HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-21-1987 9
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA. DECEMBER 21. 1987
1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana met in regular session December 21, 1987 at the hour
2 of 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers in said City. President Brookbank presided with the following
3 Councilmembers present: Elstro, Williams, Hankinson, Whitesell, Parker, Hutton, Morris and Theobald.
4 Absent:None. The following business was had to-wit:
5
6 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
7
8 SILENT DEVOTIONS
9
10 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 7. 1987
11
12 Councilmember Hankinson moved to approve the minutes of the previous meetings as prepared, seconded
13 by Councilmember Hutton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
14
15 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
16
17 Mayor Frank H. Waltermann commented on the windstorm in the City on December 15, 1987 and the fine
18 work done by the Street Department with the assistance of other city departments to clean up. He said they
19 will continue to follow up on any clean up necessary.
20
21 Mayor Waltermann also complimented Purchasing Director Rita Stout and Ms.Annie Fesler for redecorating
22 the Council Chambers.
23
24 REPORT FROM BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY
25
26 Ms. Silberstein reported to the Council that the Board had approved a lease with Ralston Purina for a parking
27 lot for their employees, approved six handicapped parking spaces for the Richmond Senior High School,
28 approved two 15 minute parking spaces to accommodate mail drop boxes in the first block of South 6th
29 Street, heard that the unsafe premises at 1111 Sheridan Street had been removed and ordered the rear
30 portion of an unsafe premise at 1107 Sheridan Street.
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32 Ms.Silberstein said the Board also approved ten paid holidays for City employees for 1988.
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34 Councilmember Williams asked that better coordination be done regarding utility cuts in newly surfaced
35 streets.
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37 Councilmember Elstro asked about the status of the condition of the railroad tracks in the south end of town
38 and Mr. Barden said the State had contacted him and wanted an identification of each crossing and the
39 conditions and they will see that CSX makes the necessary repairs.
40
41 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
42
43 Reid Hospital
44
45 President Brookbank informed the Council she had just attended the annual budget meeting and election of
46 Board officer,which will remain the same for 1988.
47
48 Plan Commission
49
50 Councilmember Morris reminded the Council that Plan Commission would meet on December 22, 1987 at 7:00
51 PM.
52
53 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
54
55 Appointments to Human Relations Commission
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57 Councilmember Morris informed the Council she was personally acquainted with several of the applicants for
58 the Human Relations Commission. She told the Council she would like to nominate Hope Farber to serve a
59 three year term on the Commission and explained that Ms. Farber's background included YWCA Board,
60 Friends of the Battered and her commitment to human rights was well known in the City of Richmond.
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62 Councilmember Elstro asked if an application had been sent to Mari Perkins and also asked if
63 commissioners would be required to live in the City of Richmond.
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65 The Clerk stated an application had not been forwarded to Ms. Perkins and she was not a resident of the
to
Common Council Minutes Cont'd
December 21, 1987
Page 2
1 City.
2
3 Mr.Barden explained that the ordinance did not provide one way or another and therefore he felt they should
4 reside in the City to be in the same judiciary unit. He suggested the Council amend the Ordinance to reflect
5 that since the commissioners would be sitting in a judiciary roll.
6
7 I Councilmember Elstro commented that he felt the Director of the Commission should also reside in the City.
8i
9 I Councilmember Morris stated she was also in agreement with that and the Ordinance could be amended to
10 include that point also.
11
12 Councilmember Whitesell asked if Mayor Waltermann was ready to make his appointments to the
13 Commission this evening and Mayor Waltermann stated he was not.
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15 Councilmember Whitesell commented that he felt they should deal with the appointments from both the
16 Mayor and Council in total.
17
18 Councilmember Morris said she did not mind holding the appointments, but felt they needed to set a
19 deadline.
20
21 Councilmember Williams asked if the Council should amend the Ordinance regarding being a resident of
22 Richmond and vote on it tonight and go ahead and make their appointments.
23
24 President Brookbank commented that 23 applications had been sent out and very few responses had been
25 received.
26
27 Councilmember Elstro stated that delaying the appointments two more weeks would not hurt anything.
28
29 Councilmember Morris moved to delay the appointments to the Human Relations Commission to January 4,
30 1988 and to request the City Attorney to draft an amendment to the Ordinance requiring the Commissioners
31 and Director to be residents of the City of Richmond.
32
33 Mr. Barden asked if the Council wanted eligible persons to reside in the City or just work in the City and
34 Councilmember Morris stated they should live in the City.
35
36 Mr. Barden said in that case he did not feel it was necessary to amend the Ordinance, since it was his
37 opinion they should live in the City and the Commissioners could make the ruling in their regulations
38 regarding the Director living in the City.
39
40 Councilmember Elstro requested the Ordinance be amended to make it clearer.
41
42 Councilmember Hutton seconded the motion to delay the appointments of the Human Rights Commissioners
43 and to amend the Ordinance to require Commissioners and the Director to be City residents and the motion
44 was carried on unanimous voice vote.
45
46 President Brookbank announced they would still receive applications until January 1, 1988.
47
48 Councilmember Morris also stated she felt Council should be represented on a search committee for the
49 Director and so moved,the motion was seconded by Councilmember Parker and carried on unanimous voice
50 vote.
51
52 Mr. Barden stated that requiring the Director to be a resident of Richmond could make it more difficult to find
53 a director and the Council should consider giving a six month residency period.
54
55 Councilmember Williams commented there were qualified persons living in Richmond.
56
57 Mr. Barden stated that the City could not set a residency requirement for applicants.
58;
5911 It was suggested that Councilmember Williams serve on the search committee and Councilmember Williams
60 declined to do so.
61
62 ORDINANCES
63�i
64i ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING
65'
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
December 21, 1987
Page 3
1 Councilmember Whitesell moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinances No. 75 and 76-1987 on first
2 reading by title only, seconded by Councilmember Morris and on unanimous voice vote the motion was
3 carried.
4
5 ORDINANCE NO.75-1987
6
7 The Clerk read on first reading by title only Ordinance No. 75-1987-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AMENDED
8 ORDINANCE NO. 37-1987 (AN ORDINANCE SETTING REGULAR WAGES AND POSITIONS FOR
9 APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA,FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
10 BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 1988 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1988).
11
12 Councilmember Morris moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 75-1987 to second reading,
13 seconded by Councilmember Whitesell and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
14
15 The Clerk read Ordinance No.75-1987 on second reading.
16
17 President Brookbank announced Ordinance No.75-1987 was on public hearing.
18
19 City Controller, Marge Sweet, explained the ordinance established another position in her office in order that
20 the Insurance Clerk could be utilized full time for insurance and additional employee benefit programs and
21 allow another person for accounts payable.
22
23 Councilmember Williams asked about the classification of Inspector in the Ordinance and Mayor Waltermann
24 explained they would be utilizing two personnel from the REMP program for additional inspectors since they
25 were familiar with fire and housing codes.
26 •
27 Councilmember Elstro asked about the Fire Department Inspectors and Mr. Dan Dooley explained the Fire
28 Department dealt mainly with public buildings which housed three or more families and their jurisdiction was
29 limited in gaining entry to buildings, while the Building Inspectors could gain entry and had more jurisdiction
30 inside the premises.
31
32 Councilmember Elstro asked the total cost of the salary amendment and Mayor Waltermann said it would be
33 approximately 40,000.00 and that the City now had 407 employees,down from 500.
34
35 Purchasing Director Rita Stout added that she felt it was necessary for the Controller's Office to have the
36 additional staff person, since her staff was assisting with accounts payable.
37
38 There being no further comment, Councilmember Williams moved for engrossment, seconded by
39 Councilmember Hutton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
40
41 Councilmember Morris moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 75-1987 to third and final
42 reading and read by title only,seconded by Councilmember Williams and on unanimous voice vote the motion
43 was carried.
44
45 The Clerk read Ordinance No.75-1987 on third and final reading by title only.
46
47 Ordinance No.75-1987 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
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49 Ayes: Elstro,Williams, Hankinson, Whitesell, Parker, Hutton, Morris,Theobald and Brookbank (9)
50 Nays: None.
51
52
53 TRANSFER ORDINANCE NO.76-1987
54
55 The Clerk read on first reading by title only Transfer Ordinance No.76-1987-AN ORDINANCE TO TRANSFER
56 WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.
57
58 Councilmember Morris moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 76-1987 to second reading,
59 seconded by Councilmember Williams and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
60
61 The Clerk read Ordinance No.76-1987 on second reading.
62
63 President Brookbank announced Ordinance No.76-1987 was on public hearing.
64
65 Fire Chief Trotter explained the transfer was to purchase breathing apparatus that can hook into the air
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
December 21, 1987
Page 4
1
2 system of the new aerial truck.
3
4 There being no further comment, Councilmember Hankinson moved for engrossment, seconded by
5 Councilmember Parker and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
6
7 Councilmember Williams moved to suspend the rules and move Ordinance No. 76-1987 to third and final
8 reading and read by title only, seconded by Councilmember Whitesell and on unanimous voice vote the
9 motion was carried.
10
11 The Clerk read Ordinance No. 76-1987 on third and final reading by title only.
12
13 Ordinance No.76-1987 was adopted on the following call of the roll:
14
15 Ayes: Elstro, Williams, Hankinson,Whitesell, Parker, Hutton,Theobald and Brookbank (9)
16 Nays: None
17
18 PRESENTATION TO OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBERS
19
20 President Brookbank asked comments from the Councilmembers for the final meeting for Councilmembers
21 Whitesell and Theobald.
22
23 Councilmember Elstro complimented Councilmember Whitesell on a good four years and a job well done.
24
25 Councilmember Williams stated he had enjoyed working with Councilmember Whitesell most of the time and
26 commented he hoped the member of Council could get together on issues in the future.
27
28 Councilmember Hankinson stated he appreciated the opportunity to work with Councilmember Whitesell and
29 his keen analytical mind.
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31 Councilmember Parker stated both he and the City have enjoyed Councilmember Whitesell decisive and
32 analytical ways.
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34 Councilmember Hutton stated that Councilmember Whitesell would be missed and she had appreciated his
35 open mindedness.
36
37 Councilmember Morris said there would be a tremendous void on Council without Councilmember Whitesell
38 and ability to shoulder a great amount of responsibility. She also commented that she had appreciated his
39 support of her.
40
41 Councilmember Theobald stated he had enjoyed working with Councilmember Whitesell and he had been a
42 good member of Council.
43
44 President Brookbank stated that Councilmember Whitesell had been her right arm, always willing to chair
45 committees and offer a very special support and attitude. He always had an idea of what was right for the
46 City.
47
48 President Brookbank presented Councilmember Whitesell a plaque in appreciation of his service to the City.
49
50 Councilmember Whitesell thanked the Council, the various Boards and the Administration for their efforts
51 and added that even all did not always agree,they should respect each person's right and willingness to be
52 individual. He said that often there was an appearance of strife which was looked upon as a fault, but he
53 hoped the openness could be maintained. He said an open exchange contributes to a better understanding,
54 but it should be understood that the final vote was the end result.
55
56 Councilmember Whitesell added that Council needed to get more involvement from the community, since
57 there did seem to be a failure to remain in contact with the community.
58
59 Councilmember Whitesell said that Councilmembers must work to gain respect and that the City of Richmond
60 is not unique in their problems, and do have an advantage over many cities.
61
62 Councilmember Whitesell thanked the public for the opportunity to serve.
63
64 Councilmember Elstro commented that Councilmember Theobald's term had been short, but good.
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Common Council Minutes Cont'd
December 21, 1987
Page 5
1 Councilmember Williams said he had enjoyed working with Councilmember Theobald and had wanted him
2 nominated for the vacancy.
3
4 Councilmember Hankinson commented that Councilmember Theobald had a short term,but he was one of the
5 most considerate,caring people he had ever worked with.
6
7 Councilmember Whitesell stated that Councilmember Theobald had become involved with City government
8 through other boards and he hoped he would stay involved.
9
10 Councilmember Parker added that he was glad Councilmember Theobald had his health back and had
11 enjoyed working with him.
12
13 Councilmember Hutton said she would miss Councilmember Theobald,but he had done well in a year and she
14 hoped he would try again.
15
16 Councilmember Morris stated she had not long Councilmember Theobald long, but she liked and respected
17 him for his kindness and unselfishness.
18
19 President Brookbank stated it had been a pleasure to know Councilmember Theobald and would call on him in
20 the future for advice.
21
22 Councilmember Theobald said he has appreciated the opportunity to serve as a member of Common Council
23 and he had been treated wonderfully by all and felt the members of Council are dedicated to making the City
24 of Richmond better.
25
26 President Brookbank presented Councilmember Theobald a plaque in appreciation of his service to the City.
27
28 ADJOURNMENT
29
30 There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed,the meeting was adjourned.
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38 Jane R.Brookbank,President
39
40 ATTEST
41 Mary Merchanthouse,City Clerk
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