11/19/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Minutes of Il/19/2002 in a location designated for the mayor's court although the space can be shared with other city functions. He advised that companies exist which can prepare and set up courts in order to ensure that the proper computer software is obtained and utilized for maximum reporting efficiency and record keeping. His feelings for his court were obviously very positive, expressing his ability to communicate with residents of his city on a personal one-on-one level with the appropriate attention. Mr. Iuksco from Parma Hts. began by cautioning the thrust for creating a mayor's court should not be revenue-driven, but rather should be to improve the administration of justice. He explained his court, the number of cases he hears, the need for a magistrate as opposed to a mayor actually running the court--one reason being that a magistrate is required to be a lawyer while a mayor is not. The court serves to dispense justice in his city. Discussion ensued to include issues such as how magistrates are selected. Brooklyn Hts. allows its mayor to recommend a magistrate. However, the appointment requires the approval of Council. Ideas discussed included a designated space for the court, reporting requirements, the use of computers, the use of a start-up company and other administrative issues. The Clerk of Rocky River Court presented statistics to the committee discussing the operation of Rocky River Court. He discussed a new court building being built, the operation of that court, the financial situation present and in the past. After some discussion, Mrs. Kesler asked a question regarding def cits in the court. It came to her attention that several years ago North Olmsted, along with other participating cities, was responsible for an end of the year deficit at Rocky River. Pursuant to statute, each city pays its proportionate share of any deficit that occurs. This situation raised the question about what happens every other year. Does the court break even? Probably not. An overage of profit goes to the host city, Rocky River, and becomes a part of that General Fund. The Clerk of Courts was quick to point out, however, that Rocky River is responsible for the operation of the court and the maintenance of the physical facility. Nevertheless, it was determined that, although this has not been the norm over several years, over the past few years a profit of four to five hundred thousand dollars has been realized. The Clerk of Courts provided information on haw the money is spent to include operation of the court, maintenance of the facility, furnishing of the new facility, computers and more. Mrs. Kesler explained to the group attending that it has always been her intention to pursue this issue for the specific purpose of obtaining local control of our justice system. The efforts of our Police Department in maintaining a safe environment in our city by enforcing traffic laws and ensuring that not only North Olmsted residents but those passing through our city abide by the those laws, results in fines being levied and paid. In our present system, those fines are paid to the Rocky River Court and then to the city itself. It has been her intention to devise a way to redirect those funds to North Olmsted to be reinvested in our city, to he used by our residents for the enhancement of the safety and services of our city. Conducting a court in our city allows for local control of traffic issues, traffic violations, violators, personal comact with violators passing through this city and the ability of a magistrate to have one-on-one contact and assessment of people living in and passing through the city. That personal and direct contact in the process of administering justice is the first step toward fair and equitable treatment and a local justice system that could make us all very proud of North Olmsted. By statute, it will be incumbent upon the Mayor to establish or not establish a mayor's court based on information provided. This issue will be addressed in the very near future. 11