Forando asks for court assistance

Roger Forando, justice for both the village and town of Granville, is asking for a part-time assistant so residents can have more accessibility to court services.

Forando said the individual would provide administrative support for the local court system.

“I’ve received complaints that no one is available at court on off nights,” Forando said. “Around the state people have made similar complaints and the state has admonished them (courts) to have greater accessibility.”

The town court convenes on Monday evenings and the village on Tuesday evenings. Other than that there are no regular hours when individuals can pay fines, file small claims or access records. The town and village courts share a clerk, but she is only available during nights when there is court.

“I’m here more often than that, but they are not regular hours,” Forando said.

When court is in session, Forando said he discourages residents from accessing court services, going so far as posting signs. He said he has told people they can’t pay fines during court because the clerk is busy taking notes and filing paperwork when Forando is hearing cases.

Further compounding the problem is the fact that the village and town clerks can’t accept court fines.

Forando asked the village and the town to hire someone to work two hours a day, two days a week.

Ideally, the town and village would hire the same person, he said.

“The individual would answer phones and return messages, take fines and perform filing,” Forando said. “There would be no lack of work.”

Mayor Brian LaRose said the idea had merit but he had some reservations.

“My number one concern is making sure we are making our best effort to satisfy the requirements of the public,” LaRose said. “But I’m concerned with the cost.”

Supervisor Matt Hicks said the village has already approved the request and has set aside money in the 2015 budget for the position.

Forando estimated the cost to the village of hiring someone at $6,000. The town would incur a similar cost.

LaRose said the village already pays about $22,000 to cover administrative costs, including the salaries of its justices (Forando and Paul Manchester) and clerk. And although the court brings in between $30,000 and $35,000 each year, he said he was concerned the gap between expenses and revenue was too close.

Forando disagreed.

“I don’t foresee crime and fines in Granville coming down,” Forando said, adding that historically fines have stayed relatively stable while surcharges have increased during his time on the bench.

Village officials indicated they will consider the request as they put together their 2015-16 operating budget.