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Home My Public Portal About7/28/1999 specialCity of Greencastle City Hall Four East Walnut Street Greencastle, Indiana 46135 Pamela S. Jones Clerk- Treasurer GREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1999 6:00 P.M. WATER PLANT The Greencastle Common Council met in Special Session Wednesday, July 18, 1999, 6:00 p.m. at the Greencastle Water Plant. Mayor Michael called the meeting to Order. On the Roll Call, the following were found to be present: Councilor Roach, Councilor Green, Councilor Baynard and Councilor Masten. Councilor Hammer was absent. Also present was: City Attorney Robertson and City Engineer Smith. Department Heads present included: Park Director Staton, Cemetery Superintendent Robinson, Fire Chief O`Hair, Street Commissioner Miles, Acting Wastewater Superintendent Neese, Water Superintendent Dale and Police Chief Hendrich. There were no public petitions and comments. Ordinance 1999 -10, An Ordinance Establishing the Size of Departments of City Government of the City of Greencastle, Indiana, Fixing Salaries for the Employees of Such Departments and Fixing the Salaries of Certain Other Appointed Officials for the Year 2000, first reading. Councilor Roach made the motion to waive the reading of Ordinance 1999 -10, seconded by Councilor Masten. Vote was unanimous. Clerk- Treasurer Jones gave corrections as follows: Year "1999" in the title should be Year "2000 ", Section Two - the number 20 is right, but spelled out "nineteen" should be "twenty ", Section Six should have $650.00 for approximate longevity instead of zero, Section Seven spelling out Board of Works pay should read "Six Hundred Fifty Dollars ", not "Six Hundred Dollars" and the same in Section Eight. Mayor Michael opened the floor for Department Head comments. Park Director Staton stated she feels her salary should stay at the amount proposed by the Park Board of $33,200.00 instead of the $28,000.00 proposed by Council due to the fact it is mandatory she live in the house for security reasons. Councilor Roach made the motion to increase the salary for the Park Director even with the Street Commissioner and Cemetery Superintendent with the stipulation the Park Director pay rent and utilities on the park house. Councilor Roach suggested three real estate agencies be contacted to determine the appropriate amount of rent and the Park Director be paid a stipend for gate keeping and security equal to that of the gatekeeper for the Cemetery. Monies generated from rent of the house will be placed in a separate building fund to be used for improvements and upkeep on the house. Councilor Baynard seconded the motion. Mike Rokicki, Park Board President, stated the Park Board feels very strongly about the Park Director living on site for safety and legal reasons. If there is a problem, Mr. Rokicki continued, AffA there are no phones available for citizens to use. Councilor Roach asked if the Park Board has tJ looked into emergency call boxes being placed in the park. Mr. Rokicki stated as far as he knows the Board has not looked into these call boxes, but they want the Director to live on site. Councilor Masten stated he has a problem with this argument in that the Park Board makes it mandatory for the Park Director to live in the house and, therefore, the Council is held to the standards of the Park Board. The Park Board can place all the conditions they want on employment, but they cannot bind the Council on salary. We, as a Council, are concerned about the whole City, Councilor Masten continued, you, Mike, are advocating for the Park Board. Councilor Roach stated the argument about the value of the house has been ongoing and a bone of contention for years. Councilor Masten asked where the $32,830.00 figure comes from. Director Staton stated that is what the Mayor told her the position is worth. Mayor Michael stated the figured was derived from looking at other department head salaries without housing. Councilor Baynard asked the Mayor if in the interviewing process the candidates were told the house and utilities would be furnished by the City. Mayor Michael replied that it was. Vote as follows: Councilor Roach, yes; Councilor Green, no; Councilor Baynard, yes; Councilor Masten, no and Mayor Michael, no. Motion does not pass. Cemetery Superintendent Randy Robinson asked if Director Staton is going to be paid $28,000.00 per year with the house and utilities furnished. Mayor Michael stated yes. Police Chief Hendrich stated that from a Department Head standpoint, he doesn't know the original agreement, but all department heads know the salary when they take the position - everyone should be treated fairly and equitable. Councilor Masten stated by the figures given to Council he feels the house and utilities are worth approximately $7,800.00 and it is worth approximately 50% of that to have the Director on the ® premises. Councilor Roach stated he is going to stay on this issue until we get out of the free housing business. Councilor Masten replied that we cannot get out of the free housing business as long as the Park Board makes it mandatory for the Director to live in the house. Councilor Roach stated we are in a catch 22. Councilor Roach stated he will ask the same questions next budget year along with wanting an accurate count of walk -in questions and inquiries at the park house everyday from today until next year at budget time. This numbers are to include only the inquiries made after hours. All department heads are on call 24 hours a day /7days a week. Councilor Baynard stated he has a problem with one department head making more money than others. Yes, we are lucky to have someone in the park with a Master's degree, but we are lucky to have all of our department heads. Is there a perception that one department head is worth more than another, Councilor Baynard asked. Fire Chief O'Hair stated the park is no different than any other department and this is leaving a bad taste in people's mouths. Director Staton stated there are differences, other department have assistants. Councilor Roach stated the park does has assistants. Director Staton replied that they are not year around assistants. Motion to approve Ordinance 1999 -10, first reading, made by Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Green. Vote as follows: Councilor Roach, no; Councilor Green, yes; Councilor Baynard, yes and Councilor Masten, yes. Ordinance 1999 -11, An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of Elected Officers of the City of ® Greencastle for the Year 2000, first reading. Motion to waive reading made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Green. Vote was unanimous. Motion to adopt Ordinance 1999 -11, first reading, made by Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Green. Vote was unanimous. Resolution 1999 -29, A Resolution Authorizing Additional Appropriation, was read by Mayor Michael. This Resolution is to appropriate $20,950.00 for the Fast Cop Grant. Motion to approve made by Councilor Roach, seconded by Councilor Baynard. Vote was unanimous. Resolution 1999 -30, A Resolution Authorizing the Expenditure of Industrial Development Funds for Preliminary Engineering on Indianapolis Road, was read by Mayor Michael. Councilor Masten asked why this resolution was brought to Council when they already passed a resolution for this. Mayor Michael stated CACFID wants the money paid back to the fund, the Council resolution did not have repayment provisions in it. Councilor Masten stated CACFID votes on spending the money or not spending the money, they do not have any policy consideration. This body makes policy, Councilor Masten continued, CACFID serves in an advisory capacity. Councilor Masten stated in 1995 CACFID voted to give two- thirds of the Industrial Development Fund away to the Putnam County Foundation and now they want to quibble over $125,000.00 to be used for economic development which is the sensible way to spend the money. Councilor Roach stated the Council did not want to lock in a repayment mechanism to a bond issue or whatever funding source is used - this won't even be a project for approximately three years. Councilor Masten stated the year 2002 may roll around and there won't be a bond issue - then what - are they going to go the Redevelopment Commission and tax the taxpayers more. I don't mind paying this back out of a bond issue, but we don't know when that will be, continued Councilor Masten. Councilor Roach stated the original language in the resolution passed by ® Council did not preclude this money from being paid back, it just didn't give a source or timeframe. Councilor Roach stated the Council discussed this and passed the resolution unanimously. If CACFID will not take what we passed we will deal with other options, but I am not willing to commit the City to a bond issue on this project within three years. I feel it is an insult that they don't think the Council is the proper steward of the City's money. Councilor Masten stated the money in PCF is earning this much money annually and hasn't been touched. Councilor Green made the motion to adopt Resolution 1999 -30 if the repayment date is moved to 2008. This motion died for a lack of second. No action was taken on Resolution 1999 -30. The Settlement Agreement in Carol Deom vs. City of Greencastle, et. al, was presented to Council. Councilor Masten made the motion to waive the reading of the Settlement Agreement, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Councilor Roach stated on page 2, section 3, there should be a period afterjob description and take out "as best she is able to do ". Councilor Roach made the motion to approve the Settlement agreement, with change to page 2, section 3, as listed above, seconded by Councilor Masten. Vote was unanimous. C E Motion to adjourn made by Councilor Masten, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. ATTEST: Pamela S. Jones, Cle k asurer Nancy A. Mi hael, Mayor l�J