GIRARD City stiffens noise-law penalties

Council will discuss the proposed financial recovery plan in two weeks.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Those caught disturbing the peace in the city will now face stiffer penalties.
Members of city council unanimously rescinded a noise ordinance and passed a new one governing radios and other sound devices in cars, handheld or on private property.
The noise ordinance under which the city was operating did not set a fine schedule for those caught violating it. The former ordinance also did not have increased penalties for repeat offenders.
Councilman Tom Seidler said several residents had complained about noise issues in the city. He said adding a set fine and increased penalties for repeat offenders will better equip police and the court for dealing with those who refuse to keep the noise level down.
"The existing ordinance only provided for a minor misdemeanor and a slap on the wrist. If you had deep pockets, you could disturb the peace all you want and just keep going before the judge," he said. "We want to solve the problem, and this puts a little more teeth in the law."
Under the new ordinance, a first-time offender is fined up to $100. Those caught disturbing the peace a second time will be fined up to $200. Those caught three or more times will be fined up to $300 and face the possibility of three days in jail.
Fines and jail time, Seidler said, will still be at the discretion of the court.
Financial recovery plan
Members of council's finance committee also recommended that council accept Mayor James Melfi's latest financial recovery plan -- with a few stipulations. The mayor has been required to submit an annual financial recovery plan to a state-appointed fiscal oversight commission since the city entered fiscal emergency in August 2001.
The committee recommended the plan be accepted if the city can postpone until spring 2007 an aspect of the plan that calls for borrowing money against future state appropriations. Councilman Frank Migliozzi said waiting until 2007 would allow the city to finish contract negotiations with city employees and resolve some unsettled financial issues with the court.
The city gets about $250,000 from the state annually. It will ask the state to give it one half of that annual amount for each of the next six years in one lump sum. In return for that advance, the state would withhold half of the city's annual allotment for the next eight years. The plan originally called for the advance to be taken this year.
Other aspects of the plan include revenue generated in 2006 from five to seven gas-well drillings on city property, interest from the Lakes/Dam Fund, renewal of the fire levy passed in 2004, inheritance tax applied to the general fund and a second harvesting of timber on city property in 2009.
The plan also includes several cost-saving strategies such as reducing workers' compensation expenditures and finding cheaper health insurance for city employees.
Council will discuss all aspects of the plan at its next meeting April 24.
jgoodwin@vindy.com