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HomeMy Public PortalAbout08-02-1973 • BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, AUGUST 2, 1973 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session August 2, 1973, at the hour of 9:00 a.m. in the Municipal Building of said City. Mr. Judge presided with Mr. Burton and Mr. Willis present. The following business was had to-wit: Mr. Willis moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting seconded by Mr. Burton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Police Chief Lewis Doren -read the following letter: Richmond, Indiana July 23, 1973 Chief Lewis Doren Dear Sir: Having completed twenty (20) years of service on the Richmond, Indiana Police Department, from June 16, 1953 to June 16, 1973, I ask that you accept my resignation from the Police Department and that I be placed on pension effective August 1 , 1973. It has been a privilege to serve the community of Richmond, and I hope that in some small way I have contributed something of worth to the Department. I would also like to thank the Administration for the confidence and consideration shown me. Sincerely, /s/ Charles M. Givens Mr. Burton on ,behalf of the Board expressed appreciation for the many years of fine conscientious service Capt. Givens has given the community and said he is sorry to see him leave the Department. He hopes the fine example set by Capt. Givens will encourage other Blacks to become policemen. Captain Givens was presented a certificate for his years of service and wished good luck by all Board members. Mr. Burton moved to accept the resignationof Capt. Givens effective August 1 , 1973, seconded by Mr. Willis and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Chief Doren presented the following letter to the Board: August 1 , 1973 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY Jerald J. Judge, President Dear Board Members: I recommend that Richard Francis Andrews, age 28, be reappointed as a First Class Patrolman on the Richmond Police Department. Mr. Andrews has asked for reappointment after having served four years with the Department from August 13, 1969 to July 16, 1973. Please make this appointment effective Friday August 3, 1973. Sincerely, /s/ Lewis. E. Doren Chief of Police Mr. Burton moved to ,.reappoint Richard Francis Andrews as a First Class Patrolman effective Friday, August 3, 1973, seconded by Mr. Willis and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Jerry Fruth, contractor for the new Library, appeared before the Board to ask permission to use the-parking lot between North 5th & North 6th Street while constructing the library. Page 2 Board of Works Minutes August 2, 1973 Mr. Willis moved to grant permission to the contractor for the new Library to.use the parking lot between North 5th & North 6th Streets effective at the start of construction and ending immediately after completion subject to performance bond being posted with the City Clerk to cover any damage which might occur to the lot, seconded by Mr. Burton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Burton moved to send a Resolution to Council authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to sign the deed to convey property located at North 15th and "J" Streets to the Redevelopment Commission seconded by Mr. Judge and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Burton moved to send an Ordinance to Council to annex to the City the High- lan Golf Course's 140 acres for the purpose of obtaining a license to sell beer, seconded by Mr. Judge and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Attorney Kent Klinge representing Attorney George Tripp appeared at the Board's request regarding dwellings located at 1229 South 14th Street, 405 So. 10th St. and 1225 Parry Street which are part of the Huddleston estate. Building Commissioner Claude E. Goins asked Mr. Klinge to show cause why his order of condemnation of these dwellings had not been complied with. Mr. Klinge asked the Board for more time to establish the legal owners of these dwellings due to the fact that the late Mr. Huddleston had sold some property on contract. Building Commissioner Goins said an extension of time would be alright with him provided the dwelling at 1229 South 14th Street be boarded up and the weeds at all three properties be cut. Mr. Judge moved to grant 45 days additional time before demolishing the dwellings at 1229 So. 14th, 405 So. 10th and 1225 Parry St. ,seconded by Mr. Burton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mrs. Annabelle Davis, 2520 West Main appeared before the Board representing Mrs. Helen Shutz regarding the dwelling at 800-802 North 12th Street. Mrs. Davis stated she had talked to Mrs. Shutz regarding demolition of the dwelling and Mrs. Shutz does not have the money to pay for demolition. Mr. Judge moved to have Building Commissioner Goins advertise for bids for demolition of the dwelling at 800-802 North 12th Street, seconded by Mr. Burton and on unani- mous voice vote the motion was carried. Building Commissioner Goins requested a transfer of funds within the Bureau of • Buildings budget. Mr. Judge moved to prepare an Ordinance for the Council meeting on August 6th for a transfer of $100.00 from Gen. G-7 (1-13-132) Consultant Fees, Services Personal to Gen G-9 (2-21-213) Expenses, Services Contractual , seconded by Mr. Burton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Burton announced the water rate increase hearings would be at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.in the Council Chambers and he urged all citizens to attend. Mr. Al Taylor, Mgr. Greenwood Apts. and Betty Meece, Greenwood Apt. 82, appeared before the Board to present a petition regarding the improvement of South "L" St. , and removal of the ditch along South 'L" Street. Mr. Judge moved' to take immediate steps to work with the Engineer Dept. to find a solution to the problem, seconded by Mr. Willis and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Police Chief Lewis E. Doren presented the following letter to the Board: August 2, 1973 Board of Public Works & Safety Jerald J. Judge, President Page 3 Board of Works Minutes r .7 Augsut 2, 1973 Chief Doren's letter cont. Dear Board Members: I wish to recommend that Juvenile Captain Louis E. Gibbs be promoted to the rank of Major, and assigned as the Administrative and Training Officer for the Richmond Police Department. Major Gibbs new duties would be to assist the Chief of Police in matters such as administering policy, discipline, inspections, work-scheduling, etc. , he will also act as Conflict Management Officer. The position of Juvenile Captain will be eliminated and reorganization of the Juvenile and_ Detective Divisions will occur. Captain Ronald Chesnut will be placed in charge of both divisions with ;:the present Juvenile Lt. LaFuze and Detective Lt. Hieger remaining in ther respec- tive positions. Further changes are contemplated as reorganization progresses. This change in rank and reorganization is being done to better meet the needs of the Police Department, and the Richmond Community. Please make this promotion become effective Monday, August 6, 1973. Repsectfully submitted, /s/ Lewis E. Doren Chief of Police Mr. Judge moved tolpromote Juvenile Captain Louis E. Gibbs to the rank of Major and assign him as the Administrative and Training Officer for the Richmond Police Department, effective August 6, 1973, seconded by Mr. Burton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Safety Director Donald L. Strahan persented the following letter to the Board: August 2, 1973 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY Jerald J. Judge, President Dear Board Members: I wish to advise you that the supplemental fire fighting force known as the"Minuteman Program" will be discontinued on September 2, 1973. Several things have been accomplished during the existence of this program; A. It was extablished that "minutemen" could be adequately trained and could quickly respond to fires within a prescribed area when summoned by radio-pagers. B. Tha.t "minutemen" showed .a constant dedication and desire to perform all training and firefighting tasks assigned to them. C. That "Minutemen" while availabe for firefighting anywhere the Richmond Fire Department might call them, primarily were used as a back- up force in West Richmond to assist Companies 5 & 6. They responded. well when called although response time was not always up to the desired standards. D. Since the incidence of working-fires in the West Richmond area have been somwhat reduced, the need for this back-up force has dimin- ished and the cost for maintaining it is not justified. E. When this "program" was adopted there was an authorized strength of 88 Firemen. A study by the National Loss Control Service Corporation (A Fire Loss Control consulting Firm) revealed a minimum manning authorized strength of 75 firemen was necessary to:meet the needs of Richmond at the present time. This necessary manning level will be reached by the September 2nd disbanding of the program. This program has been given a fair trial without endangering life and proper- ty and should be considered a success. Sincerely, /s/ Donald L. Strahan Director Page 4 Board of Works Minutes August 2, 1973 Director Strahan presented the following report to the Board: August 2, 1973 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY Jerald J. Judge, President Dear Board Members: I want to take this opportunity to make you aware of efforts being made within the Police Department to respond to the list of recommendations made by the Citizens Committee. In response to the suggested designation of a "Conflict Management Officer' as recommended, a study of a nearby City's Conflict Management Unit revealed a Unit of 7 Officers supervised by a Sergeant. Their duties involve labor problems, school problems, racial problems, fairs, park problems, etc. , they also design and pring departmental handouts and literature. They are doing as a specialized unit what our department does as a whole. They agree that our system was probably best for a small city operation. We will however expand our methods using some of their ideas and designate a ranking member of the Police Department to function as a Conflict Manager Officer, that Officer will be Major Louis E. Gibbs. In case of assigning more sensitive officers in specific neighbor- hoods I might say that this practice is now being started and will continue whenever manpower is available. However manpower problems within the Police Department do exist and will influence this assignment problem to some degree. The Police Department will continue to implement many of the recommen- dations made. A progress report will be forthcoming to this Board as each recommendation is accomplished or rejected. These will be regular reports and will made as quickly as possible within the framework of the time required to launch the various programs recommended. Sincerely, /s/ Donald L. Strahan Director Mr. Judge moved to prepare two Ordinances for Council for the repair of the North "D" Street Bridge as follows: $900.00 from the Cumulative Capital Improvement Fund (Cigarette Tax) and $8,100.00 from Local Road and Street Fund, Revised R & S #10 R, seconded by Mr. Judge and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Judge moved to prepare and Ordinance for Council appropriating $13,000.00 from the Cumulative Storm Sewer Fund for Sycamore Drive, seconded by Mr. Willis and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Burton moved to sign an amendment to the Agreement for Fire Department Services with Wayne Township in the amount of $113,683.00, seconded by Mr. Judge and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Judge moved to prepare an Ordinance for Council to appropriate $24,000.00 from the Federal Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for certain work and services for the Muni- cipal Multilevel Downtown Parking Facility, seconded by Mr. Willis and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Transportation Director, Elmer Toschlog, reported to the Board that other areas in the City need more immediate street repairs than the Park Terrace sub-division, but he would get into that area as soon as possible. Mr- Willis moved to take Barrett Law Petition for concrete curbs on South "J" Street between 19th and 21st Streets under advisement, seconded by Mr. Judge and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. There being no further business on motion duly made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned. Jerald J. Judge President ATTEST: Margaret Mellen Clerk of the Board