SAFETY FORCES Warren officials review budget

Buying five new police cars per year would keep the fleet current, the chief said.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- By charging installers of underground gas storage tanks for the time a fire inspector must be on hand, an area of the fire department's overtime costs could be contained.
Doug Franklin, safety-service director, and Auditor David Griffing are conducting first-quarter budget reviews this week with department heads.
At the review with the fire department, Griffing pointed out that the department's overtime had been depleted from about $45,000 to just over $30,000.
Before 2002, the city didn't have state-certified inspectors, so when a private company obtained a permit to install, remove or perform other work on an underground storage tank at a filling station, they had to hire an inspector, Fire Chief Ken Nussle said.
The department staffs two state-certified inspectors who oversee that work, but the city isn't paid by the contractor.
"I'd like to see some sort of legislation that they pay," Nussle said. "They're the ones that need us, we don't need them, yet we pay."
Police department
During the police department's review, Chief John Mandopoulos said his department's vehicle maintenance account should be lower the remainder of this year because five new cruisers, which are under warranty, are coming into service.
The account started at $75,000 at the beginning of the year and is down to about $40,000.
A state audit performed a few years ago recommended that to keep the police department's fleet current, the city should buy five new cars each year.
"It's a necessary item, otherwise we can start walking to the calls," Mandopoulos said. The first year after the audit, the city bought new cars, the chief said, but no new cars were purchased for two years.
"To make it up and get back on schedule, we'll have to buy 15, and that's not going to happen," he said.
Capt. Tim Bowers said a long-running dispute between the city and Trumbull County regarding housing inmates may have been resolved.
The city contracts with the county for jail space, but some in the city have complained in recent months that Warren isn't getting the space its guaranteed by contract.
Both sides have been negotiating to resolve the disagreement for the last few months.
Law Director Greg Hicks said he thinks a solution suitable to all parties has been reached, but he declined to discuss specifics until it's in writing and has been finalized.
"There's been a great spirit of cooperation by both sides," Hicks added.