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COMMON COUNCIL
AUGUST 4, 2008 7:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE.
REV. BOBBY SLAGLE, CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, GAVE THE PRAYER.
MAYOR SMALL OPENED THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
ROLL CALL:
SANDY YORK PRESENT
ANGIE GOODMAN PRESENT
JAMES KIDD PRESENT
MARY MALONE PRESENT
LOUISE PIERCE PRESENT
VAUGHN REID PRESENT
RICHARD HAHN PRESENT
ORDINANCE 3543-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE VII, CHAPTER 74, SCHEDULE V OF THE NEW CASTLE CODE BY ESTABLISHING NEW SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN STREETS LOCATED WITH IN THE CITY WAS READ IN FULL ON FIRST READING, AFTER BEING TABLED FROM THE FORMER MEETING, BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK ASKED FOR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE COMMENT. HE SAID HE WANTED TO SEE ST. JAMES MADE 20 MPH BETWEEN BUNDY AVE. AND MAIN STREET, BOWER COURT, BETWEEN BUNDY AVE. AND WHERE IT DEAD ENDS, 15MPH. ALSO, 12TH STREET, BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND AUDUBON, BE MADE 15 MPH. HE SAID THAT THOSE ARE VERY NARROW AND HAVE THE SAME PARKING AS WEBSTER AND SOUTHERN.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THAT ANYONE WHO DOES NOT RESPECT THE 30 MPH, WILL NOT RESPECT A 20 OR 15 MPH. HE WAS AFRAID A PRESIDENT WOULD BE SET AND PEOPLE ALL OVER TOWN WOULD START WANTING THE LIMITS LOWERED. LOWERING THE LIMITS OF SPEED IS NOT OUR PROBLEM. WE NEED MORE POLICE ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCE THE SPEED ORDINANCE.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN SAID THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN AT PLAY SIGNS ON AUDUBON ROAD.
COUNCILMAN HAHN ASKED CHIEF NICHOLSON HOW MANY TICKETS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON AUDUBON AND WOODLAWN IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS?
CHIEF NICHOLSON SAID THAT OFFICERS HAVE BEEN PATROLLING ON WEBSTER AND SOUTHERN AND ALSO AUDUBON. DO TO THE NARROW ROADS, THEY ARE MARKED 30 MPH BUT NO ONE GOES OVER 25. HE SAID NO TICKETS HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN THAT AREA.
COUNCILADY MALONE MADE COMMENT ON THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN.
COUNCILADY PIERCE SUPPORTED THE LOWERING OF THE SPEED LIMITS.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE HAD ONE CALL FROM DR. CARTER WANTING THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE LOWERING OF THE LIMITS.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HIS THOUGHT WAS THAT EVERYBODY WILL WANT TO HAVE SPEED REDUCED ON THE STREETS OF NEW CASTLE. THAT IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN, BUT ALSO THOUGHT THAT THERE ARE PARTS OF TOWN THAT ARE OLDER, AND AS SUCH, WERE DESIGNED WHEN CARS WERE MODEL A'S OR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES. WE HAVE MANY STREETS THAT ARE VERY NARROW AND COULD STAND TO HAVE THE SPEED REDUCED, IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS ONLY. WEBSTER AND SOUTHERN ARE PROBABLY THE WORSE BECAUSE OF PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR OR CORRECTION. HE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN.
COUNCILMAN HAHN THANKED COUNCILADY GOODMAN FOR ALL HER WORK AND INFORMATION FOR THIS ORDINANCE. HE SAID HE FELT AS THOUGH THE ORDINANCE HAS TO BE ENFORCED. WE EITHER HIRE MORE OFFICERS OR WRITE MORE TICKETS. THERE ARE ONLY 6 OFFICERS ON THE DAY SHIFT AND 103 MILES TO COVER. NOT MANY OFFICERS TO PATROL ALL THIS AREA. HE SAID THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING DONE FOR ALL THE STREETS IN NEW CASTLE TO FORM A COMMONALITY FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN IN NEW CASTLE.
HE ASKED THAT THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE LOOK AT OTHER STREETS FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN SAID THAT THE SPEED LIMITS IN THIS AREA HAS BEEN IN DISCUSSION SINCE MAY OF THIS YEAR. IF THERE ARE OTHER STREETS LIKE THESE, BRING THEM TO OUR ATTENTION AND WE WILL BE GLAD TO LOOK AT THOSE. THESE AREAS IN THE ORDINANCE ARE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CALLED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT SPEEDERS. WE ARE RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THEM.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID FROM WHAT SHE IS HEARING FROM COUNCIL, IS TO AMEND AND ADD BOWER COURT AT 15 MPH, 12TH STREET BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND AUDUBON AT 15 MPH, ST. JAMES BETWEEN MAIN AND BUNDY AT 20 MPH.
COUNCILMAN REID MOVED TO AMEND ORDINANCE 3543. COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND.
ROLL CALL VOTE: FIVE VOTES AYE. TWO VOTES NAY (KIDD & HAHN). AMENDED.
MAYOR SMALL ASKED FOR ANY CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ORDINANCE 3543 AS AMENDED:
SETH STEVENS, 1112 AUDUBON ROAD, BILL UPCHURCH, 1140 AUDUBON ROAD AND DAVE COY,1115 AUDUBON ROAD, APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL, PRESENTING A PETITION OF NAMES OF RESIDENTS LIVING ON AUDUBON ROAD AND STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE LOWERING OF THE SPEED LIMIT. THE PETITION STATED THAT THE RESIDENTS FELT THAT THIS WILL MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND TO PROTECT MANY YOUNG CHILDREN THAT LIVE ON THIS ROAD. THEY SAID PROTECTING THEM AND CULTIVATING A SAFE COMMUNITY IS THEIR TOP PRIORITY. MR. STEVENS SAID THAT THE POLICE ARE DOING THEIR JOBS, HE THANKED CHIEF NICHOLSON FOR THE COOPERATION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE ASKED WHY IT SHOULD BE A NEGATIVE IF OTHERS IN THE CITY WANT SPEED LIMITS LOWERED THROUGHOUT THE CITY? THIS IS NOT A BAD THING. MR. UPCHURCH AND MR. COY REPEATED SIMILAR COMMENTS.
NORMA DISHMAN, 645 S. 11TH STREET, MADE SUGGESTION OF PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF AUDUBON ROAD. SHE SAID SPEED LIMITS ON WEBSTER WOODLAWN AND SOUTHERN NEED TO BE LOWERED. COMMENT WAS MADE THAT PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF AUDUBON WAS BEST BECAUSE CARS HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO GET AROUND ANOTHER.
PRESIDENT YORK MADE TH MOTION PASS ORDINANCE #3543 AS AMENDED ON FIRST READING. COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND.
ROLL CALL VOTE: FIVE VOTES AYE. TWO VOTES NAY (KIDD & HAHN) PASSED AND ORDERED
ORDINANCE # 3544-AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE #3521 WAS READ IN FULL ON FIRST READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT THIS AMENDMENT WAS LEFT OUT OF THE SALARY ORDINANCE LAST YEAR. SHE SAID IT WAS TO BE CORRECTED TONIGHT. SHE HAS HAD CALLS ON THIS ORDINANCE AS WELL HAS OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND
DISCUSSION: COUNCILMAN REID READ A PORTION OF THE AFSCME CONTRACT WHERE IT TELLS ABOUT THE QUALIFIED SAFETY POSITIONS. PAGE 30, SECTION 7B, ARTICLE 5. HE SAID THAT THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THERE WILL BE A TRAINED, QUALIFIED SAFETY PERSON IN THE CEMETERY, WATER, WASTEWATER AND STREET DEPARTMENTS. THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $.60 PER HOUR BE PAID TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHOM HOLD THIS POSITION. HE SAID HE HAD TALKED WITH THE CITY'S REP AND ALSO THE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR AT THE TIME THIS AGREEMENT WAS MADE. EMPLOYEES FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, SPECIFIED IN THE CONTRACT, CREATE AN OSHA INJURY REDUCTION PROGRAM FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE. HE SAID HE SPOKE WITH THE UNION REP. AND ASKED IF THERE HAD EVER BEEN A GRIEVANCE FILED ADDRESSING THIS? HE SAID HE ASKED THE PARK EMPLOYEES, THAT CALLED, AND THEY SAID NO. THERE HASN'T BEEN A GRIEVANCE FILED. HE DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WAS LEFT OUT OF THE ORDINANCE INTENTIONALLY. HE DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA.
COUNCILMAN HAHN SAID IN HIS OPINION, THIS WAS LEFT OUT INTENTIONALLY. THESE MEN NEED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR WHAT THEY DO. HE SAID HE DID TALK WITH THE TWO MEN AT THE PARK AND THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS TO BE IN THE SALARY ORDINANCE LAST NOVEMBER. HE SAID THIS ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE PASSED TONIGHT.
PARK SUPERINTENDENT AYERS SAID BOTH MEN HAVE HAD THE TRAINING. HE SAID THE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR AT THAT TIME, JOHN NIPP. THAT THIS WOULD BE ADDED TO THE SALARY ORDINANCE. HE SAID THE SAFETY OFFICER SUPERVISES THE GEO PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE PARK. ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS WERE GIVEN THE SAFETY LEADER WITH THE PAY.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE DID NOT THINK THE SAFETY PAY WAS GIVEN TO SUPERVISE GEO WORKERS BUT ENFORCED BY OSHA AS PREVENTION PROGRAM. IF THAT IS WHAT THE SAFETY OFFICER IS BEING USED FOR, THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE.
MAYOR SMALL MADE COMMENT ON THE CHAIN OF COMMAND FROM THE LOWEST EMPLOYEE TO THE TOP. HE SAID ANY TIME AN EMPLOYEE HAS A CONCERN FROM THE WORKING FORCES, WE CANNOT WAIT FOR IT TO BE A GRIEVANCE. WE ACT NOW. HE SAID THIS IS THE FIRST READING AND IN TWO WEEKS, WE WILL ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ROLL CALL VOTE: FOUR AYES, ONE ABSTAIN (GOODMAN) ONE NAY (REID) PASSED AND ORDERED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PRESIDENT YORK%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026..COMPLAINT ON PROPERTY AT 1002 SOUTH 17TH STREET. SHE SAID SHE DROVE BY IT AND WOULD NOT HAVE IT NEXT DOOR TO HER. DEBRIS AND WEEDS GROWING AND THE BACK LOOKS LIKE IT HAS NOT BEEN MOWED ALL SEASON. SHE SAID SHE HAD PHONED IN THE COMPLAINT WITH NO RESULTS.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026SHE HAD A PHONE CALL ON A BUSINESS ON BROAD STREET, THE HENRY COUNTY CHLORINE. THEY SHARE A BUILDING WITH MECCA. THEY ARE RUNNING INTO PARKING ISSUES ON BROAD STREET. THE MECCA WANTS A 30-MINUTE PARKING IN FRONT OF THEIR BUILDING. THERE ARE NO SIGNS THERE NOW BUT WHEN INDOT CAME THROUGH, THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT A SIGN. INDOT SAID IF WE DO IT FOR YOU, WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT FOR OTHERS DOWN STATE ROAD 38, DOWNTOWN. THEY SAID HE HAD TO HAVE APPROVAL FROM THE CITY.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE WOULD PREPARE AN ORDINANCE AFTER HE RECEIVES THE INFORMATION OF WHAT COUNCIL WANTS IT TO SAY.
MAYOR SMALL THANKED COUNCILADY GOODMAN FOR THE SIGN REMOVAL ON BROAD STREET.
COUNCILMAN HAHN%u2026%u2026%u2026.ASKED FOR PRAYERS FOR A GRANDFATHER ACCIDENTALLY RAN OVER HIS FOUR YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER.
MAYOR SMALL ANNOUNCED THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES IS NOW ON THE WEB SITE. THE NEW VERSION IS S12 ON LINE. EVERYTHING IS ON LINE, RULES AND REGULATIONS AND NOW WE CAN ENFORCE THEM.
PUBLIC SPEAKS:
EDDIE HAGER, 906 S. 14TH, BECAUSE 18TH STREET IS CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION, THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES COMING DOWN 14TH STREET, WHEN THEY GET TO CIRCLE AND A AVE. A BLINDED INTERSECTION. HE REQUESTED THAT THE HORNS BE SOUNDED AT THIS INTERSECTION.
MR. HAGER THEN SPOKE ABOUT THE BUS BENCHES THROUGH THE CITY. HE WANTS TO SEE THEM REMOVED. HE SAID THERE ARE TWO THAT ARE ILLEGAL PLACED IN FRONT OF THE NEW WALGREEN. HE SAID THERE ARE 48 BENCHES IN NEW CASTLE.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE WOULD CHECK ON THIS MATTER.
REV. BOBBY SLAGEL, ON BEHALF OF THE CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, SAID THEY HAD HEAD START AT THE CHURCH. HE SAID LAST YEAR THERE WERE121 CHILDREN ATTENDING. SCHOOL STARTS FRIDAY. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 30 MPH ON S AVE. AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE TO PARK ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR PARKING LOT ON S AVE. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE SPEED LIMIT BE DROPPED TO 15 MPH.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THIS CERTAINLY QUALIFIED AS A SCHOOL ZONE.
THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE WILL INVESTIGATE AND GIVE A MAP TO ATTORNEY COPENHAVER WHERE THEY WANT THE SPEED ZONES.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND
