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Home My Public Portal About7/20/1998 specialCity of Greencastle . City Hall Four East Walnut Street Greencastle, Indiana 46135 Pamela S. Jones Clerk- Treasurer GREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, JULY 20, 1998 5:30 P.M. CITY STREET DEPARTMENT The Greencastle Common Council met in Special Session Monday, July 20, 1998, 5:30 p.m. at the City Street Department. Mayor Michael called the meeting to order. On the Roll Call, the following were found to be present: Councilor Roach, Councilor Hammer, Councilor Green, Councilor Baynard and Councilor Masten. Also present was City Engineer Ron Smith, Street Commissioner Wright, Police Chief Wood, Fire Chief O'Hair, Cemetery Superintendent Robinson, Park Director Staton and Water Superintendent Dale. Engineer Smith discussed the 1999 Capital Improvement Projects list with the Council. Some of the west side projects were considered as grant projects at one time. Engineer Smith stated number one, Franklin Street, and number two, Albin Pond Walkway, are the biggest considerations for the 1999 projects totaling $250,000.00. One of the biggest concerns regarding Albin Pond Walkway is on the bridge. These are both excellent projects. Franklin Street due to heavy vehicular traffic and Albin Pond Walkway for the safety of pedestrians in the area. • Engineer Smith stated the total Franklin Street project from College Street to Arlington Street would cost approximately $410,900.00 (construction estimated at $362,900.00 and paving at $48,000.00). Engineer Smith broke the project into three sections: 1) College Street to Locust Street - construction 581,300.00 and paving $14,500.00; 2) Locust Street to Northwood Blvd - construction $144,700.00 and paving $18,300.00; and 3) Northwood Blvd. to Arlington Street - construction $136,900.00 and paving $15,400.00. The section of Franklin between College and Locust Street has to be completed due to the agreement with the Away Home Shelter. The City has received $3,944.85 in unspent CDBG monies which has been dedicated to the engineering of that project. City Engineer Smith stated the sidewalk will be on the north side of the street with curbs and Butters on both sides. Councilor Hammer stated he agrees Franklin Street needs upgraded, but he had been "hammering' on the Albin Pond Walkway for some time now and feels this project needs to be done. Mayor Michael asked about turn lanes and improvements for the I Oth Street intersection. Councilor Masten stated the price tag just for turn lanes was approximately $35,000.00. Councilor Roach asked about the status of the Community Focus Grant for the west side. Mayor Michael stated there is no status on the CFG. The City can mail out surveys as opposed to doing a foot survey. Councilor Masten stated an effort should be made to collect the data needed for the grant. Councilor Roach stated he hates to put the west side projects on the backburner and asked what is included in the cost estimates for the west side projects. Engineer Smith responded that curb, gutters, storm drainage and widening the pavement from Jefferson to Gillespie Street are • included. After much more discussion, the consensus of Council is to move forward on Franklin Street • project and reevaluate after better numbers can be sorted out. Engineer Smith reported the preliminary plans for the Lone Star intersection on VMH have been submitted and he has concerns regarding the side slopes. The preliminary plans call for two to one side slopes. This is too steep and cannot be mowed. These slopes need to be three to one slopes. In the agreement between Lone Star and the City INDOT standards were to be maintained including deceleration and acceleration lanes. Engineer Smith asked the Council how they want him to proceed with these issues. Councilor Masten stated if the work is not being done as expected, Lone Star or their engineers need to come to Council. Councilor Roach stated the Council will not accept minimum standards. Standards were set out prior to work being started and they need to stick with the agreed upon stipulations. Ordinance 1998 -13, 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 1999, second reading. Police Chief Wood stated in the budget he turned in he had requested $8.00 per hour for part time dispatchers and a 14th police officer. Councilor Roach made the motion to raise part-time dispatcher pay to $7.00 per hour, seconded by Councilor Masten. Vote was unanimous. Chief Wood then asked about the 14th Police Officer. Councilor Roach asked if Fast Cop Grants are available and a timetable for entering into the program. Chief Wood stated he could not answer • those questions at this time. Councilor Roach stated that he would prefer to hire a 14th police officer through this program as the City gets 75% reimbursed for three years. Mayor Michael stated the Police Department is strapped for patrolmen on duty. Chief Wood stated he is working 13 hours a day and his department is first responder for other units in the area. Councilor Roach stated the 14th position could be added with a fast cop grant. Councilor Hammer questioned if we do not budget for this position and a grant comes through, what do we do? CT Jones stated that we would have to do an additional appropriation and amend the Salary Ordinance. Councilor Roach started the discussion of the 14th firefighter stating the same rationale as Chief Wood, being shorthanded. There are no grants available for firefighters. The fire department has made the last payment on the rescue vehicle and therefore has $24,500.00 of "old monies" available which would make the impact on the budget minimal to fund the 14th firefighter. Chief Wood stated a study was done around 1976 with the conclusion that both the fire and police departments should have 18 full time people. In 1995 the same recommendation was made. Councilor Roach stated every department is asking for additional people. The Police Department can get monies through grants, the fire department cannot and has freed up the majority of the cost of a 14th firefighter. Councilor Roach made the motion to change Section 3 to 14 firefighters, seconded by Councilor Baynard. Councilor Baynard stated if the cost of a firefighter is $31,500.00 they can free up the difference in other areas. Councilor Hammer stated if the fire department would give up capital items he would go along with the additional firefighter. Vote as follows: Councilor Roach, yes; Councilor Hammer, yes; Councilor Green, nay; Councilor Baynard, yes; and Councilor Masten, yes. • Street Commissioner Wright asked the Council to adjust two salaries in his department. One is Machine Operator #1 from $21,648.00 to $22,687.00 stating this person also serves as acting crew leader when needed and also has to be certified to run the bucket truck. The second salary is for Machine Operator #2 from $17,576.00 to $18.000.00 stating this person has been with the City for six years and feels he should receive the additional monies. Councilor Masten made the motion to accept Street Commissioner Wright's recommendations, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. O • Cemetery Superintendent Robinson stated his Machine Operator /Mechanic has more responsibilities and is making less than his laborer. Superintendent Robinson requested the range for the Machine Operator/Mechanic be $17,100.00 to $20,560.00 with the high end being the salary for 1999. Councilor Hammer made the motion to change the classification for the Machine Operator/Mechanic from L -2 to L -3 and make the high end $20,560.00, seconded by Councilor Baynard. Vote was unanimous. V Park Director Staton asked that the new full time salary range be set at $16,000.00 to $16,640.00 and to separate the two pool managers into a pool manager and an assistant pool manager. Councilor Hammer made the motion to leave the full time position as $16,000.00 - $16,000.00 since it is a new position and to change the two pool managers to one pool manager at $8.25 per hour and one assistant pool manager at $7.25 per hour, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Motion to approve Sewage Department, Section 7 as presented made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Motion to approve Water Department, Section 8 as presented made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Councilor Masten made the motion to approve Section 9 as presented, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. Councilor Roach made the motion to accept Ordinance 1998 -13 as amended, seconded by Councilor Hammer. Vote was unanimous. Motion to adjourn made by Councilor Hammer, seconded by Councilor Roach. Vote was unanimous. ATTE Pamela S. Jones, Cle 1 -T asurer Nancy A. Pichael, Mayor