HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-20-1988 83
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND. INDIANA. JUNE 20. 1988
1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session June 20,1988 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,Williams, Brookbank, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Hutton,and Paust. Absent: None. The
4 following business was had to-wit:
5
6 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
7
8 SILENT DEVOTIONS
9
10 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 6, 1988
11
12 Councilmember Hankinson moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as prepared, seconded
13 by Councilmember Williams and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
14
15 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
16
17 Mayor Waltermann informed the Council that Rose Festival activities would be starting on Wednesday of this
18 week. The Mayor also reported that one of the participants of the Moonlight Parade that was taken ill during
19 the parade was in stable condition and would be moved home to Indianapolis.
20
21 Mayor Waltermann also reported the death of Ron Barden, Rose Festival Promoter in Thomasville,Georgia.
22
23 The Mayor told the Council that a new pumper was now at No.4 Station to alleviate the emergency caused by
24 one being out of service and the Sheridan Street extension was now usable and would be named Progress
25 Road.
26
27 Mayor Waltermann also reported that the closing had been held on the purchase of the property south of the
28 Elder Beerman Parking lot.
29
30 President Morris requested the Clerk to send condolences from the Council to the family of Mr. Ron Barden.
31
32 REPORTS FROM OTHER OFFICES
33
34 Human Rights Commission
35
36 The Director of the Human Rights Commission, Mr. Jim Mathewson, reported to the Council that the
37 Commission officially began their duties on February 1, 1988 and they meet the third Wednesday of each
38 month and have been working on developing their program. Mr. Mathewson reported that he and one of the
39 Commissioners visited the Muncie Human Rights Office and they shared their procedures and publications.
40 He said they had also attended a consortium in Indianapolis addressing discrimination issues.
41
42 Mr. Mathewson informed the Council that in the beginning they had expected to handle five or six cases for
43 1988 and to date had handled nineteen cases.
44
45 President Morris stated she was proud to have Mr. Mathewson in attendance and was impressed that the
46 Commissioners were taking time to attends seminars.
47
48 President Morris asked how many active cases the Commission had.
49
50 Mr. Mathewson explained they had mediated 6 of the cases and some had been referred to other agencies
51 for proper assistance with some not meeting the criteria of the Human Rights Commission as discrimination.
52
53 Mr. Mathewson commended the Council and Mayor Waltermann for their appointments to the Commission.
54
55 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
56
57 'Mr. Barden asked that the Council refer to the published minutes for any details on Board of Works action.
58
59 Councilmember Brookbank thanked the Board for the fast action she received on a complaint on South 21st
60 Street.
61
62 Councilmember Elstro asked about the public hearing on the conditions of the railroads and Mr. Barden
63 explained there was a representative from CSX in attendance, but he was there regarding safety standards
64 and not other conditions. Mr. Barden said the Board will re-address their complaint to the proper department.
65 Mr.Barden said they were informed it was standard procedure for cities to notify CSX of certain conditional,
84
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
June 20, 1988
Page 2
1 CSX would not respond in a timely manner and the cities could proceed with the services, billing CSX for
2 services performed.
3
4 Mr. Barden informed the Council that he had requested the federal specifications for tracks and would have
5 the City Engineer inspect all tracks to the specifications, since CSX was agreeable to certifying that their
6 tracks met all federal specifications.
7
8 Mr. Barden added that two days after the representative from CSX was at the public hearing,the City was
9 notified of a possible law suit from an accident on CSX tracks.
10
11 Councilmember McBride also requested the tracks on NW L, east of NW 5th Street be inspected.
12
13 Councilmember Parker asked Mr. Barden to investigate a utility cut on West Main Street between 6th and 7th
14 Streets to see who is responsible and see if it could not be black topped.
15
16 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
17
18 Appointment to Police Merit Commission
19
20 Councilmember Hutton moved to appoint Mr. Jeff Trees, First United Methodist Church, as the Council
21 appointment representing ministers to the Police Merit Commission, seconded by Councilmember
22 Brookbank and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
23
24 Mr.Trees has been involved with Prison Ministry in Indianapolis prior to coming to Richmond.
25
26 President Morris introduced Ms. Claire Louise Hoskins. Ms. Hoskins was the first woman Councilmember,
27 serving two terms beginning in 1956.
28
29 RESOLUTIONS
30
31 RESOLUTION NO. 8-1988
32
33 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Resolution No . 8-1988 by title only, seconded
34 by Councilmember Williams and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
35
36 The Clerk read by title only Resolution No. 8-1988 - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN
37 OPERATING ASSISTANCE GRANT UNDER SECTION 18 OF THE URBAN MASS TRANSPORTATION ACT
38 OF 1964,AS AMENDED.
39
40 It was explained to the Council this was authorization to file for the regular operating assistance for Rose View
41 Transit.
42
43 Councilmember Elstro moved for adoption of Resolution No. 8-1988, seconded by Councilmember Parker
44 and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
45
46 ORDINANCES
47
48 ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
49
50 Councilmember Elstro moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinance No.41-1988 on first reading by title
51 only,seconded by Councilmember Williams and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
52
53 ORDINANCE NO. 41-1988
54
55 The Clerk read on first reading by title only Ordinance No. 41-1988 - AN ORDINANCE GRANTING
56 PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO A DEVELOPMENT UNIT PROJECT I A M-2, GENERAL INDUSTRIAL
57 DISTRICT, ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF FLATLEY ROAD IN THE 2600 BLOCK
58 PURSUANT TO ARTICLES 35, 45 AND 48 OF CHAPTER 154 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES,
59 COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.
60
61 President Morris announced this Ordinance would assigned to the Plan Commission for public hearing on
62 June 28, 1988.
63
64 ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
June 20, 1988
Page 3
1 ORDINANCE NO. 39-1988
2
3 The Clerk read on second reading Ordinance No. 39-1988 -AN ORDINANCE SETTING TOTAL REGULAR
4 WAGES AND POSITIONS FOR APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,
5 INDIANA EXCEPT FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLICE AND FIRE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS, FOR
6 THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 1989 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1989,APPROVING THE
7 ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION TO CERTAIN APPOINTED OFFICIALS OF THE CITY, OTHER THAN
8 GOVERNMENTAL, WHO PERFORM SERVICES FOR THE CITY, WHICH SERVICES ARE CONNECTED
9 WITH THE OPERATION OF THE MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY OR FUNCTIONS THEREOF.
10
11 President Morris announced the Ordinance was on public hearing.
12
13 There being no apparent public discussion, Councilmember Hankinson moved for engrossment.
14 Councilmember Williams seconded the engrossment.
15
16 Councilmember Elstro asked about amendments after engrossment and Mr. Barden explained it would take a
17 unanimous voice vote.
18
19 Councilmember Parker suggested a committee of the whole be held on the Ordinance and President Morris
20 indicated she was in opposition to any more meetings,since the Council had received all the materials several
21 weeks ago and she hoped all questions were already answered.
22
23 The motion for engrossment failed on the following call of the roll:
24
25 Ayes: Williams,Hankinson and Paust (3)
26 Nays: Elstro,Brookbank, McBride, Parker,Hutton and Morris (6)
27
28 Councilmember Paust commented about past practice of Department Heads not taking salary increases and
29 in order to bring that position to the mid salary range to be in line with other Departments, it would take a large
30 increase. He said he realized the Controller's increase was large, but the total salary was in line with other
31 departments and he feels it is fair and equitable.
32
33 Councilmember Williams commented that there was information available from other second class cities
34 showing Richmond's salaries below many other cities. He said the salaries of city employees and elected
35 officials was not a matter of politics and he felt the Council was underpaid for the amount of time spent on the
36 job.
37
38 Councilmember Hutton commented that many of the positions with large increases had been cut in prior
39 years. She added that with the current personnel system,she did not feel that names or personalities should
40 be involved. She also reminded the Council that they were voting on the maximum allowable salary, not the
41 salary to be paid.
42
43 President Morris stated that when Common Council gets into the business of administration, they need to
44 change jobs. She said they need to go by the wishes of the Mayor and Department Heads.
45
46 Councilmember Brookbank, in order to clarify a discrepancy in a salary classification, moved to amend the
47 salary of the Weights and Measures Inspector to 21,078., seconded by Councilmember Hutton and on
48 unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
49
50 Councilmember Paust requested information on the classification system, since he was not familiar with the
51 system.
52
53 The Clerk requested the Council to correct a typographical error in the Rose View Mechanic's salary and add
54 the 500. increase.
55
56 Councilmember Hutton moved to amend the salary of the Rose View Mechanic to 20,500., seconded by
57 Councilmember Paust and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
58
59 Councilmember Hankinson commented that he realized the City was trying to get employees to mid range or
60 give a 500. increase,but the percentages of increase ranged from 1%to 48%. He said he was certain these
61 could individually be explained, but they were still had to explain to constituents.
62
63 Mayor Waltermann commented that the salary ordinance also showed promotions in classifications and that
64 often accounted for what seemed to be a large increase in wages. He said the City is receiving their money's
65 worth from the employees,and he would have a hard time defending low salaries.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
June 20, 1988
Page 4
1 Councilmember Elstro said that maybe fifteen or so received higher than 500.00 and there were some pretty
2 healthy increases. He said he would like to see a 500.00 across the Board increase.
3
4 Councilmember Hutton asked about the committee of the whole meeting and commented that since no one
5 requested one in the past, she felt one at this time would only cause the rest of the budget process to be
6 held up.
7
8 There being no further discussion, Councilmember Hankinson moved for engrossment, seconded by
9 Councilmember Brookbank and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
10
11 Councilmember Williams moved to suspend the rules and more Ordinance No. 39-1988 to third and final
12 reading and read by title only ,seconded by Councilmember Hutton and on unanimous voice vote the motion
13 was carried.
14
15 The Clerk read Ordinance No.39-1988 on third and final reading by title only.
16
17 Amended Ordinance No.39-1988 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
18
19 Ayes: Williams, Brookbank, Parker, Hutton,Paust and Morris (6)
20 Nays: Elstro,Hankinson and McBride (3)
21
22 Mayor Waltermann thanked the Council for all the employees of the City. He commented it makes the job
23 easier when he can compensate people for a job well done.
24
25 APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE NO. 40-1988
26
27 The Clerk read on second reading Appropriation Ordinance No. 40-1988 - AN ORDINANCE TO
28 APPROPRIATE WITHIN THE CUMULATIVE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND.
29
30 The Proof of Publication was examined and found to be in order. Councilmember Brookbank moved to
31 accept and file the Proof of Publication, seconded by Councilmember Hankinson and on unanimous voice
32 vote the motion was carried.
33
34 President Morris announced Ordinance No.40-1988 was on public hearing.
35
36 There being no further comment, Councilmember Hankinson moved for engrossment of Ordinance No.
37 40-1988, seconded by Councilmember Brookbank and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
38
39 Councilmember Williams moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 40-1988 to third and final
40 reading and read by title only, seconded by Councilmember Brookbank and on unanimous voice vote the
41 motion was carried.
42
43 The Clerk read Ordinance No.40-1988 on third and final reading.
44
45 Ayes: Elstro,Williams, Brookbank,Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Hutton, Paust and Morris (9)
46 Nays: None
47
48 ADJOURNMENT
49
50 There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was
51 adjourned. _
52
53
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56
57
58 Lynn Nepote Morris,President
59
60
61
62 ATTEST:
63 Mary Merchanthouse,City Clerk
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