Page 10 - The Wayne Dispatch

Court consolidation conversation continues

By Carolyn Marnon drug tests, attend the work program,
There will be no fund balance in etc. as a cost-saving measure.
the City of Wayne budget on June 30, Another idea mentioned was sav-
2021. Instead, there is projected to ing on a court administrator when
be a $3.8 million deficit. Mrs. Gable retired in December.
“The City has a severe structural Councilman Jeremiah Webster
deficit,” said Brian Camiller of Plante voiced his concern that pursuing
Moran when he addressed the city court consolidation was using too
council during a special study ses- much time and that the City should
sion on July 13 regarding court con- pursue cost-saving measures in-
solidation. He said the court is both stead. Councilman Kevin Dowd
a cost-center and a source of revenue added that council should address
with revenue being driven by activity. immediate things that can affect the
Unfortunately, activity has been in 29th District Court. budget and as a long-term project,
decline while costs continue to go up. best of Mayor Rhaesa’s knowledge, worst-case scenarios in preparing continue to look at consolidation
City Council came together to de- Wayne has only looked at consolida- the budget. These included addi- possibilities with Romulus, Inkster
termine whether another city taking tion with Westland for the last 10 tional health care costs for a new and Westland.
on the caseload of the 29th District years. Westland hasn’t been inter- judge, a court recorder for a new Councilman Anthony Miller ques-
Court in Wayne would be a benefit or ested. judge (Judge Mack was her own tioned whether traffic cams could be
an additional burden on the City. Plymouth-Canton was open to the recorder,) and training a new court put in place to generate revenue. Ac-
The study session’s purpose was to conversation, but Mayor Rhaesa and administrator before Linda Gable re- cording to Chief Strong, traffic cams
discuss options available to increase Mayor Pro-Tem Tom Porter didn’t tires in December. are not legally permissible in the
revenues, to decrease expenses, and feel it was a good fit, distance-wise. “The city cannot afford its current State of Michigan.
to move the court outside of Wayne. Romulus showed interest and operations” interjected Mr. Camiller, What is in the works now? Judge
There have been preliminary dis- seemed to be the most viable, but “so the court is one component that O’Leary will be providing bullet
cussions with other district courts that interest stalled. There was talk theoretically, if another community points to Mayor Rhaesa summariz-
where consolidation could be a net about Inkster, but concerns about is willing to take it on, could save the ing the potential benefits in a merger
positive where Wayne would get possible legislation directing that dis- City of Wayne money.” with both the Westland and Romulus
some of the court revenue and the tricts be contiguous has left that city City Manager Lisa Nocerini ex- courts. She will also be speaking
rest would offset costs the other city out of the discussion. pressed her concern that a merger with the judges of those courts to see
would have taking on Wayne’s case- A possible merger with Romulus with Westland’s 18th District Court whether they would be interested in
load. would have Romulus taking over the would not work. Wayne had to pull allowing the Court Administrators to
Breeda O’Leary, who was recently costs of the Wayne court. However, out of the fire department merger discuss financial scenarios associ-
appointed 29th District Court Judge Wayne would still have costs associ- with Westland due to financial rea- ated with a merger. Mayor Rhaesa
to replace retired Judge Laura Mack, ated with the current building, such sons. “There is a bitter taste, and I will be speaking with the Romulus
admitted that from an accountant’s as utilities and upkeep. Mr. Camiller think we need to move on from that.” and Westland mayors about the idea
perspective, such as Mr. Camiller’s, said that Romulus was only inter- Police Chief Ryan Strong said that of a merger.
the court is a revenue-generator. She ested in a merger if the judge posi- logistically, Inkster is “just down the Finally, Wayne Court Administra-
then went on to say, “The role of the tion was vacant at the time; they street” in connection with the trans- tor Gable and Judge O’Leary will re-
court is to administer justice. The didn’t want an additional judge. port of prisoners. Westland and Ro- view their current budget for the
role of the court is not to generate Since Judge O’Leary was appointed mulus would take about 15 minutes 2020-21 fiscal year to identify any
revenue for the City. To the extent to the 29th District Court, that to do transports. further cost-savings/reductions; this
that anyone thinks that is the role of would take Romulus off the table. O’Leary informed council that report will be provided to the council
the court, I think it’s very important “I understand the financial situa- Wayne’s probationers are already before their August 3 council meet-
to educate them that our job is not tion the city is in,” said Judge being sent to Westland to report, do ing.
to generate money. Now, we happen O’Leary. “In light of that, to that end,
to generate revenue by virtue of ad- we’re willing to work in reducing
ministering justice, but I want to be costs to the extent we haven’t done al-
very careful to control the conversa- ready where it’s feasible to do so and
tion so as not to give the impression exploring consolidations and merg-
that our job at the court is to gener- ers.” She acknowledged that the
ate revenue for the City.” court’s caseload over the last three
Mayor John Rhaesa conceded by years has flattened out; it has not de-
saying, “I guess, maybe a better way clined. She was ready to present to
to say this-we’re having a problem council members a list of things the
that we can’t afford the court cur- court has already done to cut costs.
rently based on where our numbers Judge O’Leary also addressed the
are.” rising costs in the current 2020-
In February, the city council 2021 court budget saying they were
passed a resolution to find out anomalies. Court Administrator
whether other local cities were inter- Linda Gable and former Judge
ested in a court consolidation. To the Laura Mack had to account for

10 · August 2020 · The Wayne Dispatch