GIRARD Officials juggle cash to end 2003 in black

A second transfer needs to be approved in the county courts.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Calling it "the least damaging option we have," city officials transferred some, but not all, of the money needed to balance the books.
Council unanimously agreed during Monday's special meeting to transfer $150,000 to the general fund from a bond retirement fund that was overfunded for the U.S. Route 422 utilities project.
But an opinion from the city's law director put a hold on a separate transfer of $107,000 in cable television franchise fees from a capital improvement fund to the general fund.
In a letter to council Thursday, Law Director Mark M. Standohar said council cannot transfer the cable franchise fees because it's a move "that can only take place with the approval of the [Trumbull County] Court of Common Pleas."
Standohar said since the money's already been deposited, state law prohibits council from using it in another fund. He said he will petition the court for the transfer within the next three weeks.
The transfers were needed so the city, which is in a state-imposed fiscal emergency, could avoid finishing the fiscal year $476,000 in the red.
Councilwoman Kathleen O'Connell Sauline said that though she voted in favor of the transfer, she was concerned that it was only a short-term solution, and that, if left unchecked, the city's financial situation could worsen.
"If we think we will be able to rely on that same option in 2004, we can't," she said.
Road work
Also at the meeting, council approved a $127,462.05 contract with Shelly & amp; Sands Inc. of Youngstown for street paving in the city.
Streets to be paved are:
UNorth Randolph Street from Trumbull to Taylor Avenue.
UDavis Street from Illinois to Iowa Avenue.
UElruth Court from Mosier Road to Wilson Avenue.
UMorris Avenue from State Street to St. Clair Court.
USouth Market Street from Wilson Avenue to Abbey Street.
UStewart Street from Main to Kline Street.
UHighland Avenue from Liberty Street to Church Hill Road.
UWard Avenue from Kline Street to Broadway Avenue.
UWashington Avenue from Smithsonian Street to Park Avenue.
UShannon Road from Church Hill Road to the northern city limits.
UBeaver Street from Shannon Road to Woodlawn Avenue.
slshaulis@vindy.com