Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expense of $86,625.00 for fiscal year 2016 within the Franklin County Municipal Court’s Assisted Self Help indigent fund. Construction of the space for the Franklin County Municipal Court Self Help Resource Center was recently completed by Franklin County, and limited operations began in January 2016. The Self Help Resource Center will be operational on a full-time basis within the next month. The program provides information about the court system and non-legal assistance to civil litigants qualifying as indigent and appearing pro se before the Court.
To support the program, the Franklin County Municipal Court instituted a special project cost, as authorized by Ohio Revised Code, § 1901.26(B)(1). The project cost is a $1.00 charge for all civil, traffic, and criminal cases. Funds are to be used for the Franklin County Municipal Court to pay the Moritz College of Law for services of an attorney to staff and provide services at the Self Help Resource Center.
The contract currently in effect between Moritz and the Franklin County Municipal Court requires contract renewal in the spring. This allows Moritz to post the position and compete with other employers to attract top candidates graduating from law school in May. Due to Moritz’s hiring procedures, under which it cannot post for the position until the underlying contract is renewed, it is critical that the contract be renewed as soon as possible in April 2016.
Contract Compliance Number: Moritz College of Law (Ohio State University) 316025986
EMERGENCY: Emergency action is requested to provide for OSU’s hiring time frame.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $86,625.00 for 2016 from the unappropriated balance of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges assisted civil self-help fund and to contract with the Moritz College of Law; and to declare an emergency. ($86,625.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate $86,625.00 for fiscal year 2016 within the Franklin County Municipal Court's Assisted Self Help indigent fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Administrative and Presiding Judge to enter into contract with Moritz College of Law to provide service for the Help Center for the term August 15, 2016 to November 18, 2017; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said contract and authorize the expenditures to Moritz College of Law so that the court can continue uninterrupted payments to the vendor, and for the preservation of the public health, peace, safety, and welfare; now, therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the sum of $86,625 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the special revenue fund, fund 2226, subfund 222605, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purposes during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, to the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges, department number 2501.
SECTION 2. That the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Moritz College of Law for the provision of Help Center services.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $86,625.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is authorized from the Franklin County Municipal Court, see attachment; to pay the costs thereof.
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby 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.