Niles still struggles to meet fire payroll

October 8, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

NILES

Time is running out to secure enough funds to pay the city’s fire department by the next payroll.

Since being warned that funds for the 27 firefighters in the financially distressed city will run out after Oct. 4, Auditor Giovanne Merlo has been working with state auditors reviewing general fund accounts.

“We don’t have the money yet,” Merlo said, “but we’re looking at moving appropriations into other general fund accounts where we can utilize them.”

City employees are paid every two weeks. Fire Chief David Danielson said each payroll for his department usually amounts to $67,000. The next payday for his department and other city employees is Oct. 17.

Merlo did not indicate Wednesday whether the problem will continue even if the city finds enough appropriations to cover the Oct. 17 payroll. It is unknown whether a similar fate awaits the city’s police department.

Should the auditor be unsuccessful in his search for appropriations, Niles could be forced to cut personnel and services. Last August, Merlo’s predecessor, Charles Nader, had projected furloughs could come by December. Merlo, who was 2nd Ward councilman at the time, told The Vindicator he would not be surprised if “they come before November.”

Ohio Auditor Dave Yost declared Niles in fiscal emergency a year ago because of substantial general fund deficits. Since that time, a financial planning and supervisory commission has been created to review spending, and outgoing Mayor Ralph Infante has submitted a five-year, 35-point plan for recovery. In September, the deficit was projected at $1.2 million.

Meanwhile, Infante has been seeking concessions in contract negotiations with the city’s unions to cut costs. Infante disclosed after Wednesday’s council meeting that the contract with its negotiators, the Columbus firm of Clemens Nelson, will not be renewed. Union representatives had complained to council that the firm was likely to collect more than $30,000 as the negotiator.

“That’s [another] cost and burden to this city,” said Bo Marchionte, president of the city’s AFSCME local.

Infante, who hired Clemens Nelsen, was required to give notice this month or the contract would be automatically renewed for a year. The mayor said the firm will finish its role the rest of this month, but Infante told council he’s optimistic about the outcome.

“The unions have been really cooperative and I think we can work it out for the rest of the year,” the mayor said.