GIRARD Mayor, judge continue debate over court cuts

The judge says he will take the city to court if need be.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Mayor James Melfi is proposing that the municipal court budget be dramatically reduced, but the judge says not so fast.
Melfi fired the latest salvo at Judge Michael Bernard during Monday's city council meeting in a continuing dispute over the cost of the justice center and who will pay for it.
The city is under a state-imposed fiscal emergency.
Melfi told lawmakers he is proposing that the court budget be reduced by $410,549 in 2002.
This year, the court was budgeted $836,000 from the general fund.
The mayor said he wants to see the budget cut by 29 percent, or $241,860.
In addition, he wants $168,689 eliminated from the court budget, which is half the annual payment made on the loan to build the justice center.
"Naturally, that's not going to happen," Judge Bernard said later.
The judge said that the city has the right to budget but that he will take the city to court to get what he determines is the amount needed to operate the court.
Judge's case: Judge Bernard explained that he needs $830,000 annually from the general fund. He plans to return $250,000 next year to the city from the court's restricted funds, plus $520,000 in fines and costs.
That leaves between $20,000 and $60,000 the court needs from the general fund, the judge said.
Last week, Judge Bernard stopped paying $9,300 monthly toward the justice center loan because the city didn't notify him it was changing the terms of the loan.
Changing the terms, according to the state auditor's office, will save the city about $23,000 on the loan.
Judge Bernard said that he will probably reinstate the payments after working with council's new finance committee after the first of the year.
Councilwoman Kathleen O'Connell Sauline, D-2nd, will serve as committee chairwoman. Other members will be Councilmen Brian Kren, D-3rd, and Joseph Lambert, D-4th.
Union pleas: During Monday's meeting, city union leaders lobbied the administration and lawmakers not to lay off workers.
Otto Holm Jr., staff representative for the Fraternal Order of Police, asked the city to move quickly to determine if there will be cuts in the police department, which already has seen staff reductions.
Firefighter Phil Cretella, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 1220, said layoffs in firefighting ranks would be a "slap in the face" to the department, which has seen cutbacks.
"Shame on you," one resident told the administration and council for not having a 2002 budget in place by now.
Council called a special meeting for 7 p.m. Monday to consider a three-month budget.
Auditor Sam Zirafi said the budget will be 25 percent of the city's anticipated 2002 revenue of $3.7 million.