takes step to shutter camera

The measure went to the first of three readings Monday night.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The start of a new year and new faces on council could mean a change in feelings toward legislation that has permitted a camera to catch speeders here.
Councilman Tom Seidler proposed legislation to rescind the ordinance permitting the speed camera. The camera has been in use on city streets since July.
Use of the camera has been the center of controversy in the city since its first photograph, with complaints from those ticketed and less-than-favorable discussion among members of the community. There are two lawsuits pending against the city concerning its use.
Seidler initially wanted the legislation to rescind the ordinance placed on the agenda as an emergency, allowing council to act on it immediately. Six council members' votes are needed to move legislation as an emergency, but only five voted in favor of doing so. The proposed legislation went to a first of three readings.
Councilmen Joe Shelby and Michael Costarella did not vote in favor of placing the legislation before council as an emergency.
Seidler said he proposed the legislation to rescind the ordinance because the city's image has suffered with the use of the camera and business has been adversely affected. Getting rid of the camera now, he said, is the best move for the city.
"This will be the first step to restoring the city's image," he said.
What's declining
According to Seidler, business owners have said there is a noticeable decline in the number of patrons coming to the city with the camera in place and additional business owners are reluctant to move into the city. Those factors, he said, make it difficult for the city to generate additional tax revenue.
The camera has generated about $85,000 in revenue for the city since it was put in place, but Seidler said the city will have to find a way to function without the money.
Seidler said speeding on streets here needs to be addressed with an officer.
"This council is uniform in impressing upon this administration that an additional police officer is needed to address speed concerns in this community," he said.
Shelby, who did not want the legislation considered as an emergency, said his opposition to immediately rescind the camera legislation does not come out of love or support of the camera. He said use of the camera here needs to stop, but he would like to see a statewide precedent set on its use before that happens.
Councilman Dan Moadus, who has a pending lawsuit against the city for its use of the camera, said even if the camera is put away, his lawsuit will continue. Moadus said the lawsuit has grown to include 20 additional people who all want to see it played out in court. He said a court ruling will set precedent on the matter and put it to rest.
Speed problem
Mayor James Melfi and Safety Service Director Jerry Lambert said, should the use of the camera be stopped, reducing the number of speeders here will still be a priority for city leaders. Melfi said the camera was beneficial in doing so.
"If you are a person that believes that a slower traffic pattern makes for a safer street, then the camera accomplishes that goal," he said.
Still, Melfi said he would support any decision by council to do away with the camera. He said the city functioned without the device before and can do so again.
In the coming weeks, council will be considering where to hold the $85,000 collected in camera fees. The money is kept in the general fund as a separate line-item, but some members of council want the funds kept in escrow in case the city is forced to return the money after any unfavorable court ruling.
jgoodwin@vindy.com