COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 15, 2009 7:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE.
PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY PASTOR PAUL MILES. CORNERSTONE CHURCH.
MAYOR SMALL OPENED THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
ROLL CALL:
SANDY YORK PRESENT
ANGIE GOODMAN PRESENT
JAMES KIDD PRESENT
MARY MALONE PRESENT
MARK KOGER PRESENT
VAUGHN REID PRESENT
RICHARD HAHN ABSENT
RESOLUTION: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, INDIANA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER 1 APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF FUNDS TO THE INDIANA OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND RURAL AFFAIRS AND ADDRESSING RELATED MATTERS WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. SHE ANNOUNCED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS,
ON JUNE 15, 2009. NO ONE WAS PRESENT IN OPPOSITION.
COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND. ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
ORDINANCE #3573-
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING FEES OR COSTS FOR THE USE OF PARK SHELTERS WAS READ IN FULL ON FIRST READING BY SANDY YORK.
COUNCILMAN REID MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND
DISCUSSION:
MAYOR SMALL EXPLAINED THAT REVENUES FROM THE RENTALS OF THE SHELTER HOUSES WOULD BE SPLIT, 20% TO THE PARK-NON REVERTING FUND AND 80% TO THE GENERAL FUND.
COUNCILADY MALONE STATED SHE WAS AGAINST CHARGING FEES FOR THE SHELTER HOUSES. SHE SAID THERE ARE TOO MANY FEES BEING PUT ON PEOPLE AND SHE WAS AGAINST IT.
BRAD CROWE, FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE SAID HE AND HIS FAMILY ATTEND LARGE REUNIONS EVERY YEAR AND THEY DO PAY A FEE TO RENT A SHELTER IN ALL CITY PARKS EXCEPT NEW CASTLE.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE HAD TALKED WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AND THEY DIDN'T WANT HER TO VOTE FOR THE RENTING A SHELTER FEE. SHE SAID ON FIRST READING HER VOTE WOULD BE NAY.
ROLL CALL VOTE: THREE VOTES AYE THREE VOTES NAY (YORK,MALONE,KOGER)
MAYOR SMALL BROKE THE TIE VOTE BY VOTING AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED
COUNCIL REPORTS:
COUNCILADY GOODMAN ASKED ABOUT THE TRASH ORDINANCE AND FEES TO IMPLEMENT THIS ORDINANCE.
COUNCILMAN REID PRESENTED A LISTING OF IDEAS THAT HE THOUGHT SHOULD BE FACTS IN THE TRASH ORDINANCE. THAT LISTING IS ATTACHED TO THE MINUTES.
THE PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ANGIE GOODMAN, JAMES KIDD, AND MARY MALONE WILL MEET AND WITH SUGGESTIONS FROM THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, A DRAFT OF THE TRASH ORDINANCE WILL BE GIVEN TO CITY ATTORNEY COPENHAVER. HE WILL THEN BRING FORTH THE ORDINANCE AND ALL WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO ADD OR CHANGE.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED STREET COMMISSIONER AYERS WHAT KIND OF STAFFING HE WOULD NEED TO GIVE ALL THE SERVICES SUCH AS EXTRA TRASH PICK UP, BRUSH REMOVAL, EXTRA HEAVY TRASH FOR A FEE, KEEP THE MAX PATCHER GOING, WHAT WOULD THE STAFFING NEED TO BE COMPARED TO WHAT IT IS NOW, COMPARED TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES WITH THE ONE ARM BANDIT.
COMMISSIONER AYERS SAID IF AN ORDINANCE WAS GOING TO IMPLEMENTED,
CHARGE FOR THE PACKERS. CHARGE FOR EXTRA TRASH, CHIPPING, PATCHING
THE STREETS. THOSE ARE BASED ON THE WEATHER. HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE 35 PEOPLE FULL TIME AND 5 PART TIMERS TO DO THE JOB TOTALLY. PRESENTLY WE HAVE 22 PEOPLE. IT TAKES 9 PEOPLE TO RUN THE PACKERS, 2 MECHANICS, OFFICE CLERK, and 2 MAXI PACKERS THAT IS NOT EXTRA TRASH PICK UPS.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID WITH THE CHANGEOVER TO THE SINGLE ARM TRASH TRUCK, THERE WILL STILL BE ONE REGULAR TRASH TRUCK.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THERE WOULD BE 2 OF THOSE.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID WITH 2 MEN ON EACH OLD TRUCK.
MAYOR SMALL SAID YES, ONE DRIVER, ONE ON BACK.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID YOU WOULD HAVE 6 PEOPLE DOING THE NORMAL TRASH ROUTES.
MAYOR SMALL SAID IT WOULD BE DAY TO DAY. HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE BEYOND THE AUTOMATED TRUCKS.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID WITH THE AUTOMATED TRUCKS AND YOUR CURRENT STAFFING, ASSUMING THERE WERE NO LAY OFFS, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IF YOU HAD THOSE, THE EXTRA TRASH AND SOME OF THE CHIPPING?
CO0MMISSIONER AYERS SAID YES. IT TAKES 2 PEOPLE ON THE FLAT BED AND 2 PEOPLE ON THE CHIPPER. HE SAID YOU NEED 2 FLATBEDS AT LEAST THREE DAYS A WEEK AND A CHIPPER EVERYDAY. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING RID OF THE MULCH.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID WITH THE SINGLE PERSON TRASH TRUCKS, IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE TASK THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED, YOU WOULD NEED AT LEAST THE STAFFING THAT YOU HAVE CURRENTLY. THAT WOULD EVEN BE SHORT. THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM A TRASH ORDINANCE WOULD NEED TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE EMPLOYED SO THE CITY COULD PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
CITY ACCOUNTANT CUPP STATED THAT THE BUDGET HAS ALREADY BEEN CUT THIS YEAR; HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO WORK ALL THOSE PEOPLE. IF YOU GENERATE YOUR USER FEES THROUGH YOUR TRASH ORDINANCE, IT WILL TAKE THREE READINGS, A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO GET THE SOFTWARE AND PROGRAMS AND NOTIFY ALL THE CUSTOMERS, THEN BILL A MONTH AND WAIT ANOTHER MONTH ON COLLECTION FEES. YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET INTO IT THIS YEAR. MAKE A DECISION NOW FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF WE WOULD HAVE TO PASS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION. AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE DUE TO THE CUT?
ACCOUNTANT CUPP SAID IF YOU WANTED TO SPEND MORE THAN THE BUDGET AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THERE IS TO BE BIGGER CUTS NEXT YEAR AND THE CITY IS GOING TO NEED THE REVENUE, EVEN IF IT MEANS NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE PROVIDED.
COUNCILMAN KOGER ASKED MAYOR SMALL IF THE TOTTERS HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO RECYCLE.
MAYOR SMALL SAID YES. IT WOULD BE JUST A DIFFERENT COLORED TOTTER. THE TOTTERS WE ARE GETTING ARE GREEN, FOR RECYCLING THEY WOULD BE BLUE. HE SAID WE COULD TAKE THE RECYCLING TO MUNCIE.
COUNCILMAN KOGER ASKED IF IT WAS GOING TO COST MORE THE RED OR BLUE TOTTER.
MAYOR SMALL SAID IF WE CHOSE TO RECYCLE, UNLESS WE GOT A GRANT, THE RECYCLING CENTERS WILL PAY US FOR THE MATERIALS. HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WOULD BREAK EVEN? IT WOULD BE ALL ACCORDING TO THE GOING RATE. THAT IS AN OPTION.
DISCUSSION ON A TRASH INCINERATOR. WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A LAW AGAINST IT. LAW BECAME EFFECTIVE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN ASKED WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. A WORKING DOCUMENT THAT WE CAN WORK WITH? WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT GENERALLY WOULD HAPPEN IS YOUR COMMITTEE WILL COME UP WITH A LIST LIKE COUNCILMAN REID HAS DONE
GIVE IT TO HIM FOR A SAMPLE DRAFT THEN THE COMMITTEE WOULD WORK WITH IT UNTIL YOU FELT IT WAS THE WAY YOU WANT IT. THEN YOU WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON THIS FAST. ONCE WE THAT OUR ON THE COMMITTEE GET SOMETHING TOGETHER, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE INVOLVED. HE ALSO ADDED THAT HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR EACH COUNCIL PERSON TO TOUR THE CITY GARAGE, LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE GOT AND CHECK OUT THE EQUIPMENT.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A FORMAL COMMITTEE MEETING, THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC WILL HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED. IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.
WASTEWATER SUPERINTENDENT HAMILTON SAID SELLING THE COMPOST OR MULCH COULD BE A MONEY MAKER.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
A LADY ASKED IF THERE COULDN'T BE ONE FLATBED WITH TWO MEN TO ANSWER CALLS FOR HEAVY TRASH PICKUP.
NORMA DISHMAN REMINDED EVERYONE THAT NO ONE WILL GET A RAISE ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY IN 2010, TO THE COST OF LIVING. SHE SAID TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU START CHARGING. SHE TOLD ABOUT LIMBS THAT HAD BEEN PILED UP ACROSS FROM HER HOME THAT HAD BEEN THERE FOR 4 WEEKS. NOTICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO EVERY HOME OWNER ABOUT NOT PICKING UP THE LIMBS. SHE ASKED THAT A TRASH COLLECTION CONTAINER BE SET UP AT THE SENIOR CENTER ON MAIN STREET.
BRAD CROWE AGREED WITH THE RECYCLING PROGRAM. HE MENTIONED THREE RIVERS WHO WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE
SINCE THEY ARE IN THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT BUSINESS.
MARY LOGAN COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WEEDS AND TRASH ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS, ESPECIALLY OFF BROAD STREET. ASKED IF TRASH CANS CAN BE PUT OUT ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF MAIN STREET ALONG BAKER PARK.
MAYOR SMALL RECOGNIZED JUSTIN HARRISON, AN EMT, AND LYNN MOLES, PARAMEDIC, WITH THE NEW CASTLE FIRST AID UNIT. BOTH ARE NEW HIRES AND WERE WELCOMED BY THE MAYOR.
COUNCILMAN KOGER ASKED IF THE DAVID MILLER PROBLEM HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
MR. HAMILTON EXPLAINED WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO PREVENT FLOODING ON THE MILLER PROPERTY. HE SAID IT WASN'T TOTALLY DONE, BUT WILL BE.
ALSO, THE ENGINEERS FROM UNITED ENGINEERING IS LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM IN TUSCAN HEIGHTS AREA.
BRAD CROWE APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL STATING HE WAS HERE ABOUT THE 21ST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR 8TH GRADERS. THIS PROGRAM WILL END ON JUNE 30TH. TO ALL 8TH GRADERS THIS YEAR, THEY MUST FILL OUT AN APPLICATION. HE SAID THE SCHOLARSHIP IS WORTH $60,000.00 WHICH THEY WILL GET AT THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL. THE STATE IS FOOTING THE BILL. WHAT A WONDERFUL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE FOR THOSE IN THE EIGHT GRADE THIS YEAR. HE SAID TO CONTACT, HOLLY LEE, AT E-COATERS, FOR THE APPLICATION. NEW CASTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL BE OPEN THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 21ST AND SUNDAY, THE 28TH, TO HELP FAMILIES FILL OUT THE APPLICATION.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THIS WAS AN AWESOME PROGRAM AND THAT THE 20TH CENTURY SCHOLARS IS THE BEST USE OF TAX DOLLARS. AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.
NORMA DISHMAN SAID SHE WAS OFFERED $2,000.00 FOR AN EASEMENT ON HER PROPERTY. SHE SAID IT WAS A T & T AND WANTED TO PUT IN FIBER OPTIC BOXES ON HER PROPERTY. SHE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE AND SET REGULATIONS.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT WITH THEM BEING A PUBLIC UTILITY, THEY ARE LIKE THE RAILROADS, THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT. HE SAID IT WAS AWESOME THAT WE ARE GETTING THE TECHNOLOGY. LOCATION COULD BE AN ISSUE. WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE BOXES IF WE WANT PHONES AND HIGH SPEED INTERNET. THEY ARE UGLY AND THEY DO HUM. THERE IS PROBABLY ONE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
BRAD CROWE SAID THAT A CONTRACT HAD BEEN SIGNED WITH A T & T TO INSTALL THE FIBER OPTIC BOXES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE COUNCIL HAD DISCUSSED HAVING AN EXECUTIVE MEETING. THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME ISSUES THAT SHOULD NOT BE MADE PUBLIC AT THIS POINT. CAN WE PROCEED WITH THAT.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THERE IS A STATUTE THAT DEALS WITH WHEN YOU CAN CALL AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WHAT REASON. YOU STILL HAVE TO PROVIDE A 48 HOUR NOTICE.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THEY WOULD TALK IT OVER AND DECIDE AND LET THE ATTORNEY KNOW WHEN TO ADVERTISE THE NOTICE. THIS WOULD INCLUDE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MAYOR SMALL READ A THANK YOU NOTE FROM TERRY RANDELL FOR THE CITIZENSHIP AWARDED PRESENTED TO HIMSELF AND CHRIS GARRARD AND FAMILIES.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.
COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
