HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-17-1988 39
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA. OCTOBER 17. 1988
1 ;The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session October 17,1988 at the hour of
2 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers in said City. President Morris presided with the following Councilmembers
3 present: Elstro, Hankinson, Parker, Hutton, and Paust. Absent: McBride. The following business was had
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5 to-wit:
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6 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
7 ,
8 SILENT DEVOTIONS
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10 Mayor Frank H.Waltermann read the Twenty Third Psalms in honor of Councilmember Marion Williams,who
11 passed away on October 16, 1988.
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13 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 19 , 1988
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15 Councilmember Hankinson moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as prepared, seconded
16 by Councilmember Brookbank and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
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18 REPORTS FROM OTHER OFFICES
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20 Human Services Office
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22 Ms. Mary Merchanthouse, City Clerk, addressed the Council and thanked them for their assistance with the
23 homeless issue and attending the Housing Authority meeting. She encouraged them to continue their
24 efforts for community support of this issue. Ms. Merchanthouse informed the Council that another issue is
25 becoming an emergency in the community,that of deposits and funds for back payments due to insure that
26 utilities are available. She said this issue should also be addressed along with the homeless issue. Ms.
27 I Merchanthouse requested Ms. Lynn Johnstone to address the Council regarding similar problems she
28 experiences as Energy Director.
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30 Ms. Johnston spoke about the EKFAB program and being able to assist with financing for furnaces and
31 insulation, but that this does not address the problem of keeping utilities turned on when no funds are
32 i available for deposits and back bills. She said she gets calls from people who live in houses that have been
33 flagged and cannot get utilities connected without a large deposit even though the person has no bad
34 payment record with the utility companies. She added that many people fall through the cracks and it is very
35 frustrating.
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37 President Morris asked if these tenants have litigation rights if they were not made aware of this problem by
38 their landlord and Mr. Barden felt it could be possible fraud, but in Indiana the law takes the attitude that the
39 tenant beware and there is very little protection for tenants.
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41 Councilmember Parker said he felt the utility companies would work with a tenant if the prior bill was not their
42 I responsiblity and Ms. Merchanthouse said she had personally contacted the Gas Company about a
43 particular problem with a house being flagged as a high risk property and it was made quite clear that the Gas
44 Company would not connect services without a very large deposit being made. Ms. Merchanthouse said the
45 'persons living in the home had to be relocated to prevent them being without heat.
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47 P Councilmember Parker commented that relocation would be the answer and the landlord would be forced to
48 i address the problem if no one would rent the property.
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50 ! President Morris reminded the Council of the shortage of quality low cost housing and that there were no
51 I more Section 8 certificates available to the local Housing Authority. She said she felt the problem deserves
52 a serious look and possibly some strong lobbying could help make some changes.
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54 Councilmember Paust said he had spoken with the Township Trustee regarding one of the women at the
55 Housing Authority meeting that had been homeless. He said there had been concerned expressed about the
56 apartment located for her being only temporary and after he had checked with the Trustee the housing would
57 be available as long as she wants to stay there and can pay the rent. He added that he had found out she
58 does receive ADC in an amount large enough to pay her rent.
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60 President Morris commented that besides rent being paid from the ADC funds, there also had to be utilities
61 taken into consideration along with food and other necessities. She said that it might seem like reasonable
62 I housing at a reasonable cost,when in reality it might not be.
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64 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
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140
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
October 17,1988
Page 2
1 Mr. Barden reported that the Board had expressed concerns over proper disposal of medical wastes and
2 that the clean up of the railroad properties had almost been completed with weeds being cut,junk removed
3 and some of the crossing being paved. He said the railroads would be billed appropriately. Mr. Barden
4 stated that acquisition of right of way for the South L Street extension had been completed and the Board
5 meeting for October 20th would be cancelled.
6
7 Councilmember Elstro asked what the next step was for South L Street and Ms. Sweet stated funds in the
8 amount of$300,000. were available for the project.
9
10 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
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12 None
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1.4 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
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16 Reid Hospital
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18 Councilmember Brookbank reported that the No Smoking Policy was now in effect.
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20 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
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22 Report on Visit to USSR by Councilmember Brookbank.
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24 Councilmember Brookbank reported on her recent visit to the USSR as part of the Sister Cities program.
25 She reported that twenty one persons from the Richmond Area had gone on a cultural exchange and found
26 the people warm and lovely. She stated that they had been met by a representative of the Mayor of
27 Serpukhov, Richmond's Sister City and that the Chanticleer Quartet was well received.
28
29 President Morris welcomed the Government Classes in attendance from Richmond High School.
30
31 RESOLUTIONS
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33 RESOLUTION NO. 18-1988
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35 President Morris read Resolution No. 18-1988 in its entirety.
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38 A RESOLUTION IN MEMORY OF MARION J. WILLIAMS
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40 WHEREAS,The distinguished career of Marion J.Williams as Civil Rights leader, Humanitarian and Second
41 District Councilman has spanned more than four decades;and,
42
43 WHEREAS, Marion J. Williams' contribution to his community was highlighted by the spearheading of a
44 movement to organize International Harvester in the 1940's and 1950's, his leadership of a sit-in at the
45 lunch counter of S.S. Kresge in 1958, his participation in the March in Washington, D.C. with Dr. Martin
46 Luther King, Jr. in 1963, his devotion to the dream of building Townsend Community Center in 1963, the
47 fostering of state and local chapters of the NAACP and his election as president in 1969, his commitment to
48 the creation of low-income housing and North Richmond redevelopment through the 1960's and 1970's, his
49 appointment to the seat of Second District Councilman on December 21, 1970 and re-election to five more
50 terms, and his election to Common Council Presidency in 1985 and Chairmanship of the Richmond Power&
51 Light Board of Directors in 1988;and,
52
53 WHEREAS, Marion J.Williams led the fight for equal rights through his demand for low-cost,quality housing
54 and his insistence on affirmative action hiring policies throughout his community, and the leadership he
55 demonstrated in creating the Human rights Commission and the Handicapped Parking Ordinance and his
56 representation of his constituency and respect for all people, and;
57
58 WHEREAS, Marion J. Williams will be remembered as a man of God through his service as Deacon of the
59 Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church, a lover of his family and the democratic system. He will be
60 revered as a beacon to truth and justice for all.
61
62 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana that his
63 memory shall be honored by City Officials and City Officials to come through their efforts to emulate his
64 service and by voting on November 8, 1988 and in all elections to come.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
October 17, 1988
Page 3
1 President Morris requested comments from the members of Common Council in honor of Marion J.
2 Williams.
3
4 Councilmember Elstro said he and Councilmember Williams had worked together many years and he had
5 never hesitated or backed off an issue. He added that Councilmember Williams had fought hard for his
6 District and Richmond.
7
8 Councilmember Brookbank remembered the happy times with Councilmember Williams and shared an
9 experience with him at one of the APPA Conferences.
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11 Councilmember Hankinson said it had been a distinct pleasure and privilege to work with Councilmember
12 Williams. He said he was a fair man and it had been an honor to work with him.
13
14 Councilmember Parker said Councilmember Williams would always be remembered as fair. He said no one
15 could change his mind about an issue and he had been a good representative of the District.
16
17 Councilmember Hutton commented on the mutual respect she and Councilmember Williams had and that the
18 citizens of Richmond would miss him.
19
20 Councilmember Paust stated that it had always been a pleasure working with Councilmember Williams and
21 that he had also worked with Councilmember Frank Marino,who Marion had replaced. Councilmember Paust
22 said he had felt like no one could have better represented the Second District than Mr. Marino, but that
23 Councilmember Williams had done an equally fine job and had always expressed his opinions very loud and
24 clear and these would be very large shoes to fill. He commented on the amount of time Councilmember
25 Williams actually spent in the District.
26
27 President Morris said that when she was elected in 1983, there were three women elected at this time and
28 Councilmember Williams respected them as fellow Councilmembers. She said that because of Marion's
29 presence, Richmond was very lucky with integration efforts.
30
31 Mr. Robert Burton, 900 South 20th Street, said he had known Councilmember Williams for the past
32 twenty-three years,first politically and then in his capacity as Judge. He said he has seen Marion as a man
33 of his church, involved in politics and a great variety of community interests most notably the establishment
34 of low cost housing in the community. Mr. Burton said Councilmember Williams had the utmost honesty,
35 integrity and represented the whole City most ably. He added that he left a lasting legacy.
36
37 Mr. Richard Bodiker, 1710 Capri Lane, said it had been a pleasure and a learning experience working with
38 Councilmember Williams as a member of the Common Council. He said that Councilmember Williams always
39 wanted a direction for his community and had presented an honest and fair representation of the citizens of
40 the community.
41
42 President Morris asked that an original signature copy of the Resolution be presented to Mrs. Esther
43 Williams.
44
45 ORDINANCES
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47 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
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49 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No.72 and 73-1988 on first reading
50 by title only,seconded by Councilmember Parker and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
51
52 ORDINANCE NO. 72-1988
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54 The Clerk read on first reading by title only,Ordinance No.72-1988-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER
55 154 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE,BEING ORDINANCE NO.2325-1968,COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ZONING
56 ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF PROPERTY
11/ 57 LOCATED AT 1804 RICH ROAD, FROM M-2 GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO R-2 SINGLE FAMILY
58 RESIDENCE DISTRICT.
59
60 President Morris assigned Ordinance No.72-1988 to the Plan Commission for advertised public hearing.
61
62 ORDINANCE NO. 73-1988
63
64 The Clerk read on first reading by title only, Ordinance No.73-1988-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER
65 154 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, BEING ORDINANCE NO.2325-1968,COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF PROPERTY
142
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
October 17, 1988
Page 4
1 LOCATED AT 2510 CHESTER BOULEVARD FROM C-2 COMMERCIAL DISTRICT TO C-SU COMMERCIAL
2 SPECIAL USE DISTRICT AND AUTHORIZING THE SPECIAL USE OF SAID PROPERTY AS A MOTOR
3 VEHICLE SERVICE STATION.
4
5 President Morris assigned Ordinance No.73-1988 to the Plan Commission for advertised public hearing.
6
7 ADJOURNMENT
8
9 There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed,the meeting was adjourned.
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13 Lynn Nepote Morris,President
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17 ATTEST:
18 Mary Merchanthouse,City Clerk
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