Judge tells employees he can't pay them

The judge, bailiff, clerk of courts and magistrate will still be on the job.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Judge Michael Bernard informed court employees by memo Wednesday that there are no funds available to meet payroll through year's end.
Girard Municipal Court has exhausted its money for 2006. Because city officials have refused to appropriate additional funds, the court will have to operate with four employees. The remaining 11 court employees have been laid off.
"It is my understanding that no court employee will receive wages for work performed during a six-week period from Nov. 6, 2006, through Dec. 16, 2006. Work performed after Dec. 16, 2006, will be paid on Jan. 4, 2007," the memo states.
One court employee, who did not want to be named, said employees affected by the funding issue have already worked more than one week past the date specified in the memo. The employee said there are questions as to how those now being laid off will be compensated for that time worked.
The judge, bailiff, clerk of courts and magistrate will still be on the job.
Those four receive part of their compensation from Trumbull County and must work at least the portion of time still being funded with county dollars.
Some functions out
Judge Bernard said he and the three remaining employees will be in the court daily to handle as much of the work as possible, but some court functions will not be conducted.
"I will be here to address certain matters such as search warrants, arraignments and video arraignments, but I cannot conduct any criminal trials without a court reporter. We will do the best we can do with three people," he said.
As for working on a plan with city officials to obtain additional funding from the city and bring the employees back to work before the end of the six-week period, the judge simply said: "I have done the best I can."
The judge did propose a plan for funding to city council earlier this week. The judge said he would use 143,000 from the court's restricted funds to help meet his funding obligations through year's end -- but he asked council to appropriate an additional 71,000 to the court.
The court has about 250,000 in special fund accounts.
The additional 71,000 was 14,326 more than a funding request previously rejected by council. The judge said the additional costs came from unemployment contributions associated with laying off four employees after the 11th District Court of Appeals denied his request for more funding in September.
Judge Bernard also asked council to cover all health-care costs for court employees through the end of the year. Council unanimously rejected that proposal.