HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-20-1996 139
PRO E-E
CITY OF RICHM
1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session at 7:30 p.m.Tuesday,
2 February 20, 1996, in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building in said City. President Geneva"Gene"
3 Allen presided with the following Councilmembers present: Etta Lundy, Bruce Wissel, Sarah "Sally" Hutton,
4 Bob Dickman, Alan Stamper, Bing Welch and Larry Parker. Howard "Jack" Elstro was absent.The following
5 business was had to-wit:
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7 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
8
9 PRAYER BY PRESIDENT ALLEN
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1 ROLL CALL
2
3 Eight present.
4
5 READING AND CORRECTION OF THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 5.1996
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7 Councilmember Hutton moved to approve the minutes of February 5, 1996, second by Councilmember
8 Dickman and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
9
0 PRESENTATIONS OF MEMORIALS OR REMONSTRANCES. AND INTRODUCTIONS. MOTIONS,
1 RESOLUTIONS
2
3 President Allen stated that if anyone has any of the above they should be in writing and be presented prior to
.4 the preparation of the agenda.
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'6 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
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.8 Mayor Dennis Andrews explained the contents of a packet he distributed to all Councilmembers prior to the
:9 meeting. He said as an informational item there is an announcement of a public forum Thursday, February
0 29 at Indiana University East concerning the downtown renovation. He said a panel discussion is scheduled
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and there will be comments welcomed by the public. He added that it will be televised by WON and said he
hoped those who are unable to attend can watch it on TV.
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4 Also included, he said, was information from Shelley Miller, the City Controller, which itemizes some of the
5 financial information which he hopes by March he will get to Council regularly. The next bit of information he
6 said is a listing for general information outlines of the State Board of Tax Commissioners cuts made in
7 December so Councilmembers can see what adjustments were made in the budget passed for 1996 and a
8 listing of funds attached to that.
.0 Mayor Andrews said there was a release sent to each Councilmember which reflected an account change
1 and some additional interest earned on the basis of a checking account interest adjustment which generated
2 $45,000 extra dollars. He said the $10 million average balance was a total of all the money in each of the
.3 funds and the interest from that investment would routinely be spread over those funds over the course of
the year. He said also attached is a lease agreement history which identifies the current lease obligations
.5 which are in excess of $1 million taken care of by CCDF primarily. He said this year they are in excess of
6 $430,000.
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8 Concluding, the Mayor said he was not sure who had previously seen the 1995 fiscal plan that was revised
9 in September 1995 so in a recent meeting with Ray Crim of Geo. S. Olive he had it duplicated for all
'0 Councilmembers to have a copy. Councilmember Stamper said he appreciated this because it gave him an
'1 idea of where the money is going.The Mayor said he has been in the process internally of having a meeting
'2 each day with a department head in reviewing the existing budget and even though it is not certified until the
-3 end of March it is helpful for him and the controller to grasp the whole picture.
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The Mayor added that perhaps in March or April it would be necessary to get into the budget in more detail
'6 and, although it may be out of the ordinary to have a public hearing on the existing budget one of the
'7 commitements he made last year is to have those discussions publicly. He said if Council does not want to
-8 do it as a Committee of the Whole then he might want to do it himself. Councilmember Hutton said in years
"9 past Councilmembers have gone to the individual departments on a one-on-one basis. Councilmember
:0 Dickman stated that when the Mayor is ready he will be glad to get together with him and schedule a
:1 Committee of the Whole meeting.
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:3 Councilmember Stamper suggested that Council may want to look at street light rates first since the Board of
:4 Directors of RP & L are looking at the rate case coming up and it might affect what power costs are for the
:5 City it might be a good idea to get a better handle on that.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
February 20, 1996
Page 2
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1 Mayor Andrews agreed, noting that this is an account that is going to run short. He said he just received'wo
2 days ago requests for additional street lighting in three different subdivisions and there may not be eno gh
3 funds for those so it is a good thing to look at it early.
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5 The Mayor noted that he had just come from attending the hearing on County Council on EDIT to offer an
6 endorsement for continuation and committed to carry out the obligations of the EDIT funds made for 1°96
7 and to act for openly and responsible in spending and work toward infrastructure. He said the City would i of
8 have the money in the absence of that continuation. President Allen said Council sent a letter of support for
9 EDIT.
10
11 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
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13 Minutes of the Janurary 25 and February 1, 1996 meetings were in the Council packets.
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15 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
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17 President Allen announced appointments to standing committees as follows:
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19 Transportation Committee:Jack Elstro, Larry Parker and Bing Welch.
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21 Parks and Recreation:Bruce Wissel, Sally Hutton and Alan Stamper.
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23 Public Safety: Etta Lundy, Bruce Wissel and Jack Elstro.
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25 Community Development and Community Services:Sally Hutton, Larry Parker and Bob Dickman
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27 Public Works and Sanitation: Bob Dickman, Bing Welch and Etta Lundy
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29 Finance Committee:Alan Stamper and Gene Allen.
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31 President Allen stated that these committees are to operate on an as needed basis and are to come to he
32 Council with any recommendation or ordinances having to do with their particular area. Pointing out h•w
33 valuable the committees are, President Allen gave as an example the restructuring of the Parks -nd
34 Recreation Department, noting that had there been a committee to look into that before it came to Coun•I if
35 would have been most helpful. She added that those committees will be notified by calling the first per on
36 mentioned since that person is the chairman.
37
38 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONS
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40 Councilmember Parker said the Reid Hospital Board does not meet until the fourth Monday of the mo th
41 and therefore he had nothing to report. Councilmember Welch said he missed the Park Board meeting
42 tonight but had attended a special meeting last week where bids were received for remodeling the G en
43 Miller Park Club House. The two items bid, he said, were carpeting and new account cabinets and disp ay
44 cases. Councilmember Dickman said the Aviation Board will meet on the third Thursday of the month.
45
46 Councilmember Hutton reported that the Enterprise Zone Board had a brief meeting during which t ey
47 appointed Ira Carter as the citizen of the month for all the volunteer work he does. She said this is a n-w
48 program initiated by the Board where it recognizes someone each month for his or her community servi,e.
49 She asked Council members to be on the alert and suggest the names of those citizens who should •e
50 considered for the award.
51
52 Councilmember Lundy, reporting on the Housing Authority, read a letter from the Mayor noting that the a dit
53 had been conducted with sound findings. He congratulated the Housing Authority on its achieveme s,
54 noting that the findings are indicative of sound management practices.
55
56 President Allen stated that another Special Committee, the Tax Abatement Committee, of wh ch
57 Councilmember Stamper is the chairman, had not met. She said there are some statements of bene its
58 which need to be looked at and asked him to call a meeting.
59
60 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
61
62 Noting that Council had some appointments to be made, President Allen recognized Councilmember Wel h
63 who nominated Robert Ramsey, 2211 Parkdale Drive, who is a Certified Public Accountant,to serve on t e
64 Police Merit Commission, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimo s
65 voice vote. Councilmember Hutton moved that Martha Alexander represent the lodging industry on t e
Wayne County Convention & Tourism Bureau Board, second by Councilmember Dickman and the moti.n
was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
Febrtra'y-204996
Page 3
1 President Allen appointed Councilmembers Hutton, Dickman and Lundy to serve on a committee to look into
2 the Telecommunications Council appointments and look at the ordinance to determine what needs to be
3 done about placing time limits on the terms. She asked for a report at the next Council meeting.
4
5 ORDINANCES
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7 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
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9 Councilmember Lundy moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 6,7,8,10,11 and 12 - 1996 by
10 title only, second by Councilmember Hutton and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
11
12 ORDINANCE NO.6-1996
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14 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 6 - 1996-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT 200
15 GARWOOD ROAD
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17 President Allen said Ordinance No. 6- 1996 would go to the Planning Commission.
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19 ORDINANCE NO.7-1996
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el The Clerk read Ordinance No. 7- 1996-A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT 300
02 SOUTH 4TH STREET
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04 President Allen said Ordinance No. 7- 1996 would go to the Planning Commission.
5
!6 ORDINANCE NO.8-1996
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'8 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 8 - 1996 - A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP AT
'9 VACANT LOT PORTERFIELD AVENUE
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c 1 President Allen said Ordinance No. 8- 1996 would go to the Planning Commission.
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c3 ORDINANCE NO. 10-1996
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e5 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 10 - 1996 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1996
:6 BUDGET
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e8 Mayor Andrews explained that he would speak to Ordinances No. 10 and 11 - 1996 since they are related.
c9 He noted that this ordinance deals with the appropriation for the communications specialist position in the
0 Public Works budget and part of the 1996 budget. He noted that the appropriation was originally in the public
1 works account and this is a transfer appropriation of funds from that account into the accounts listed. It is not
2 an additional position which was part of the 1996 budget, he said.
4 He explained that this is the third step, noting that the first was the reorganization ordinance which deleted
'5 the communications specialist position and created the position as stated, the second step was the salary
6 ordinance that authorized this amount of money, and this step is the actual appropriation of those dollars.
7
8 Councilmember Dickman moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 10 - 1996 to second
,9 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Stamper and the motion was carried on a
.0 unanimous voice vote.
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.2 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 10-1996 on second reading.
.3
.4 President Allen declared Ordinance No. 10 - 1996 on public hearing. Councilmember Lundy asked about the
.5 receptionist/switchboard position and whether or not it had been advertized. Mayor Andrews responded that
.6 there was a woman in that position the last several weeks of December 1995 and that person would be
.7 reinstated when the funds became available.
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.9 There being no comments either for or against Ordinance No. 10- 1996 Councilmember Dickman moved for
•0 engrossment,second by Councilmember Stamper and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
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.2 Councilmember Welch moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 10 - 1996 to third and final
.3 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Parker and the motion was carried on a unanimous
.4 voice vote.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
February 20, 1996
Page 4
1 'Ordinance No. 10- 1996 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
2
3 Ayes: Lundy,Wissel, Hutton, Dickman,Stamper,Welch, Parker and Allen (8)
4 Nays:None
5 Absent: Elstro
6
7 ORDINANCE NO. 11 -1996
8
9 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 11 - 1996 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING PAYME T
10 SERVICES FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE HIGHWAY FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND IN 1996
11
12 Councilmember Hutton moved to amend the ordinance as received tonight, second by Wissel and he
13 motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. Councilmember Dickman suggested that in the future w en
14 one ordinance is replaced by another that the word "amended" be placed on it to differentiate between he
15 two. Mayor Andrews said the presumption was that since this would be first introduced to Council is
16 evening the word amended would not be needed. Councilmember Dickman suggested that perhaps he
17 word "revised"would be better.
18
19 Councilmember Dickman moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 11 - 1996 to second read ng
20 and read by title only, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a unanimous vo ce
21 vote.
22
23 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 11 =1996 on second reading.
24
25 President Allen declared Ordinance No. 11 - 1996 on public hearing. Councilmember Hutton asked if he
26 percentages were the same as had been used in the past. Mayor Andrews answered that these are n w
27 percentages, noting that in pervious years it was lower and he had checked with the State Board of
28 Accounts in relation to changing those and making sure there was no cap. He added that approval has to go
29 to the State Board of Tax Commissioners and that takes two weeks.
30
31 In answer to a question posed by Councilmember Parker, Mayor Andrews said all the money that was cut by
32 the elimination of communications specialist was in the Motor Vehicle Highway and the way to free mo ey
33 up in the General Fund was to increase those percentages. He stated that there is a slight amount of exc ss
34 in Motor Vehicle Highway which was moved to the overtime account in the Street Division because tat
35 department had already experienced a lot of overtime so it was not an exact even match when it was tim to
36 fund the Board of Public Works and Engineering. Councilmember Dickman moved for engrossment, sec nd
37 by Councilmember Stamper and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
38
39 Councilmember Welch moved to advance Ordinance No. 11 - 1996 to third and final reading and read by
40 title only,second by Councilmember Dickman and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
41
42 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 11 -1996 on third reading.
43
44 Ordinance No. 11 - 1996 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
45
46 Ayes: Lundy, Wissel, Hutton, Dickman,Stamper,Welch, Parker and Allen (8)
47 Nays: None.
48 Absent:Elstro.
49
50 ORDINANCE NO.12-1996
51
52 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 12 - 1996 - AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1'96
53 BUDGET
54
55 Directing his comments to Fire Chief Mike Allen, Councilmember Stamper said he remembered during he
56 budget process Chief Allen's predecessor(Chief James Sticco) had fought adamantly for the tires and to es
57 budget and now he (Stamper) wants to make sure the $6,000 Chief Allen wants to cut will not cause los of
58 effective service. Chief Allen answered that he had evaluated what was spent last year and what as
59 appropriated and took a look at what tires the department has now to determine what to do. He said si ce
60 budgeting is not an exact science, he may need to transfer that money back into that account. However, e
61 said, he needs the money now to pay for expenses already incurred in the workers compensation bud•et
62 and that is the reason for the transfer. Mayor Andrews stated that it is not the Chief Allen's preference to
63 transfer, however,the City is not in the position of having the existing budget certified so the Chief can co e
64 forth and ask for an additional appropriation. Chief Allen said he has already spent more than the $5,000
65 appropriated in that fund in paying for injuries last year and so far this year.
43
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
February 20, 1996
Page 5
1 Councilmember Hutton moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 12 - 1996 to second
2 reading and read by title only, second by Councilmember Welch and the motion was carried on a unanimous
3 voice vote.
4
5 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 12-1996 on second reading.
6
7 President Allen declared Ordinance No. 12 - 1996 on public hearing. There being no comments either for or
8 against the ordinance, Councilmember Hutton moved for engrossment, second by Councilmember Stamper
9 and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.
10
11 Councilmember Dickman moved to suspend the rules and advance Ordinance No. 12- 1996 to third reading
12 and read by title only,second by Councilmember Stamper and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice
13 vote.
14
15 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 12-1996 on third reading.
16
17 Ordinance No. 12-1996 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
18
19 Ayes: Lundy,Wissel, Hutton, Dickman, Stamper,Welch, Parker and Allen (8)
20 Nays: None.
21 Absent: Elstro.
22
23 ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
24
25 There were none.
26
27 ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
28
29 There were none.
30
31 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
2
:3 President Allen stated that Councilmembers had received the Code update from the administration.
:4
:5 ADJOURNMENT
;6
:7 There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed,the meeting was adjourned.
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Geneva"Gene"Allen, President
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•9 ATTEST:
.0 Norma Schroeder,City Clerk
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