Mayor looks into hirings

Hiring more police may reduce overtime costs, one councilman said.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Mayor James Melfi told city council that he has asked the auditor to review finances available to the police department to determine whether an additional police officer and a dispatcher can be hired.
Police Chief Frank Bigowsky has pleaded with city leaders for more police officers. He has presented several plans to city leaders in the last year detailing ways to hire new officers at little additional cost. Melfi had previously rejected the plans because the city is fighting its way out of fiscal emergency.
Melfi told council Monday that the city is now recovering nicely from fiscal emergency and he would like to explore filling vacant positions within the department.
Councilman Frank Migliozzi said filling any vacant positions in the police department could save money on overtime. He said any findings by the auditor should come before council's finance committee for review.
"I believe this will cut down on a lot of overtime," he said.
Rental inspections
In other business, council approved an ordinance regulating the inspection of rental properties and premises in the city. The new ordinance takes the oversight of the inspection program out of the jurisdiction of city health officials and places it with city administration. There is also a new fee schedule and some changes to policy.
Bob Villers, Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste Management District, also addressed council before its regular meeting Monday. Villers wants council's support for a planned increase in fees charged by the district for accepting waste.
Villers said the district has the needed 75 percent approval from the 56 political subdivisions it serves, but would like approval from as many subdivisions as possible before taking the new plan with the rate increase to Columbus.
"With the change in government in Columbus, we think we may get a new director of the state EPA and would like to send a plan to Columbus with as much local support as possible," he said.
The district is looking to increase its fees from the current 3.50 per ton to 5.50 per ton. Councilman Dan Moadus said the increase would equal an additional 15,000 annually for the city.
Council will vote on the matter at a later date.
jgoodwin@vindy.com