Friday, November 28, 2003
The general fund would have run out of cash by mid-December.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- City council has increased this year's general fund budget, apparently eliminating the shutdown of some city services in December.
Mayor James J. Melfi said the increase of $145,000 in the general fund appropriation approved by lawmakers Monday means the budget will be balanced.
Melfi asserted the "pending doom" forecasted by Councilwoman Kathleen O'Connell Sauline, D-2nd, who chairs council's finance committee, will not occur.
Asked if he would furlough any city employees this year, Melfi responded, "no comment."
Most of the $145,000 comes from Girard Municipal Court in the form of payments toward the debt incurred to construct the city's justice center.
City Auditor Sam Zirafi said, if not for the infusion of the $145,000, the city's general fund, from which the safety forces are paid, would run out of money by mid-December.
During an earlier finance committee meeting, Zirafi said the general fund receipts do not include money from the anticipated inheritance tax. That tax brings in an average $150,000 to $160,000 annually to the city.
Sauline said she was opposed to increasing the budget because lawmakers had reduced the general fund appropriation in June but asserted the administration continues to overspend.
But she voted for the measure, agreeing with Councilman Joseph Lambert, D-at large, that he didn't want to see the city unable to make payroll and pay vendors owed money.
Other actions
Also concerning finances, Sauline was unable muster enough votes to combine the safety director position with that of the service director.
Sauline said she asked for council to combine the positions in an effort to force the administration to save money.
Opposed were Councilmen Renny Paolone, D-1st; Clyde Wagner, D-3rd; and Lambert, John Moliterno and Joseph Christopher, all D-at large.
In another matter, Melfi announced that Family Video will be constructing a facility on the northwest corner of North State Street and Church Hill Road.
The store will eliminate two old buildings and a parking lot. Moliterno pointed out that it's a $1 million project. Also, Melfi said he will ask council to amend the agreement that allows the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer to treat waste in the city's sewage treatment plant from 20 to 40 years.
The county has received a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to install sanitary sewers along Shannon Road in Liberty.
The federal government, the mayor explains, wants the number of years in the agreement to match the years it will take to pay off the loan.
About 100 homes along Shannon will receive sanitary service. Sewage from the area now drains into the city and isn't being treated.
Council agreed to cancel its Dec. 22 meeting.
yovich@vindy.com