GIRARD Judge Bernard, officials dispute cost of municipal justice center

The cost of the justice center was openly discussed with city officials, the judge says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Judge Michael A. Bernard disputes city officials' allegations that the new municipal justice center had a cost overrun.
He also rejects indications the center may be responsible for the city's deficit, which could total $1 million by year's end.
The judge said the court "has not contributed one cent" to the deficit.
At the request of Mayor James Melfi, the state auditor's office has agreed to conduct a special audit of city finances to determine the amount of the deficit.
A spokesman for Ohio Auditor Jim Petro said the special audit is being combined with the regular annual audit now being done and will be completed in early June.
Here are problems: City Auditor Sam Zirafi said the general fund is about $800,000 in the red, and that number could rise by year's end. Former Auditor Sam Lamancusa said the deficit could reach $1 million by the end of the year.
Also, the city cannot account for $175,000 that was supposedly in the capital safety fund to purchase 20 cars for the police department. The order has been canceled.
Zirafi, who replaced Lamancusa in February when Lamancusa took another job, said the building cost $5.1 million and may be the source of the deficit.
Zirafi pointed out that the estimated cost of the project was $3.5 million. Construction of the building began in 1999 and was completed in 2000.
The Vindicator reported in February 1998 that the cost of the project was estimated at $3 million. By July 1999, the estimated cost was $3.4 million.
Councilman Reynald Paolone, D-1st, chairman of council's finance committee, said he always believed the price tag to be $3.5 million.
"That's what we were told by day one" by the architect, MS Consultants of Youngstown, then-Mayor Vincent Schuyler and Judge Bernard, Paolone said.
What differs: Zirafi said his calculations put the cost of the justice center, which opened late last year, at $5.1 million. Judge Bernard places the cost at $4.5 million.
The judge explained that the construction bids on the center were about $3.5 million, but there was $71,947 for land acquisition, $322,164 for architectural fees and design, $145,058 in change orders that added to the cost and $54,320 for miscellaneous expenses, including $42,778 for a phone system.
Judge Bernard said the added costs, were "freely discussed" with council, Schuyler and his service director, Ralph Ruggiero. "Nobody should be surprised by these figures at all. Everybody agreed to the project."
Zirafi agreed with the judge that most projects cost more than anticipated. "In any project, you're going to have [cost] overruns," he said.
Zirafi's analysis shows the city has put the $4.1 million borrowed toward the cost of the building, but still owes $974,596, for a total cost of about $5.1 million.
However, the judge says the city has incorrectly attributed some city expenses to the building. For example, the city spent $80,000 on a park area in front of the center's parking lot. The judge believes that that should not be counted as part of the building's cost.
Offered: The judge said he has agreed to pay 35.7 percent, about $1.6 million, of the cost of the center with court funds because that is the percentage of the building that the court occupies.
The court occupies the second floor of the building and portions of the first floor and basement. The police department will eventually be moving into the center.
The court has so far paid $250,000 toward the center.
The judge wrote to Zirafi last Tuesday that the city wants the court to financially support the city because the city is in "dire financial difficulties."