Greenfield appropriates $20K to cover overtime expenses for 2010 homicide investigations WATCH THE VIDEO

The city of Greenfield passed an emergency resolution Monday to appropriate $20,000 to cover the overtime costs to investigate two murder cases, which resulted from three deaths in the city limits in 2010. 

Council met Monday in a special session to discuss financial matters that had been tabled in previous meetings, such as health insurance and proposed wages increases. Council voted 4-1 to pass as an emergency legislation presented by City Manager Betty Bishop -  to appropriate and transfer $20,000 in the police department to cover overtime for officers due to the investigation of two homicides in the city in 2010. Council member Harvey Everhart voted against the ordinance.

Bishop said that while she took partial responsibility for the situation, she would make the same decision again because it meant prioritizing the safety of the citizens of Greenfield. 

       According to the ordinance, "The city of Greenfield auditor and finance director has determined the city must amend its 2010 appropriations ... The 2010 permanent improvement appropriations shall be amended by transfer from the following:" with $20,000 going from the miscellaneous account to police, with $1,346.15 going from health to contractual, and $18,653.85 going from pension to salaries.

       "Can someone explain to us what this $20,000 transfer is?" Everhart asked.

       Finance director Karen Daniels explained the breakdown of the funds stated in the ordinance and that, "Right now we have an appropriation balance of $15,285.52. With this transfer of $18,000, that will give (Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester) a balance to work with for salaries of $30,140.17. After we pay out comp time, which is due the next pay period, of $3,799.20."

       Everhart said that when the city decided earlier this year to bring back the two dispatcher positions he was assured by Bishop and Daniels that the city had the funds to handle it, "and we would not have to increase police (funds)."

       "That was certainly our intent," Daniels said. "The transfer we made for the dispatchers certainly covers the dispatchers. This is for overtime hours spent that were needed throughout the year, which caused the shortfall."

       Everhart said that he was assured that only two dispatchers were needed, and that he was confused that there was now discussion regarding a third dispatcher.

      Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop, reading from a written statement said, "When I asked council to allow me to bring back the dispatchers, I promised to do my best to stay within the present police budget. This is one promise I have not been able to keep. There have been some things are out of my control, the main ones being extra man hours for two homicide investigations and the overtime costs of court they caused, along with extra patrol and other activity that created extra work. All of which I approved. The costs that I have no control over are comp time payouts, police pensions and insurance savings agreements, which have caused the figure to be higher.

       "I am asking council to approve a $20,000 appropriation transfer for the general fund to the police department budget," Bishop said. "I assure this will not be the last time I will need to come to you for additional appropriations, but I will tell you, I accept part of the blame for this one. Am I sorry it happened? Yes. I apologize for not catching this sooner. Do I regret the work that has been done? No. To keep this city as safe as possible, I would approve those expenditures again without a blink of the eye. As a move to try to help forego some of those costs, we asked the contract employee not to come back in until after the first of the year. This really cuts us short on manpower to keep going on some of the work that has been started. FOP has created a memorandum of understanding for the present 2010 contract to present to you tonight to show how they feel about the importance of the job to this community. They are suggesting they all forego their remaining health savings account receipts for the city for 2010. I have checked with (Greenfield Law Director) Brian Zets and with the FOP, and they all agree that by a simple motion of council, you can authorize me to sign that memorandum of understanding."

       Everhart said that after reading the memorandum, he had concerns because the FOP appears to have the impression that the city had a third dispatcher, although council only voted to approve two dispatchers. Bishop said the third dispatcher they are referring to is a contract employee that dispatches 32 hours a week.

       "So that's just another $20,000, another $1,300 we're putting in the police department (that) we were promised that we weren't going to do," Everhart said.

       Council president Betty Jackman said that there were a lot of things that had gone on in the city in 2010 which led to needed overtime.

       "I guess I have one other question. You said we had two homicides," Everhart said. "What two homicides?"

      Greenfield Chief of Police Tim Hester said, "What two homicides? We had the Kermit Gipson homicide in January. We had the Coonrod case in [March]."

       Everhart said, "But the Coonrod case and the other one, weren't they pretty well over with by the time we brought the dispatchers back [over the summer]?"

       "Well, no," Hester said. "This is still ongoing. These are court hours, not investigatory hours. We have three times the amount of court hours this year than we did last year because of these cases."

       Wesley Coonrod was tried in October on capital murder charges stemming from the deaths of his two young sons in a fire on Lafeytte Street in Greenfield on March 7. After a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the murder charges, it was decided by the Highland County Prosecutor's office to try Coonrod again. The second trial, which will take place in Pickaway County, is scheduled to begin Jan. 3.

       In June, Gipson pleaded guilty to the murder of Judy Mosler and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.  

       Council voted 4-1 to pass the emergency legislation, with Everhart voting against it. Council voted 3-2 to pass the memorandum of understanding from the FOP, with Everhart and council member William Redenbaugh voting against it.