Chief seeks to hire more police officers

Officials are reviewing the police chief's proposal.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Police Chief Frank Bigowsky feels it is time to hire a few police officers and he's pleaded his case before city council's finance committee.
The city police department will have one officer retiring May 6. Bigowsky would like to replace that officer and hire one additional officer and a full-time dispatcher.
According to Bigowsky, the police department is operating with a $54,500 cushion for the remainder of the year. Replacing the retiring senior officer with an incoming officer will save the city an additional $7,272 by year's end, he said. Incoming officers are paid 75 percent of the amount a senior officer is paid.
Bigowsky said the city must also take into account $15,000 that will be given to the city from the school district for the school resource officer, and $4,500 reimbursement coming from the county task force.
Cost
Bigowsky said the department would be operating under budget by more than $81,000 for the year even after replacing the retiring officer. He said hiring an additional officer and another dispatcher would cost the city $56,290 for the rest of the year.
Bigowsky said hiring the additional people would also save on overtime costs in the department. The police department spent upward of $160,000 in overtime during 2005.
"Not only will we save money by hiring these people in at 75 percent the rate, but I am hoping to save at least $46,000 in overtime between November and December," he said.
The city recently received 45 applications for entry-level police officers and 18 applications for entry-level firefighters. A civil service exam is set for April 25.
City Auditor Sam Zirafi will look over the figures provided by Bigowsky and offer an opinion to the finance committee and the rest of council. Zirafi did, however, show some concern with the idea of paying the salaries of newly hired employees in the years to come.
Councilmen Joe Shelby and Frank Migliozzi said they were concerned with the $15,000 payment from the school district for the school resource officer. They said the payment should be closer to half the cost.
Bigowsky said $30,000 is closer to half the cost, but added he does not want the school district paying more of the officer's salary than the city because the officer must still answer to police and city officials.
Finance committee members plan to discuss the matter with school officials.
Busing program
Finance committee members also briefly discussed the city's current busing program for the elderly. Council's community development committee, headed by Councilman Tom Seidler, has been weighing the benefits of joining the Niles Trumbull Transit Authority instead of maintaining the current city busing program.
According to Zirafi, the current program costs about $30,000 annually. About $14,000 of the program is funded through grants and donations from riders; the general fund picks up the remaining $16,000.
Shelby said joining the Niles Trumbull Transit Authority is beneficial because it operates seven days a week, serves the entire population and would cost about $5,400 for the first year. The current city program operates three days a week and serves only the senior population.
jgoodwin@vindy.com