High court tells Bernard 'no' again

GIRARD — The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected municipal Judge Michael Bernard’s request to reconsider hearing arguments that the city increase the court’s 2006 funding.

This is leading some to hope the city can eliminate its debt in 2007.

Judge Bernard and city officials were in the 11th District Court of Appeals last year arguing before a magistrate over a funding order issued by the judge. Judge Bernard said the city failed to properly fund his court.

The court was appropriated $800,000, but requested slightly more than $871,000.

The dispute was eventually taken to the Ohio Supreme Court, which refused to hear the matter. Judge Bernard, however, asked the court to reconsider that decision.

Atty. Frank Bodor, on behalf of the city, stated that the judge’s request for reconsideration should be rejected because it violated Supreme Court rules by re-arguing the entire case, because the court’s financial woes are related to the judge’s mismanagement, and because of inaccuracies in some of the judge’s financial claims.

The Supreme Court refused to hear the matter again this week.

Mayor James Melfi said the Supreme Court decision will hopefully allow city officials to move forward in focusing on other city business.