Merger of two courts will save money and time

The mental health board's levy guru is retiring.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Municipal Alcohol and Drug and Mental Health courts, operated separately by Judge Robert Douglas of Youngstown Municipal Court for 31/2 and 21/2 years, respectively, will be merged, effective Feb. 1.
Currently, the mental health court meets Wednesdays and the drug and alcohol court is Thursdays, said Ron Marian, executive director of the Mahoning County Mental Health Board.
Marian said Judge Douglas' idea to merge the courts, which will be in session at 1 p.m. Wednesdays, will save time and money. It also will allow the courts' teams, consisting of probation officers, police and attorneys, also to be merged, Marian said at Thursday's county mental health board meeting.
Because of the merger, the county board was able to rescind a previous resolution allocating $15,000 for fiscal year 2006 for the continuation of the municipal mental health court.
The two courts offer certain misdemeanor offenders treatment possibilities in lieu of jail time.
Gorman retires
In other action, the board accepted the retirement letter of longtime employee Joseph Gorman, administrative director.
Board Chairman Andrew Hamady described Gorman as the "backbone of the board, particularly as it pertains to levies."
"The board's many successful levy campaigns were due in large part to his hard work and understanding of the people and politics of the Mahoning Valley," Hamady said.
Gorman, during an emotional thanks for the retirement celebration given him before the board meeting, asked his friends and fellow employees to do two things after he retires: "Keep doing everything you are doing, because it is important," and "Keep in touch."
Gorman began his career with the mental health board in 1978 as an administrative specialist.
alcorn@vindy.com