GIRARD Lawmaker wants mayor at financial meetings

Employees' medical expenses are a financial concern, the auditor says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The chairwoman of city council's finance committee wants to see Mayor James J. Melfi at her committee meetings.
Councilwoman Kathleen O'Connell Sauline, D-2nd, said that if Melfi doesn't attend, she will ask lawmakers to approve a resolution formally requesting his presence.
Sauline told fellow lawmakers at their Tuesday meeting that Melfi has not responded in four weeks to her request for an update of the mayor's five-year plan to get the city out of the red.
Sauline is especially concerned that the accumulated general fund deficit is now $1.5 million and Melfi has not explained how it will be reduced.
Melfi, who did not attend the meeting, termed Sauline's remarks childish, pointing out that she has attended only one in some 20 fiscal oversight commission meetings.
The commission has been meeting since the city was placed in state-imposed fiscal emergency.
"There is no need to panic," Melfi asserted when contacted after the meeting.
Sauline's comments came after her finance committee met before the council session.
Medical costs
During the committee meeting, Auditor Sam Zirafi reported that the city has spent $433,000 on employee medical claims thus far this year. Council budgeted $907,000 for the year.
The city is self-insured and may have to look at traditional coverage in which the city pays premiums. "It's a concern," Zirafi said of rising medical costs.
Sauline said her committee will meet at 6 p.m. June 9 before council's 7 p.m. meeting to begin looking at areas that will have to be cut to keep this year's general fund budget balanced.
Treasurer John Martin told the finance committee the city has collected $1.14 million in income tax through April, down about $2,800 from the same period in 2002.
The problem, Martin explained, is that 2002 was the first year the city allowed quarterly estimates to be paid. Those estimates already have been paid to the city through April.
Also, the city is required to refund $60,000 this month to two companies that overestimated their tax obligation to the city.
At the current pace, Martin estimated the city will end this year $100,000 short of the city's anticipated $3.3 million in income tax receipts.
He told council that construction workers on two projects will begin paying income tax in June.
Work is under way on the U.S. Route 422 widening project and state Route 711 connector.
yovich@vindy.com