HomeMy Public PortalAbout3/10/1992GREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL
• Regular Session
March 10, 1992
The Greencastle Common Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 10, 1992 at
7:30 p.m. at Greencastle Middle School. On call of the roll the following members were shown
to be present: Councilor Tom Roach, Councilor Jerry Calbert, Councilor Sue Murray, Councilor
Charles Miles, Councilor Mike Rokicki. City attorney Larry Wilson was also present.
Public Petitions and Comments:
Councilor Murray announced the Civic League's Spring Clean -Up Week will be April
19 -25 with Clean -Up Day being April 25th. Discussion occurred concerning the request for
street closings for the Heritage Preservation Fair. It was the consensus of Council to request
that Chief Jack Hanlon and Street Commissioner Jim Wright work with Heritage Preservation
Fair on the closing of the streets.
Mrs. Claudia Rudolph appeared before Council on behalf of her family and other
residents concerning the noise from some of the fraternity houses in her ward. Mrs. Rudolph
suggested a community committee consisting of residents in the area and students in the
fraternities to allow for face to face interaction and dialogue. Mayor Harmless indicated that
he had just met with the University Community Caucus at National League of Cities and has
requested information concerning noise.
Approval of Minutes:
The minutes of February 11 regular session, February 11 executive session and February
• 26 special session were distributed to Council. Councilor Roach moved to approve the minutes
as presented. This motion was seconded by Councilor Miles and was carried by an aye
unanimous vote.
Approval of Treasurer's Report:
The January treasurers report was approved by motion from Councilor Murray, second
from Councilor Rokicki which was carried by an aye unanimous vote. The February treasurers
report was distributed for approval at the next meeting.
Department Reports:
In addition to monthly statistical reports the following comments were presented by
department supervisors.
Councilor Murray asked Chief Hanlon to respond to Mrs. Rudolph's concerns. Chief
Hanlon indicated the difficulty in determining the noise level and charging the misdemeanor.
He responded favorably toward the citizen committee for communication between the
neighbors and indicated a need for more public discussion and community awareness of the
issue.
Mayor Harmless noted that Street Commissioner Jim Wright and City Engineer Ron
Smith were both at Road School in Lafayette.
In the Cemetery report Ernie Phillips noted that spring clean up has begun and that the
. cemetery board had approved price increases that will go into effect on July 1st.
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• Public Hearing:
Ordinance 1992 -7, An Ordinance Approving the Petition of O.D. Hall and Harold
Williams, to Vacate Public Right -of -Way Located in the City of Greencastle, Putnam County,
Indiana, was presented and read in its entirety by Mr. Wilson. Mayor Harmless asked for any
and all comments or questions from the public. There being none, Councilor Murray moved
to approve Ordinance 1992 -7 as presented on first reading. This motion was seconded by
Councilor Miles and was carried by an aye unanimous vote. Mayor Harmless declared
Ordinance 1992 -7 to have been passed on first reading.
Recommendations and Requests from Officers and Departments:
Ordinance 1992 -6, An Ordinance Amending the Greencastle Planning and Zoning
Ordinance by Amending the Zoning Map, was presented and read in its entirety by Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Wilson noted that the public hearing and first reading occurred at the Plan Commission
meeting of February 24, 1992 with a positive recommendation. Councilor Roach moved to
approve Ordinance 1992.6 as presented. Councilor Rokicki seconded the motion noting his
second was for the purpose of discussion. Discussion ensued with comments concerning traffic,
ingress and egress, concerns of surrounding neighbors and spot rezoning. Audience members
commenting were Jim Harris, Ernie Boswell and Terry Hall. On call for the question the
following vote was recorded:
AYES: Councilor Roach NAYS: Councilor Rokicki
Councilor Calbert Councilor Murray
Councilor Miles
Mayor Harmless declared the loss of the motion to approve Ordinance 1992 -6 by a vote of two
• (2) in favor and three (3) opposed.
Ordinance 1992 -8, An Ordinance Amending the Greencastle Planning and Zoning
Ordinance by Amending the Zoning Map (100 Block of Martinsville Street), was presented and
read in its entirety by Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson noted the public hearing and first reading
occurred at the Plan Commission meeting of February 24, 1992 with a positive recommendation.
Councilor Roach moved to approve Ordinance 1992 -8 as presented. This motion was seconded
by Councilor Miles. Discussion ensued with Mrs. Lois Stewart presenting a petition for filing
against the rezoning. Three points addressed in the petition included the increase in children
playing in the area without provision, increased traffic and increased lighting. Mrs. Mary
Francis Synder representing the developer, presented the following points in favor of the
rezoning: $1.5 million dollar investment in the area, local need for low to moderate income
housing for families, local management, the use of local subcontractors for construction.
Audience members commenting were Lois Stewart, Mary Francis Synder, Ernie Boswell, Thelma
Bumgardner, Wilma Moore, Charlie Cooper, Terry Hall, Percy Synder and Jim Shafer.
Discussion from the audience, both in favor and against the rezoning, included the above
points. Councilor Roach of fered a substitute motion to table the approval of Ordinance 1992 -8
until more information concerning the unanswered questions can be presented. Councilor
Murray seconded the motion and it was carried by an aye unanimous vote.
Ordinance 1992 -9, An Ordinance Amending the Greencastle Planning and Zoning
Ordinance by Amending the Zoning Map ( Two acres on Manhattan Road), was presented and
read in its entirety by Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson indicated that the public hearing and first
reading occurred at the Plan Commission meeting of February 24, 1992 with a positive
recommendation. Councilor Roach moved to approve Ordinance 1992.9 as presented. This
• motion was seconded by Councilor Miles. Discussion ensued concerning the two mile fringe,
spot zoning, consistency with the plan, the plan as a living and changing document and the lack
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® of objections from the surrounding neighbors. Audience members commenting of the issue
included Ernie Boswell and Jim Harris. On call for the question the following vote was
recorded:
AYES: Councilor Roach NAYS: Councilor Murray
Councilor Calbert Councilor Rokicki
Councilor Miles
Mayor Harmless declared Ordinance 1992 -9 to have been passed and adopted this date.
Ordinance 1992 -]0, An Ordinance Amending the Greencastle Planning and Zoning
Ordinance Chapter 510 -15, was presented and read in its entirety by Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson
noted that the public hearing and first reading occurred at the Plan Commission meeting of
February 24, 1992 with a negative recommendation. Councilor Calbert moved to approve
Ordinance 1992 -10 as presented. This motion was seconded by Councilor Roach. Discussion
ensued concerning the comprehensive city plan, the use of special exception as opposed to spot
rezoning and the history of use of Mathena Manor. Comments from the audience were both in
favor and opposed to the ordinance. Audience members commenting on the issue were Dave
Gjcsvold, Marjo Cavanaugh, Mary Francis Synder, Terry Hall and Steve Buchanan. On call for
the question the following vote was recorded:
AYES: Councilor Roach NAYS: Councilor Rokicki
Councilor Calbcrt Councilor Murray
Councilor Miles
Mayor Harmless declared Ordinance 1992 -10 to have been passed and adopted this date.
Resolution 1992 -4, A Resolution Declaring an Economic Revitalization Area Passed by
the Common Council of the City of Greencastle, Indiana, was presented and read in its entirety
O by Mr. Wilson. Mr. Steve Stacato of Lobdell -Emery was present to explain the expansion.
Councilor Rokicki moved to approve Resolution 1992 -4 as presented. This motion was seconded
by Councilor Roach and was carried by an aye unanimous vote. Mayor Harmless declared
Resolution 1992 -4 to have been passed and adopted this date.
Ordinance 1992 -4, An Ordinance Amending Chapter 350 of the Greencastle City Code
(Trash Removal), was presented on first reading and was read in its entirety by Mr. Wilson.
Councilor Murray moved to approve Ordinance 1992 -4 as presented. This motion was seconded
by Councilor Miles. Discussion ensued concerning the present rate of $5.00 per month per
household, the new contract which includes curbside recycling at $6.75 per month per
household, leaf pick up and additional operating expenses. Councilor Rokicki suggested
considering another method of billing at the next contract renewal to take into consideration
the households with only one bag a week as compared to the contract maximum of five bags
per week. On call for the question the motion was carried by an aye unanimous vote. Mayor
Harmless declared Ordinance 1992 -4 to have been passed on first reading.
Ordinance 1992.5, An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 420 of the Greencastle Code
(Greencastle Volunteer Fire Force), was presented for first reading and was read in its entirety
by Mr. Wilson. Councilor Roach moved to approve Ordinance 1992 -5 as presented. This motion
was seconded by Councilor Calbert. Discussion ensued concerning the need for the volunteer
fire force. The clerk - treasurer asked for information regarding the impact on the budget and
the revenue to support the expenses created by the ordinance. Councilor Roach noted he would
work with Chief Elmore to answer these questions prior to second reading in April. On call for
the question the motion was carried by an aye unanimous vote. Mayor Harmless declared
Ordinance 1992 -5 to have been passed on first reading.
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Resolution 1992 -5, A Resolution Concerning the Putnam County Jail Project, was
presented and read in its entirety by Mr. Wilson. Councilor Murray moved to approve
Resolution 1992 -5 as presented. This motion was seconded by Councilor Rokicki. Discussion
ensued concerning the project and the use of CEDIT as a funding source. County Attorney Bob
Lowe and County Councilmember Nancy Michael were present for the discussion. On call for
the question the motion was carried by an aye unanimous vote.
The recommendation to hire a part time planner was sent to Council by the Plan
Commission. Councilor Calbert asked that Mayor Harmless provide a formal proposal for
consideration at the next meeting.
Council Reports and Comments:
Councilor Miles reported that a scheduled tour of the neighborhoods occurred on
February 26. Councilor Murray requested an executive session of Council on April 14 at 6:45
p.m. at the Greencastle Middle School for the purpose of personnel and pending litigation.
Percy Synder commented that it was very difficult to hear in the commons area of the
Middle School. Councilor Murray noted that winter sports activities will have ended prior to
the next meeting in April. Nancy Michael again offered the use of the courthouse for public
meetings.
With no other business, Councilor Murray moved for adjournment. This motion was
seconded by Councilor Miles, was carried by an aye unanimous vote, and the meeting was
adjourned at 11:05 p.m.
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Michael M. Harmless, Mayor
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