Melfi’s steady hand on wheel is leading Girard out of debt

If all goes according to plan, the city of Girard will shed its state-imposed fiscal emergency designation this year. And, while there are many officials who have had a role in the city’s resurrection, Mayor James Melfi has been the architect of Girard’s recovery from financial collapse.

Melfi, who inherited a $3 million deficit when he took over as the chief executive in January 2000, was able to reduce the red ink by $2 million after four years, but then had to deal with a major revenue dip when Indalex Corp. closed its plant in 2007. The city lost $300,000 in income tax. Yet, the administration was able to make ends meet.

With the state fiscal oversight commission controlling the purse strings, the mayor, along with city council, were forced to make tough decisions. The payroll had to be cut, which meant reductions: the fire department has gone from 17 employees to 13; the police department, from 28 to 21; and, workers belonging to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, from 39 to 31. Funding for the park department went from $225,000 in 1999 to $38,000 today.

And yet, residents of Girard have not been deprived of city services, especially police and fire protection.

Mayor Melfi is seeking re-election this year and has earned the strong support of the voters in the May 3 Democratic primary. His challenger, Myron Esposito, chose not to attend The Vindicator’s editorial board interview in order to be considered for endorsement.

V&M Star negotiations

While the mayor has an impressive record of accomplishments, we believe his participation in the negotiations with the city of Youngstown over land for V&M Star’s expansion project was his finest moment.

He refused to be intimidated by officials of the larger city, nor was he cowered when confronted by the warning that he could undermine the $650 million investment by V&M’s parent, Vallourec of Paris, France.

He remained steadfast in his view that the citizens of Girard deserved a fair share of all the financial benefits to be derived from the project seeing as how 200 acres of the city were dedicated to the project. Girard is now reaping the benefits of Melfi’s negotiating skills.

The Vindicator strongly endorses his re-election. He has no Republican opposition.