HomeMy Public PortalAbout6/25/1991 specialGREENCASTLE COMMON COUNCIL
• Special Session
June 25, 1991
The Greencastle Common Council met in special session on Tuesday, June 25,
1991 at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall. On call of the roll the following members were shown to
be present: Councilor Roach, Councilor Conway, Councilor Murray, Councilor Sedlack.
Councilor Rokicki was absent due to illness. Also present was city attorney Larry
Wilson.
Approval of Minutes:
Councilor Murray moved to table the minutes until the next regular session. This
motion was seconded by Councilor Roach and was carried by an aye unanimous vote of
members present.
Recommendations and Requests from Officers and Departments:
Ordinance 1991 -10, An Ordinance.to Amend the City of Greencastle Code by
Adding Subchapter 460 -25 to provide for the Removal of Weeds and Rank Vegetation,
was presented and read by title only by Mavor Harmless. Mr. Wilson noted that new
legislation expands the requirements for ordinances on weeds and rank vegetation and
suggested tabling of Ordinance 1991 -10 for further review. He added that the city may
continue to enforce the present code as it was passed prior to May 15, 1991. Councilor
Sedlack moved to table Ordinance 1991 -10 for further review of new legislation. This
motion was seconded by Councilor Murray and was carried by an aye unanimous vote
of members present.
0 Resolution ]991 -13, A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of
Greencastle, Indiana Authorizing the Submittal of Application to the Industrial
Development Infrastructure Program of the Indiana Department of Commerce for
Happico Expansion, was presented to Council and read in its entirety by Mayor
Harmless. Councilor Murray moved to approve Resolution 1991 -13 as presented. This
motion was seconded by Councilor Roach and was carried by an aye unanimous vote of
members present. Mayor Harmless declared Resolution 1991 -13 to have been passed and
resolved this date.
Assistant Chief Jim Hendrich addressed Council with the following information.
The number of after hours walk -ins is approximately 10-12% of total complaints filed,
and using an officer indexing system he estimated only 25% time available for any one
patrolling officer to be on station.
Mayor Harmless added that Mr. Russell Clapp had called stating that
Greencastle has had a 24 hour on station police department continuously since the
1930's.
Assistant Chief Hendrich added that main issue is public safety in that officers
need to be out patrolling in the vehicles. Also that the patrolling officers need to be
able to communicate with a base station for their safety. He continued that the risk of
violation of an unoccupied building, destruction of records, and the loss of evidence
credibility in the courts are other concerns to be considered.
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O Councilor Murray indicated distress at the decision of the Central Dispatch
Board to move to the courthouse, however, added that a conscious choice has to be about
the safety of the citizens of Greencastle and Putnam County with the Greencastle police
department being the first responder. She also requested research into the establishment
of user fees for the alarm panel users.
Councilor Roach stated that she had received nine separate phone calls from
merchants, social service agencies and citizens and that the concern expressed was
public safety. She also noted that E911 alone does not address the needs of those
without a telephone.
Mayor Harmless read into the minutes the following statement from Councilor
Mike Rokicki. "It seems to me that public safety is the Common Council's first
responsibility; and in this case, the City must provide police protection to our citizens.
We have no choice."
Councilor Sedlack stated that he is concerned about the public perception of this
issue. He continued that Central Dispatch is a unique example of city- county
cooperation and that the Council is doing its best concerning the issue and not being
uncooperative.
In response to questions concerning liability, Mr. Wilson noted that the chain of
custody issue regarding evidence, the safety of firearms, badges, and confidential
records would be a concern if the building was not occupied.
Councilor Murray noting that Central Dispatch would be moving September 1st,
asked how to cover expenses this year. Clerk - Treasurer Berry responded that the
renovation of the police department would be an allowable expenditure from the
cumulative capital improvement fund requiring an internal transfer from the street
department garage appropriation to a police department renovation appropriation.
Other expenses including salaries and radio equipment purchases would have to be made
out of the general fund. Council has the ability to declare an emergency and transfer
from CCI to the general fund the amount necessary to cover the 1991 expenses and then
request an additional appropriation to expend those funds in 1991.
Councilor Conway asked if the station could be covered by existing personnel
like the fire department. Mayor Harmless noted that the firefighters must be available
to respond to fire calls.
Councilor Sedlack moved to establish a Greencastle Dispatch as part of the police
department with further investigation of user fees concerning the alarm panel. This
motion was seconded by Councilor Roach and was carried by an aye unanimous vote of
members present.
Councilor Sedlack asked Mr. Wilson to prepare an ordinance restricting the
weight of trucks on Berry Street to be effective the day the southern highway opens.
Discussion ensued concerning other streets that should be included and Assistant Chief
Hendrich suggested the establishment of truck routes as an alternative.
Councilor Roach asked that speed limit signs be posted on South Street.
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