43
Muni judges to Ohio court: We need new digs
The mayor isn’t negotiating in ‘good faith’ about a new courthouse, a city judge says.
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Municipal Court’s three judges filed a complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court demanding that the city’s administration and council provide the court with “suitable accommodations.”
The judges had ordered Mayor Jay Williams and city council on Jan. 26 to provide a new court facility of at least 34,000 square feet with numerous other requirements in a journal entry. In subsequent conversations, the judges said if their order were ignored they would file a request with the Supreme Court to have that judicial body require the city to provide new court space.
The two sides couldn’t come to an agreement and the judges filed with the Supreme Court Wednesday.
“There’s no point in negotiating further with someone who’s not negotiating in good faith,” said Elizabeth A. Kobly, the court’s administrative and presiding judge.
Judge Kolby said Williams has no intention of permitting the city to spend the money needed to fund a new courthouse.
Williams said his administration acknowledges the current court location — the second floor of city hall, 26 S. Phelps St. — isn’t an adequate site. But the mayor said every effort he’s made to come up with a solution is rejected by the judges.
In the Jan. 26 journal entry, the judges suggested a renovated Youngstown city hall annex location would be suitable.
The judges wanted to spend about $8 million on that project. The financially strapped city countered with a scaled-down $6 million renovation of the annex on the corner of Front and Market streets.
“They refused our offer,” Williams said of the judges. “They wouldn’t budge. Our obligation isn’t to meet every whim of the judges, but to be compliant with the requirements of the Ohio Supreme Court.”
The administration wanted to bring in an architect selected by the Supreme Court to resolve the dispute, Williams said.
The city doesn’t have the money for a new court facility, whether it be $6 million or $8 million, Williams said. But the two sides couldn’t even agree on the details of the facility so talking money was a moot point, Williams said.
Both Judge Kobly and Williams are confident the court will side with them.
The Supreme Court’s administrative director earlier this year urged the two side to discuss the issue among themselves.
In the complaint filed by the judges, filed by John B. Juhasz, their attorney, it reads: “In the 12 years since the Youngstown Municipal Court declared the need for more suitable facilities, the [city council and administration] have failed and refused to provide the Youngstown Municipal Court with suitable accommodations.”
The complaint filed by the judges also states the city has “failed and refused to appropriate funds for the appointment of special private council representing” the judges.
The judges had requested city council approve legislation allowing them to spend up to $25,000 from the city’s general fund.
Council rejected the request Feb. 18 telling the judges to use money from a special fund the court set up for a new court facility. That fund has about $1.4 million.
In the complaint, the judges are asking the Supreme Court to order the city to provide that money rather than using the special court fund.
Among the problems at the current court facility, according to the complaint, are it isn’t clean, adequately heated and air-conditioned, and adequately maintained. Also, the courtrooms don’t have adequate seating, no public bathrooms or telephones, no waiting room for witnesses, and insufficient space.
skolnick@vindy.com