HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-06-1998 -52
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF
THE CI_'l,Y—QE RICHMO.I D4ND.IA.l,TA.,�kIQNDAi,-A-PRII�,998
The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday,April
6, 1998 in the Council Chambers in said City. President Bruce Wissel presided with the following
Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta J. Lundy, Bob Dickman, Sarah "Sally" Hutton,
Geneva "Gene" Allen, Dennis R. Rice Sr., Bing Welch and Larry Parker. The following business was
conducted:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER HUTTON
ROLL CALL
Nine present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilmember Hutton moved to approve the minutes of March 16, 1998, second by Councilmember Rice
and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANCES, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, INTRODUCTIONS,
MOTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
RESOLUTION NO.8—1998
The Clerk read Resolution No. 8 — 1998 — A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA ELECTING TO ENLARGE PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES'RETIREMENT FUND
"WHEREAS, Common Council is the governing body of the City of Richmond in Wayne County in the
State of Indiana;and
"WHEREAS, the actuary for the Public Employees' Retirement Fund has furnished such governing body
with certain cost estimates to become a participant in such Fund as established by the Acts of 1945,Chapter
340,and all Acts amendatory and supplemental thereto;and
"WHEREAS, such governing body is fully cognizant that the percentage of cost of gross annual payroll of
covered employees has been set at 4.25%by the actuary of the Fund,and that at five year intervals,or more
often if directed by the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement Fund, the actuary will
review the status of the employees covered and shall adjust the cost percentage accordingly so that the
FUND will remain on an actuarially sound basis;and
"WHEREAS,such governing body acknowledges its liability and that,pursuant to law,it and its successors
in office, must appropriate sufficient funds each year to retire the employees' prior service liability in an
orderly manner and also fund the current cost accruing annually.
"NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana as
follows:
"1. The City of Richmond elects to enlarge its participation in the Public Employees' Retirement Fund by
including additional classes of employees as stated below in the coverage under Chapter 340 of the Acts of
1945, all Acts amendatory and supplemental thereto. This agreement supplements the original dated
January 1, 1966.
"2. The City of Richmond agrees to make the required contributions under the Public Employees'
Retirement Fund Act, which is the Act of 1945, Chapter 340, and all Acts amendatory thereof and
supplemental thereto, including specifically the Acts of 1955, Chapter 329, commonly designated as "The
Indiana Public Employees' Social Security Integration and Supplemental Retirement Benefit Act."
"3.The position listed on Appendix A is declared to be covered by the Fund.
"4. It is hereby declared that none of the classifications of positions specified in number three are
compensated on a fee basis or of an emergency nature,or in a part-time category.
"5. The active participating membership of the City of Richmond wit respect to the position listed on
Appendix A shall begin on July 1, 1998.
'6.This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from date of passage and upon approval of the board of
Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement Fund of Indiana,except that active participating membership
shall begin on the date set forth in Section Five."
COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES CONT'D
APRTT,�, 1998
F pTCi
Councilmember Hutton questioned how this resolution came about. President Wissel asked if there was
anyone in the audience to discuss this. Bever said since this does not become effective until July 1, 1998,
there does not seem to be any urgency about acting on it and suggested it be placed on hold until someone
in the Controller's officer could be contacted.
Responding to a question by Councilmember Hutton as to how many other City employees would qualify
for this, Bever said he was not aware of this resolution until someone asked about it right before the
meeting. However, he said, the basis for this seems to be that it simply adds this particular position of
Neighborhood Resource Coordinator. He said the 1,000 hours is exclusion according to state statute.
Councilmember Parker asked if that meant Council could change the 1,000 hours and make it more, adding
that he wants it to be for full-time employees. Bever said all this state statute says is that someone who
works less than 1,000 hours does not qualify. Councilmember Parker asked Bever to check into that.
Councilmember Allen questioned the third "Whereas" asking if the 4.25 percent is in addition to the 20
percent already being funded for P.E.R.F.employees.Bever responded that he did not know,adding that he
had not seen this until he found it in his packet tonight.
OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP
Speaking on behalf of Operation Clean Sweep was Misty Dees Hollis representing the Community
Development Committee of the Richmond-Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. She said this project
started in 1995 as the result of a combined effort of the Chamber and the Richmond-Wayne County
Tourism Bureau.
She said the third annual Operation Clean Sweep will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday,April 18,
1998.This year,she said,there will be seven captains in charge of seven quadrants on U.S.27 and U.S.40,
for the sole purpose of removing trash and sweeping the gravel from the sidewalks. She asked the support
of the Council as in the years past.
Councilmember Allen said they,as Councilmembers,have adopted North West 5th Street and, although she
had not talked with all of her fellow Councilmembers, she suggested they be responsible for their own area.
Misty Dees Hollis said that would be much appreciated, adding that Robin Henry, director of Community
Partnerships, had suggested the Mayor's Youth Council would also participate and have a part in what
Council does. She added that trash bags had been donated to the Chamber and anyone wishing to do so
could pick them up at the Chamber office.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Brenda Yencer, 601 South 8th Street, asked Council's help in cleaning up some alleys in her area,
specifically around South 7th Street.Even though those families have been ticketed and several other things
nobody seems to be leaving the premises. She said they are"pretty much running a small recycling center
out of their back yards."She said the properties are deteriorating and profanities are being sprayed along all
of their garages and their fences are being knocked down. She added that this has been going on •
approximately 12 to 14 months.She said she had made several calls but doesn't seem to be getting any help
with this problem. She said she also manages some rental properties in the area, which she is having
difficulty renting because of the neighborhood problem.She said it seems to run along from South G Street
all the way through South E Street in between the blocks of 7th and 8th Streets.
Councilmember Elstro said City Inspector Wayne Jackson had been there many times and written tickets
on them. Also,he said,he has received several calls from the people at St.John Lutheran Church, which is
only a block from the problem. He said the alleys are a total mess, stating that roughly there are about 5
cars in the backyards and even though you get them to get rid of them, they bring more back in. He said
they clean it up one week and bring them back the next week. President Wissel said Council would pass
those complaints along to the City Administration.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR
Bever stated that at the March 16 Council meeting,Councilmember Lundy had volunteered to look into the
possible naming of the new bridge which will replace the Main Street Bridge. He said he had written a
letter to her and sent copies to all the other Councilmembers, stating that it appears to be clear that the final
authority, since this bridge will be located on U.S. 40,rests with the state. Keeping that in mind,he said,if
anyone wants to do anything along that line it would only be advisory in nature. He added that he was not
sure what body within the state would have the final say,but he has been in touch with Indiana Association
of Cities and Towns and others with the state, and it appears it would be the General Assembly which
would have the final say.Councilmember Lundy expressed her appreciation for Bever's quick reply.
REPORTS FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS
Fire Chief Mike Allen explained to Council the goals of the Richmond Fire Department for 1998. He said
these include the updating of an emergency fire apparatus plan,which was established in 1996,and the goal
is to work to secure funding necessary to support the proposal. He said the cost of fire apparatus is very
high and it is felt that there should be a plan supported by funding for its replacement.
COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES CONT'D
APRTT.6, 199R
PAGF.3
nother goal, the Chief said, is to improve service to the community and give more educational programs.
e said the Fire Department does so much more than fight fires, adding that the department also responds
ith water rescue, auto extractors, first respondent for medical emergencies, fire prevention, code
nforcement and annual inspections of public buildings such as schools, commercial, industrial and
hurches.
ther goals,he said,are to continue organizational operations and follow through with the planning session
nd that involves maintenance of the buildings and internal communications from the fire administration
ffice to the personnel,plus getting feedback from them. In addition to all these goals, Chief Allen said a
1 ng range goal is to work in partnership with the Police Department, assessing the needs of each
epartment. And, from there, to assess the needs of each department and develop a long range plan to
cquire land and funding to build a training facility which would accommodate the needs of both
epartments.
ouncilmember Rice expressed his appreciation for the fire department and thanks to those firefighters
ho saved the woman's life on South 11th Street a few weeks ago.
1EPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
'The minutes of the meetings of March 5, 12 and 19, 1998,were in the Council packets.
REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS
rYI/ ISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
`resident Wissel announced that there is an opening on the Economic Development Commission and he
as been in touch with Bruce Lingenfelter of Cox's Supermarket about filling that position. He said
1 ouncil will be voting on that at its April 20 meeting.
e also recognized a government class from Indiana University East. Councilmember Hutton pointed out
at accompanying the class was its professor, who was the former Mayor of Richmond, Frank
, altermann.
0 RDINANCES
ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
ouncilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinance No. 36— 1998 by title only, second
y Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
RDINANCE NO. 36—1998
he Clerk read Ordinance No. 36— 1998—AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
'UBMITTAL, ACCEPTANCE, AND APPROPRIATION OF A GRANT FROM THE AREA 9 IN-
OME COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY
C xplaining this ordinance was Greg Stiens, assistant city engineer and director of transportation, who said
t e City is applying for a $40,000 grant for the Area 9 In-Home Community Services Agency. He added
t at the application was on March 13, stating the purpose of this grant is to help finance the salaries of the
'aratransit drivers.He said this has been done over the past several years and has helped out immensely.In
.nswer to a question by Councilmember Welch, Bever said this ordinance does three things: it authorizes
1 ouncil to submit the application, then if they get the money, it authorizes them to accept the money and
.'.propriate the funds.
(ouncilmember Dickman moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 36 — 1998 to second
reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous
oice vote.
he Clerk read Ordinance No. 36—1998 on second reading.
resident Wissel declared Ordinance No. 36— 1998 on public hearing.There being no comments either for
r against the ordinance,Councilmember Elstro moved for engrossment,second by Councilmember Hutton
nd the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
ouncilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 36— 1998 to third and final
r ading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a
nanimous voice vote.
51-32
COMMON COUNCIL MINUTES CONT'D
APRIT.6, 1998
PAC 4
The Clerk read Ordinance No. 36—1998 on third reading.
Ordinance No. 36—1998 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
Ayes:Elstro,Lundy,Dickman,Hutton,Allen,Rice,Welch,Parker and Wissel(9)
Nays:None.
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT
There were none.
ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
There were none.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Councilmember Rice expressed his appreciation to Melanie Bergfield, Denise Blackwell and Wendell
Chambers, all of the Sanitary District, for their action in satisfying the complaints of some of the residents
on North 17th Street about a litter problem.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed,the meeting was adjourned.
Bruce Wissel,President r
ATTEST:
Norma Schroeder,Clerk