HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-04-2001PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 2001
The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday,
September 4, 2001, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Karl Sharp presided with the following
Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Bruce Wissel, Phil Dickman, Bing Welch,
Larry Parker, Paul Combs and Sarah "Sally" Hutton.. The following business was conducted:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER COMBS
ROLL CALL
Nine present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of August 20, 2001 were approved on a motion by Councilmember Hutton,
second by Councilmember Parker and carried on a voice vote.
PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, INTRODUCTIONS,
MOTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR
Mayor Shelley Miller commented that she had distributed information to Councilmembers prior to
tonight's meeting concerning the informational meeting about the property tax reassessment. She
encouraged everyone to attend the event Thursday, September 6, in the Wayne County Administration
Building.
REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
President Sharp said the minutes of the meetings August 9 and 16, 2001, were included in their packets.
REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS
Bob Goodwin of the Planning Department brought Councilmembers up to date on the redecorating of the
Council Chambers which includes new wallpaper and carpeting. He said the carpeting would be laid
September 17. He also commented on the vicious dog hearing scheduled for the Board of Works on
Thursday, September 6. He said letters are to be sent giving those with park benches which still have
advertising on them 30 days to.remove them. He also commented that Donna Chapman has been named the
Historic Preservation Officer now that that committee has been named and gave an update on the 43
buildings that have been condemned.
REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Councilmember Combs reported that the Street Tree Commission has changed its meeting to the second
Monday of the month with a starting time of 6 p.m. in the Community Room.
REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
President Sharp said that according to the budget calendar, adoption of the salary ordinance has been set for
6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2001. Mayor Miller said the staff has been working on the dog
ordinance and had recently completed their recommendations on amendments to the ordinance. President
Sharp said that possibly they could look at October 8 as a Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss those
amendments after they are presented.
ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 65 and 67— 2001, on first
reading by title only and Ordinance No. 68 — 2001. in its entirety, second by Councilmember Welch and the
motion was carried on a voice vote.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
September 4, 2001
Page 2
ORDINANCE NO. 65 — 2001
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 67 — 2001— AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS
THE 2002 BUDGET
City Controller John Kenny explained that this is an introduction of the salary ordinance and pointed out
that it is a four percent increase for all City employees. However, he said, there are individual instances
where there are additional increases given due to department heads showing additional duties performed
meriting an increase. He also pointed out that salaries for the street department employees is currently set at
four percent but negotiations are ongoing and will be reported on between now and two weeks.
Councilmember Parker questioned the positions exceeding the 4 percent increase. Mayor Miller explained
that the majority of the changes are with additional job responsibilities. He specifically asked about the
position of Assistant City Attorney and the Mayor passed that request over to City Attorney Bob Bever
who explained that. He said that because of his (Bever's) involvement in RP & L cases this year, his
Carpenter involvement and some other special projects Council and the Mayor has asked him to do, he has
had to rely more on Assistant City Attorney Steve Rabe doing meetings that he otherwise would do. He
said all the sign ordinances and the historic ordinance, which includes those enforcement issues, Rabe has
had to take over.
Councilmember Wissel suggested that Councilmembers receive a summary sheet which explains why those
positions have raises over the recommended 4 percent. The Mayor said that would be done, then pointed
out that about 6 of the 12 or 14 positions that have increases are because of the inequities that exist that the
administration has been trying to ensure that all job descriptions that are similar, regardless of what
department they are working in, have a similar salary.
Councilmember Parker also had some questions about temporary/part-time employees and Councilmember
Hutton questioned the two new positions which are the Assistant Park Superintendent and Assistant Street
Commissioner. The Mayor explained that these are the only two departments which do not have the person
who is second in charge to take over in the absence of the department heads. Some discussion followed
about the salaries of the "new hires" and the Mayor said that at this time there is no set policy in place to
address that issue, but it is at the discretion of the department heads.
President Sharp said the ordinance would come back at the next meeting on second reading.
ORDINANCE NO. 67 — 2001
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 67 — 2001 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS
THE 2002 BUDGET
Kenny also explained this ordinance, stating that this is the introduction of the budget. He pointed out the
two changes made as a result of the Committee of the Whole meeting. He said the first one was the one that
was recommended and that was to move contractual concrete from the Board of Works to the Motor
Vehicle Highway. The second, he said, was at the airport where they had $17,000 in additional revenue, not
asking for additional expenditures, but they had a grant that they brought up right after the budget was
published. He said they are going to get $12,000 additional dollars and a mowing contract they have with
the City will generate another $5,000, so that will be in the final budget.
President Sharp said this ordinance will also come back on second reading.
ORDINANCE NO. 68 — 2001
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 68 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF
RICHMOND TO RECEIVE A DONATION
"WHEREAS, the City of Richmond, Indiana, has the option of accepting or rejecting donations for a
specific purpose; and
"WHEREAS, the acceptance of a donation of a specific purpose constitutes the appropriation of such
property for the intended purpose.
"NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana, that the
following shall be accepted and gratefully acknowledged by the citizens of Richmond:
"The donation of one icemaker to the Richmond Fire Department by Marvel Industries."
Fire Chief Mike Allen expressed his appreciation for the donation, stating that during these hot summer
days they have been exhausting the supply of ice out of the normal ice machines in the refrigerators at the
fire stations and have a difficult time maintaining the presence of ice. He said William Harris, plant
manager at Marvel, was gracious enough to offer an ice machine to help out with that.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
September 4, 2001
Page 3
Councilmember Welch moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 68 — 2001 to second
reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a voice
vote.
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 68 — 2001 on second reading.
President Sharp declared Ordinance No. 68 — 2001 on public hearing. There being no comments either for
or against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Lundy
and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 68 — 2001 to third and final
reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice
vote.
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 68 — 2001 on third reading.
Ordinance No. 68 — 2001 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT
AMENDED ORDINANCE NO. 18 — 2001
The Clerk read Amended Ordinance No. 18 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE FIXING CERTAIN
BENEFITS UNDER THE POLICEMAN PENSION FUND FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND
President Sharp said this ordinance and No. 28 would continue to be held.
ORDINANCE NO. 28 — 2001
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 28 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE FIXING CERTAIN BENEFITS
UNDER THE 1937 FIREFIGHTER'S PENSION FUND FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND
President Sharp said this ordinance would also continue to be held.
Councilmember Elstro asked what the administration is waiting for concerning these two ordinances.
Mayor Miller explained that City Controller John Kenny is working with a CPA firm which is gathering the
information from an actuary to put together the information that is needed to see what the changes would
make to the expected payouts in the future. She said the finance department has also been busy working on
the budget so it is a matter of time available to address both issues. Councilmember Elstro then responded
that it had been five months since the ordinances had been introduced. She said Kenny would have an
update on the ordinances for Council.
ORDINANCE NO. 55 — 2001
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 55 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
APPROVAL OF A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR
DEDUCTIONS UNDER I.C. 6-1.1-12.1
Councilmember Elstro said he would have to get back to Vandor Corp. to get the information needed.
President Sharp said that Ordinance No. 55 — 2001 was held on second reading.
ORDINANCE NO. 56 — 2001
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 56 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE REZONING
AT 637 SOUTH 9TH STREET
Explaining this ordinance was Councilmember Wissel who stated that the Richmond Advisory Planning
Commission conducted a public hearing on Ordinance 56 — 2001 at its meeting on August 23, 2001. He
said the request is a petition of Laurence M. Fouche and Ruth E. Fouche and is for a rezoning from R-3
One to Eight Family Residence District to the C-2 Commercial District, located at 637 South 9`h Street. He
said the Planning Department had recommended approval of the request and the Commission voted 9-0 to
recommend passage of the ordinance to Common Council.
George Sowers, attorney for the petitioners, explained that this request involves the property where Mr.
Fouche conducts his business which is Lawrence Exhaust System. He said the rezoning would not change
or increase the outdoor display. He said the Master Plan proposes the entire area along 9`b Street to be C-2
and this would permit Mr. Fouche some flexibility to expand into some sidelines with some other parts and
would make a transition more practical if something should happen to him.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
September 4, 2001
Page 4
President Sharp declared Ordinance No. 56 — 2001 on public hearing. There being no comments either for
or against the ordinance, Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Hutton
and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 56 — 2001 to third and final
reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a voice
vote.
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 56 — 2001 on third reading.
Ordinance No. 56 — 2001 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.
ORDINANCE NO. 57 — 2001
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 57 — 2001 — A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING OF
214' OFF THE NORTH END OF THE 200 BLOCK OF NORTH 9TH STREET, RICHMOND, INDIANA
Sowers also explained this ordinance, stating that he is present on behalf of the petitioner who is Matthew
Stegall who is requesting a change of the zoning designation to a Sepcial Use District to allow construction
of an additional building to improve services of his existing business which is Stegall-Berheide-Orr Funeral
Home. He said this business was started in 1927 by Stegall's grandfather and his two great-uncles and has
been a continuous family business since that time.
President Sharp declared Ordinance No. 57 — 2001 on public hearing. There being no comments either for
or against the ordinance, Councilmember Dickman moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember
Hutton and the motion was carried on a voice vote.
Councilmember Wissel moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 57 — 2001 to third and final
reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a voice
vote.
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 57 — 2001 on third reading.
Ordinance No. 57 — 2001 was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.
ORDINANCE NO.64 — 2001
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 64 — 2001 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FIXING THE
ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF ALL ELECTED CITY OFFICERS FOR 2002
President Sharp said this ordinance would be held on second reading and would be brought back to
Council's next meeting on public hearing.
ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
There were none.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned
at 8:35 p.m.
Karl Sharp, President
ATTEST:
Norma Schroeder, Clerk