Judge, finances at odds over courthouse

A new courthouse would cost about $8.2 million.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

CITY HALL REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. wanted authorization from the city’s board of control to spend $495,000 in fees collected by the court to pay a firm to design a new courthouse, among other services.

Not only didn’t the judge get it, but approval doesn’t seem likely at any time in the foreseeable future because of the facility’s estimated $8.2 million cost.

Judge Douglas wonders what it’s going to take to convince the city administration that a new court facility is desperately needed.

“The house keeps falling down and God forbid that due to serious lack of security and safety that someone gets seriously hurt,” he said. “There’s no way to secure this place. We’ve done as much as possible and it’s still not secure.”

The current court on the second floor of city hall, 26 S. Phelps St., is too small, in poor shape and unsafe, judges and city officials agree.

If a new court is to be built, it would be located at the former Masters building complex on West Federal Street and Vindicator Square. The location is currently a parking lot.

When the judges approached the administration and city council five years ago with a request for a new facility, the cost was about $5 million. Because of the delays, that cost is at $8.2 million and would increase if nothing is done, Judge Douglas said.

“At this point, the city is not prepared to pay to build a new courthouse,” said Finance Director David Bozanich, a board of control member, after Thursday’s meeting. “Additional discussion is needed before a decision is made.”

The $495,000 would go to Olsavsky-Jaminet Architects of Youngstown to design the courthouse and to develop plans to be used to hire a firm to build the facility.

The money for that work comes from a $14 fee that is included in court fines and fees. The account currently has $1.3 million, Judge Douglas said.

City administration officials indicated that if a new courthouse isn’t being built soon, there’s no reason to pay Olsavsky-Jaminet now for design and other work.

Judge Douglas, the court’s presiding and administrative judge, said he’s disappointed the administration didn’t inform him until Thursday’s meeting that it wanted to talk more about the project.

skolnick@vindy.com