HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-20-1997 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday,October
20, 1997, in the Council Chambers in said City. President Bob Dickman presided with the following
Councilmembers present: Howard "Jack" Elstro, Etta Lundy, Bruce Wissel, Sarah "Sally" Hutton, Geneva
"Gene"Allen, Alan Stamper, Bing Welch and Larry Parker. The following business was had to-wit:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRAYER BY COUNCILMEMBER ELSTRO
1 a ROLL CALL
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1 Nine present.
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1, APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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1. The minutes of the meeting of October 6, 1997 were approved on a motion by Councilmember Allen,second
1 by Councilmember Hutton and was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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1° PRESENTATIONS OF REMONSTRANCES. PETITIONS, MEMORIALS OR PUBLIC COMMENTS
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2 Representatives of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council introduced themselves and reported on the youth
2 directory entitled "Let's Take Action" which was made possible through a $1,500 grant from the Indiana
2 Youth Institute. The first half explains how youth can get involved and become a part of their community and
2,, the last half is a listing of different non-profit agencies who are serving youth.
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20 Spokesperson Tiffany Schreider told Councilmembers of a reception to be held at 5:30 p.m. November 5 in
2 the City Building, at which time they will explain the directory and tell how to use it. She said once the
2 directory is completely finished, the group plans to go to schools, churches and youth groups to present it,
2 hoping to teach the youth how to become involved. Councilmembers applauded the efforts of the group at
the conclusion of the presentation. Councilmember Parker asked them all to step forward to introduce
331 themselves again.
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33 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
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35 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
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3 The minutes of the meetings of September 25 and October 2, 1997 were in the Council packets.
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3', Councilmember Hutton asked about the hours and date of Trick or Treat night and was told it is from 5:30 to
4• 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 30. She also asked about the Trick or Treat night to be held by the Parks
4 Department at Tiernan Center and learned that will be the following night,on Friday, October 31.
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4 REPORTS FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS
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4' REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
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4 Councilmember Stamper announced that he had included in the packets received by Councilmembers some
4: brief guidelines of what came out of the Tax Abatement Guideline Committee meetings. He said the
4• important thing to know is that it does not include any changes to the application process nor the monitoring
54 process which will be included in the final version before it comes to Council. He said the committee is
51 getting help in determining what the average wage is in the community as well as other things.
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5 Councilmember Wissel had a few comments on the monitoring, stating that he would like a message to go
5, back to the administration that this is probably an executive procedure since Council has no staff.
5- Councilmember Stamper said he had talked with the Mayor and he believes he is willing to help in that
5:, respect. Councilmember Welch agreed with Councilmember Wissel, stating that he has a problem with a
5 legislative body which approves then enacts the abatement and acts as the monitor. He said he would like to
5: see the executive department do the monitoring. He also said under state law that any organization
5* authorized to receive an abatement is supposed to be filing reports with the Wayne County Auditor and he
6. has yet to see any of those reports or to see a summary of the findings of those reports annually.
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6. Councilmember Stamper said the reports come to the committee and are made available to Council. He said
6 the idea of having the Tax Abatement Committee still involved is so Council can have a handle on this. He
6, said the recipients of tax abatements already have to file a state report and it was thought it would not be
6- appropriate to create another level of bureaucracy for the businesses. He said he wanted to make sure there
was accountability from a wage standpoint and accountability from what they are promising the committee.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
October 20, 1997
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1 Councilmember Wissel said he thinks the committee is over estimating Council's position in the process. e
2 said you have the legislative branch of government that makes the laws and, in this case, interprets the st to
3 laws, and you have the executive branch whose responsibility it is to execute. He said the committee doe n't
4 have the manpower or the administrative authority to correct the problem if the businesses are not do ng
5 what they stated they are going to do, but the executive branch does. City Attorney Bob Bever said thi is
6 somewhat unique in that the designated body is this legislative body but that is not specifically set fort in
7 this statute. He added that he feels both bodies will need to work together in order to accomplish w at
8 everyone wants.
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10 Councilmember Parker asked for clarification about what the average wage is. Councilmember Stam er
11 said that part is currently being written and it is the committee's intention to take an average of the rank and
12 file of the hourly employees which would be inclusive of their health care benefits.
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14 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
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16 REPORTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS
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18 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
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20 David Hogg, representing the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.), said he had distributed bullet ns
21 containing a breakdown of the 80,000 hours contributed doing telephoning,tutoring visiting the homebound,
22 counseling and carpentry work, to mention a few of the programs in which more than 600 volunteers are
23 involved. He pointed out the display of items on the table which included mittens, teddy bears, a trash bag
24 rug, baby booties and baby caps. He noted that R.S.V.P. is a federally funded program with $30,6,60
25 provided by the federal government, $3,000 by the City, and between $12,000 to $15,000 by fund raisi g
26 such as the sale of green carnations and poinsettias.
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28 ORDINANCES
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30 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
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32 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinance No. 108, 109, 110 and 111 - 19 7
33 on first reading by title only, second by Councilmember Lundy and the motion was carried on a unanimous
34 voice vote.
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36 ORDINANCE NO. 108-1997
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38 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 108 - 1997-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP F R
39 THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED BY AUDITOR'S MAP NO. 31-03-000-206.008-03, LOCATED WEST 'F
40 AND ALONG SALISBURY ROAD IN THE NE 1/4 SECTION 3 TOWNSHIP 16 RANGE 14 CENT
41 TOWNSHIP; AND THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED BY AUDITOR'S MAP NO. 21-34-400-409.000- 7,
42 LOCATED SOUTH OF AND ALONG STATE ROAD 38 IN THE SE 1/4 SECTION 34 TOWNSHIP 7
43 RANGE 14 WEBSTER TOWNSHIP
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45 President Dickman said Ordinance No. 108- 1997 would go to the Planning Commission.
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47 ORDINANCE NO.109-1997
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49 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 109- 1997-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF
50 A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I. .
51 6-1.1-12.1
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53 Councilmember Stamper explained this is a request for a tax abatement made by Fritz Schoemaker d.b'a.
54 Fleet Trailer Service which will create five new jobs and retain seven, contributing an estimated $300,000 o
55 the community. He said the jobs mentioned pay in excess of $9 an hour and this will come back on seco d
56 reading at the November 4 Council meeting.
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58 ORDINANCE NO.110-1997
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60 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 110- 1997-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL of
61 A STATEMENT OF BENEFITS FOR A PROPERTY OWNER APPLYING FOR DEDUCTIONS UNDER I. .
62 6-1.1-12.1
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64 Councilmember Stamper said this is a request by Johns Manville International Inc. for a 10-year t
65 abatement on new manufacturing equipment. He said there will be no new jobs but 114 will be retained a II d
the average wage of the plant is in excess of$10 per hour which does not include the benefits. He said the
estimated new value to the community is$3.2 million.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
OctnhAr 2fl, 1997
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1 President Dickman said this ordinance will also come back on second reading at the November 4 meeting.
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3 ORDINANCE NO.111 -1997
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5 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 111 - 1997 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN
6 INDIVIDUALS TO ACCEPT PENSION LIABILITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA
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8 Deputy Controller Ann Cottongim explained that Jan Hibner is currently the only signatory for the City with
9 P.E.R.F. and this ordinance would add City Controller Shelley Miller for reporting purposes and any
0 communications with them.
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2 Councilmember Welch questioned the word "accept" with the pension liability. Bever said Assistant City
'3 Attorney Steve Rabe had drafted this and he is not sure what was intended, but, he said he thinks it is just to
4 have authorized signatures to executive any documents accepting funds and accept liability. Councilmember
'5 Welch said he is questining why it is necessary to go through that if that alone sets up the pension and he is
16 curious as to why it is stated that way. Bever said the agents usually accept some liability, adding that the
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17 State Board of Accounts probably would feel comfortable for them to accept liability for their signatures or
their acts.
.0 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 111 - 1997 to second
1 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimous
.2 voice vote.
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,4 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 111 - 1997 on second reading.
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„6 President Dickman declared Ordinance No. 111 - 1997 on public hearing. There being no comments either
,7 for or against the ordinance, Councilmember Hutton moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember
.8 Allen and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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0 Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 111 - 1997 to third and final
1 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Elstro and the motion was carried on a unanimous
2 voice vote.
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4 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 111 -1997 on third reading.
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3�6 Ordinance No. 111 - 1997 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
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318 Ayes: Elstro, Lundy,Wissel, Hutton, alien, Stamper,Welch, Parker and Dickman (9)
39 Nays:None
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1 ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND ENGROSSMENT
There were none.
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4j5 ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
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4 There were none.
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4:, UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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5 ADJOURNMENT
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5c There being no further business,on a motion duly made, seconded and passed the meeting was adjourned.
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6 Robert Dickman, President
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ATTEST:
Norma Schroeder,Clerk
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