Girard fire chief gets no jail time, keeps job after OVI conviction

Staff report

Girard

The city’s fire chief will not receive jail time for a drunken-driving charge.

During a hearing in municipal court Wednesday, Kenneth Bornemiss was found guilty of driving under the influence. As part of a plea agreement, Judge Jeffrey D. Adler gave Bornemiss a 30-day suspended jail sentence and a $750 fine with $375 being suspended. The court also ordered Bornemiss to attend 72 hours of driver- safety courses.

The chief’s license has been suspended until July 13, but Adler did allow Bornemiss driving privileges to work and to driver safety courses.

Bornemiss hit another vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol Jan. 12. According to police, Bornemiss caused the accident after he failed to stop at Wilson Avenue and South State Street. He was driving his own vehicle at the time.

Police charged Bornemiss with failure to yield and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Adler did not convict Bornemiss of failure to yield.

Mayor Jim Melfi said Bornemiss’ status as chief had not changed, and he would not face any punishment from the city. Melfi noted that Bornemiss had never had any issues before and had served as “a model”

employee” since his promotion to chief in 2003.