Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to amend the 2003 contract with the Public Defender and to authorize an additional expense of $10,368.20 to provide funds to make a reconciliation payment to Franklin County. On an annual basis, a post-year audit of public defender costs ascertains the accuracy of City costs in accordance with the contract for Public Defender services. The Public Defender provides legal representation to indigent persons. The audit for 2003 indicates the City owes an additional $10,368.20.
This is an unfunded expense, but one that can be absorbed within City Council's current appropriation.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to amend the Public Defender contract and to expend an additional $10,368.20 to cover reconciliation costs due pursuant to an audit of 2003 services, and to declare an emergency ($10,368.20)
Body
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Section 12 of the City Charter, Chapter 173 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, and Sections 120.13 and 120.14(e) of the Ohio Revised Code, the City of Columbus must provide legal counsel to indigent persons charged with criminal offenses; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus provides such legal services to the City's indigent citizens in cooperation with the Franklin County Public Defender Commission; and
WHEREAS, at the completion of each contract year a reconciliation payment is made or received by the City based on actual expenditures vs. anticipated expenditures, actual State charged misdemeanors vs. anticipated, and actual State Public Defender Commission reimbursement vs. anticipated reimbursements; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of government of the City of Columbus that it is immediately necessary to amend the 2003 contract with the Franklin County Public Defender Commission in order to assure the continuity of legal services to indigent persons in Columbus thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk be and is hereby authorized to amend contract EL003740 with the Franklin County Public Defender Commission of Columbus, Ohio for the period of January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003 to increase the amount by $10,368.20.
SECTION 2. That the sum of $10,368.20 be and hereby is authorized to be expended from the General Fund, Fund 010, City Council, Department 20-01, Object Level One 03, OCA Code 200105, Object Level Three 3337, to pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.