GIRARD Recovery outline revealed
The mayor plans to increase water rates 7 percent this year and 3 percent each year after.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Mayor James J. Melfi has unveiled his financial recovery plan to dig the city out of debt within five years.
The plan made public Monday during the city council meeting parallels cost-cutting and revenue-generating recommendations contained in a January state auditor's performance audit.
The recovery plan must be approved by council and by the state fiscal planning and supervision commission overseeing city spending since the community was placed under fiscal emergency in August by state Auditor Jim Petro.
Some actions already have been instituted, such as laying off city workers and increasing building permit fees.
Others can be done in the short term, such as raising water rates 7 percent this year and 3 percent each year after.
The rate increase, according to the plan, will boost revenue $140,000 this year and $60,000 every year after.
The plan also calls for placing either a 5-mill or 0.5-percent income tax increase on a special August ballot or on the November general election ballot this year.
Some actions the mayor intends to take include eliminating employee uniform allowances, selling the justice center parking lot, renegotiating the cable franchise and having employees pay a portion of health-care costs.
Melfi and council have already taken a number of steps noted in the plan, such as increasing the sewer rate and reducing funds allocated for recreation.
Actions approved: Council took action to increase city revenue at Monday's meeting.
Lawmakers initiated a $100 fee for contractors to work in the city. Certificates will be issued at the engineering/zoning office.
Council also authorized soliciting bids for a computer software package for municipal court.
Judge Michael A. Bernard said the computer program will cost between $40,000 and $90,000, depending on its features. The city is in the process of installing $26,000 in hardware.
The system, which will provide better public access through the Internet will be paid from court funds.
Marlane Nibert, a technical consultant for the Ohio Supreme Court, told lawmakers that the court system has not been updated since 1996 and that a "significant upgrade" is needed.
Short-staffed: Fire Chief Kenneth Bornemis told council three firefighters respond to calls three-quarters of the time.
He has formed a committee within the department to establish procedures at the fire station with three, four and five members.
The city had been responding to calls with five firefighters until the layoff of 13 part-timers.
yovich@vindy.com