Fallsnewspress.com - Mayor's court will open next month / Facility's first session set for Jan. 12

RPC Photo / Steve Wiandt Vickie Hughes is the clerk of the new Cuyahoga Falls Mayor’s Court. A native of Cuyahoga Falls, Hughes worked for the municipal court for 24 years.

by Steve Wiandt

Reporter

Cuyahoga Falls -- The first session of the new mayor's court will be Jan. 12.

Working with Hope Jones, the city's deputy law director, court clerk Vickie Hughes has been getting things ready for the city's new mayor's court, which opens the first of the new year. She has been working in a temporary office in the Law Department's conference room until the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court moves to Stow. Then she can move into an office in the southern end of the facility which is attached to the municipal building.

The mayor's court will occupy space now housing the traffic courtrooms, Hughes said, adding the municipal court is taking with them the partitions that split the area into three rooms. Hughes said the room was once City Council's chambers on Monday evenings before the Natatorium was built.

Eventually another room will be renovated and used as the clerk's office, she said, and will enable her to enter and exit the courtroom without having to use the public hallway.

Hughes said she's been busy performing a number of duties to get the court ready to open, including choosing and learning the computer software that will be used in her office. "It's overwhelming, but I'm enjoying it," she said.

Jones said Police Chief John Conley has directed officers to begin on Jan. 5 citing minor misdemeanors to mayor's court. She said the first session of mayor's court will take place on Jan. 12. Jones said mayor's court will hear minor misdemeanors including traffic violations, disorderly conduct, dog without a leash and open container. Those who want to contest the citations will be sent to Stow Municipal Court, she said.

Starting out, mayor's court will be in session on Mondays at 3 p.m. and Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Eventually the court will have an evening session, Hughes said.

The clerk's office will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to those who want to pay their ticket. At some point, Hughes said, citizens will be able to pay their tickets online. Jones noted that there is a directive from Mayor Don L. Robart that fines be half of what the municipal court charges. "That is why the mayor wanted to start this court," Jones said. "To save the public money in costs and fines. Our mayor's court can do it more efficiently and cheaper."

The phone number of the Cuyahoga Falls Mayor's Court is 330-971-5650.

Court personnel coming into place

Hughes, who began in mayor's court Dec. 2, is no stranger to judicial duties. For the last 24 years, she worked in the municipal court, performing various duties, most recently as a bailiff. Jones said when she and Virgil Arrington Jr., the city's law director, considered who would make a good clerk, they immediately thought of Hughes.

Jones said she knew Hughes would be the right person for the job. After talking to Robart, Jones approached Hughes and asked her if she was interested in the job.

"I was thrilled with the opportunity," Hughes said, who added she did not want to move with the municipal court to Stow. "I was born and raised in Cuyahoga Falls. My heart belongs to Cuyahoga Falls." Hughes said she would not have worked for Stow Municipal Court if the chance to stay in the Falls hadn't worked out. "Dec. 31 would have been my last day," she said.

For its magistrate in the court, the city has a verbal commitment from Lynn Slaby, a senior judge on the Ninth District Court of Appeals, said Jones. Attorneys David Devany and George Pappas have also agreed to be magistrates and fill in for Slaby when he is absent, she said. All are expected to sign contracts with the city soon, Jones added.

E-mail: swiandt@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3141

1.	Posted by Robin Anderson January 2, 2009
	Lawyers sort out ruling on court costs By CLEVELAND: Some attorneys say the Ohio Supreme Court has clouded the issue of whether municipal courts can impose hefty fees on defendants convicted of multiple charges. POSTED: 01:52 p.m. EST, Jan 02, 2009 In a ruling Wednesday, the state's high court sent the case back to a municipal court in Berea so it could better justify its multiple fees, which totaled $587 for a man convicted of drunken driving and other charges. Vincent Quinones of Strongsville complained because the court costs were higher than his $565 fine. The fees also included $20 for a court construction project. Middleburg Heights Mayor Gary Starr called the Supreme Court's ruling a ''no-decision'' and said the issue is still murky. Berea officials have said they prefer to have their projects paid for by defendants who wind up in court rather than by every citizen in its jurisdiction. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information from the Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com.