Girard rehires guards at lower pay

The guards are back at the front doors but are being paid less than before.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Visitors to the city building will once again have to pass through a screening process now that armed guards are once again at the doors.
The guard station and large metal detector at the entrance to the city municipal building had gone unmanned for months. Before the start of the new year, the station had been manned by two retired police officers working alternate weeks. Those positions, paid through the court, were eliminated in an effort to reduce the court's budget.
Now, city officials have brought back the same two retired officers to guard the door. They will be paid a reduced rate by the city instead of by the court.
Jerry Lambert, safety services director, said city officials decided to put guards back at the door after receiving a list of recommendations on safety at the Girard Municipal Court. The recommendation for door security was made along with recommendations for additional lighting and repair of some security cameras that had malfunctioned and formation of a committee to address ongoing safety concerns.
Training
Lambert said the Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to provide training to court guards at no cost to the city.
"Before the committee actually meets, this part had to be addressed," Lambert said. "We wanted to make sure there were some security measures in place even if on a temporary basis for now."
Lambert said the city has brought back Sam Mosca and Pete Colla -- the same retired officers who handled door security under the court -- to handle security at the doors now. He said the guards will be paid minimum wage on a part-time basis, but the city may hire different or additional guards in the near future. Colla and Mosca had been paid 14,975 annually, or about 15 an hour, on a part-time basis while working under the court.
The court recognized a savings that was passed onto the city through lower appropriations when the door security positions were eliminated. Mayor James Melfi said the city will still see a savings because the hourly rate is less than that previously paid by the court.
According to Melfi, it was in the city's best interest to pay the additional costs and follow the recommendations from the state Supreme Court expert on court safety.
"For what the city receives in security, this is surely a benefit," he said. "We have an obligation to the public and employees to make sure that when they come to this building it is as safe as possible."
jgoodwin@vindy.com