WARREN MUNICIPAL COURT Bill for photos becomes an issue

The city law director said he will review the matter.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city law director will soon decide if the auditor should reimburse a municipal court judge for wallet photographs taken for court publications.
Auditor Dave Griffing said he sought the legal opinion after Judge Thomas Gysegem sent him another letter last week instructing him to pay the $90.53 bill.
"I would instruct you to pay this forthwith," Judge Gysegem's memo to Griffing states. "If you do not, I would expect a written response as to what your intentions are regarding this order."
Griffing has refused to pay the bill. In May, the judge asked to be reimbursed for 16 wallet-size photographs that he had taken for court publications. When the bill was not paid, the judge signed a judgment entry Sept. 28 ordering Griffing to pay.
"This is not something we pay," Griffing said. "I want the law department to advise me as to the proper way to process this issue." City Law Director Greg Hicks said he will review the matter and give an opinion to Griffing in the next two weeks.
What could happen
Judge Gysegem declined to discuss the matter. He said, however, he didn't know if he'll wait for Hick's decision before decided to enforce the court ruling.
If the judge does enforce the court ruling, he could hold a hearing to determine if Griffing is in contempt of court. The judge added that he's not asking for general fund money but payment from court funds.
The judge has said he believes the auditor's refusal to pay for the photographs is personal.
Griffing said that in the 20 years he has worked for the finance department he has processed more than a half-million requests from city departments.
"Thousands of these requests for payment have not been processed, and every department of the city has had requests not processed," Griffing said. "The municipal court is not unique in having requests not processed."
Griffing added the only other request he can remember not paying for the judge dealt with a $2 bill from the Hot Dog Shoppe. "I actually ended up paying that because of the amount of money we spent on letters going back and forth on it cost more than the bill," Griffing said.
sinkovich@vindy.com