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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