The City of New Castle, Indiana

REV. KEITH KINCAID, 1^ST CHRISTIAN 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                                            ABSENT        

VAUGHN REID                                              PRESENT

RICHARD HAHN                                           PRESENT

 

MAYOR SMALL READ A PROCLAMATION, PROCLAIMING, MONDAY, OCTOBER 20^TH, AS SHAKESPEARE CLUB DAY.  THIS WILL BE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLUB.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.              PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION.  COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.               PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION.  COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.               PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.  COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE:  FIVE VOTES AYE.    ONE VOTE NAY (REID)      PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.  COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND

          DISCUSSION: COUNCILMAN REID MADE A MOTION TO AMEND SECTION 3, TO STATE THAT ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE HOSPITAL PLAN OR LIFE INSURANCE.

          COUNCILADY GOODMAN SAID THAT MOST COUNCIL PERSONS HAVE INSURANCE WHERE THEY WORK AND THE CITY MUST SCALE BACK AND START SAVING MONEY.

          COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO CONTINUE THE PART FOR HOSPITALIZATION FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AND TO AMEND THAT PARTIME EMPLOYEES NOT BE ELIGIBLE DUE TO THE COST OF THE INSURANCE.

           ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THE CITY COURT JUDGE IS PAID A VERY NOMINAL AMOUNT AND THE INSURANCE WAS ONE INCENTIVE TO GET QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE.

          COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE MOVED TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT TO EXCLUDE THE MAYOR AND CLERK TREASURER FROM LOOSING THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE AND LIFE INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE FULL TIME AND THAT IS FAIR.  COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.  TWO VOTES AYE (REID, GOODMAN)          FOUR VOTES ABSTAIN (YORK, KIDD, MALONE, HAHN)                           AMENDMENT FAILED

 

MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT THE CITY HAS LEARNED THAT THE CITY'S BUDGET IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CUT FOR 2009, BY 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS.  MAYOR SMALL SAID THERE WERE MEETINGS WITH THE THREE UNION LEADERS OF CITY WORKERS.  WE ARE WORKING ON THE SHORT FALL. THE CITY HAS FOUND A WAY TO CUT $300,000 ON ITS 2008 BUDGET LEAVING $900,000 TO BE CUT FROM THE 2009 BUDGET.  HE SAID HE HOPED THAT SERVICES WILL NOT NEEDED TO BE CUT OR LAY OFFS OF CITY EMPLOYEES.  HE SAID THERE WERE TWO AREAS WHERE SAVINGS CAN BE REALIZED, HEALTH CARE COSTS AND REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF CITY EMPLOYEES.  MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT HE HOPED THAT CUTTING THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES COULD BE DONE BY OFFERING BUYOUTS TO EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AND IF NEED BE, FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.  HE SAID THAT IF THAT WASN'T SUFFICIENT MEASURERS, OUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE LAYOFFS.  MAYOR SMALL SAID OTHER POSSIBILITIES COULD BE REDUCTION IN WAGES OR SHORTENING A WORK WEEK TO 4 DAYS, 9 HR. SHIFTS.

A CHANGE IN MEDICAL INSURANCE COULD INCLUDE EMERGENCY ROOM COPAY, A CHANGE IN COINSURANCE FOR DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, AN INCREASE IN THE COPAY FOR BRAND NAME DRUGS, LIMIT WEIGHT-LOSS PROCEDURES TO $15,000. LIFETIME MAXIMUM PER PERSON, PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE WILL CHANGE TO INCLUDE PRESCRIPTION DRUG CESSATION MEDICATION, COVER $50. FOR HEART SCANS THAT ARE AVAILABE FOR $99.00, AND WORK WITH SPECTRUM HEALTH SERVICES TO PROMOTE OVERALL WELLNESS AND ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES YEARLY.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE #3546, ON SECOND READING.

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE                 PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.      COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.             PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE     COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.             PASSED AND ORDERED

 

 

PRESIDENT YORK MADE THE MOTION TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.   COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND

DISCUSSION:  COMMENTS ON RAISING THE FEE TO RENT AND WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND NEW CASTLE CHARGE TO RENT THEIR PARK SHELTERS.

          MAYOR SMALL SAID A RECOMMENDATION WAS GIVEN TO THE PARK BOARD OF TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS TO RENT BUT THEY CUT IT TO TEN.  IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO RAISE THE FEE, THEY CAN.

          DALE COLE AGREED WITH THE CHARGING OF FEES FOR THE SHELTERS BUT ALSO SAID THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY OF RAISING REVENUE FOR THE PARK.  HE SAID THERE WAS A WALL WITH PLAQUES OF NAMES WHICH COULD BE PROMOTED TO MAKE MONEY.

 

 

COUNCILADY GOODMAN MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.  COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND.

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.               PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

COUNCIL REPORTS:

PRESIDENT YORK COMMENTED ON HANDICAP SCOTTERS AND CHAIRS THAT ARE DRIVEN ON THE STREETS IN NEW CASTLE.  SHE FEARED FOR THEIR SAFETY.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MADE COMMENT THAT A LOOK SHOULD BE GIVEN TO A POSSIBLE 4-WAY STOP AT MAIN AND VINE DUE TO ACCIDENTS.

 

COUNCILMAN KIDD COMMENTED ABOUT EVERYBODY GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES DURING THE SHORTAGE OF MONEY IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

 

COUNCILMAN HAHN MADE COMMENT THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAD TO GIVE UP RAISES SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE '80'S TO HELP OUT WITH MONEY SHORTAGE.

 

 

TWO RESOLUTIONS WERE PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION.  ONE FOR THE DESIGNATION OF AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA AND ONE FOR A TAX ABATEMENT TO DECKARD REALTY AND DEVELOPMENT CO., AND ITS ASSIGNS, AND WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY CENTER INCORPORATED, AND IT'S ASSIGNS.  THEY GAVE A PRESENTATION ON WHAT THE TAX ABATEMENT WAS FOR, A 35 UNIT SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2,100,000. LOCATED ON THE DECKARD REAL ESTATE AND A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING PROJECT, CONSISTING OF 20 NEW HOMES AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,600,000., ON THE WESTMINISTER REAL ESTATE. THE TAX ABATEMENT ON A $7,000,000 PROJECT.  THIS ABATEMENT WOULD BE FOR A 10 YEAR PERIOD.

          COUNCILMAN REID ASKED MR. DECKARD IF HE HAD IN WRITING AN AGREEMENT WITH WESTMINISTER, STATING THAT THOSE PROPERTIES WILL

BE SOLD TO THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING THERE, AFTER THE 15 YEAR PERIOD?

          MR. DECKARD SAID NOT YET.

          ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR THIS PROJECT.  IT IS ZONED FOR SPECIAL HOUSING.

          COUNCILADY GOODMAN ASKED IF MR. DECKARD WAS AWARE OF THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST FOSTERS' LANDING.  FLOODING AND SUCH?

          THE ANSWER WAS YES AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE.

 

PAM CARLTON, DUBLIN PIKE, APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL STATING THAT HER PROPERTY AJOINS THE FOSTERS LANDING PROPERTY.  SHE SAID THEY HAVE ADDRESSED PART OF THEIR FLOODING ISSUES.  HOWEVER, CREEK SIDE AT FOSTERS'WILL STILL FLOOD.  TO SAY THEY FIXED THE FLOODING PROBLEMS, THE COUNTY DOESN'T THINK SO. 

MRS. CARLTON PRESENT A LIST FROM THE COUNTY AND STATED THAT EVERYONE ON THAT LIST IS BEING ASSESSED AN ADDITIONAL TAX TO FIX THE ENTIRE FOSTERS' DITCH.  THE DITCH HAS NEVER BEEN MAINTAINED TO ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL. 

 

BOBBY YORK, WASTEWATER POLLUTION CONTROL, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT STATED THAT THE RETENTION POND HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED. THE LIFT STATION WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE STORMWATER.

 

JOHN CARNES, 919 RANDY ANN COURT, APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL STATING THAT ATTORNEY ASHTON HAD MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE PROJECT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT THE TAX ABATEMENT BUT IT WOULDN'T BE AS DESIRABLE.  MR. CARNES ASKED IF THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS POSSIBLE AT FOSTERS' LANDING WITHOUT THE ABATEMENT?  MR. CARNES MADE COMMENT TO ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT HAS AND IS AT FOSTERS' LANDING.  HE SAID HE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE PROJECT IN THE BELMONT AREA.

          ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID YOU CAN'T GIVE TAX ABATEMENT ON SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY THERE.  HE SAID IF HE OWNED A DOUBLE AND HE PUT A NEW ROOF ON IT THAT IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE THE ASSESSED VALUE.  BUT IF, HE WANTED TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE DOUBLE, IN A DEPRESSED AREA, TAX ABATEMENT COULD BE GRANTED ON THE EXTRA DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE ASSESSED AS THE RESULT OF THE EXPANSION.

          MR. CARNES SAID HE WAS TOTALLY AGAINST THE ABATEMENT.

 

MARY LOGAN ASKED FOR A STUDY OF ALL THE VACANT HOMES AND APARTMENTS IN NEW CASTLE.

 

COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION THIS WEEK.  HE SAID THEY GAVE AN OCCUPANCY SURVEY ON THE APARTMENTS IN NEW CASTLE.  THE COMMONS ON GRAND AVE., SENIOR APARTMENTS IN FRONT OF STONEGATE, BETHENEY VILLAGE, AND ONE ON SOUTH MAIN STREET.  AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE 33 AVAILABLE APARTMENTS BETWEEN THOSE PLACES FOR SENIORS ONLY.  THERE WERE MORE TO BE CONSIDERED THAT ARE LOW INCOMING HOUSING.

 

NORMA DISHMAN APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL ASKING THAT THE ABATEMENT NOT BE CONSIDERED.  SHE GAVE DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF WHAT HE HAS AT FOSTERS' LANDING IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF.  MAINLY FLOODING AND MOLD THAT BUILDS UP IN THE APARTMENTS AND NOTHING IS DONE RIGHT TO ELIMINATE IT.  SHE ALSO STATED THAT MR. DECKER DOES NOT PAY HIS TAXES IN A TIMELY MANNER. 

 

JEFF KURDERT, WESTMINISTER COMMUNITY CENTER, STATED THAT THE CENTER HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT COMING INTO THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.  HE SAID THREE PROPERTIES WERE GIVEN TO THE CENTER IN THE BELMONT AREA.  HE SAID THE CENTER PAID THE BACK TAXES AND BECAME THE NEW OWNERS.  HE SAID THE REASON THEY GOT INTO THE HOUSING BUSINESS WAS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN RENOVATING THE BELMONT AREA FOR SEVERAL YEARS.  HE SAID THAT IS WHY THEY TOOK ON THE PARK, SOMETHING GOOD FOR OUR AREA AND WE DID IT WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.  THE NEXT THING WE WANT TO SEE IS NICE HOUSES.  WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP MAKE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD LOOK NICE?  MOST EVERYTHING WAS DONATED FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR.  HE SAID THAT WESTMINISTER COMMUNITY CENTER IS A NON FOR PROFIT AND PROVIDE SERVICES THAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS.  HE SAID THEY NEEDED SOMEONE TO COME IN AND HELP WITH THIS ENDEAVOR AND RICK DECKER CAME ALONG AND WAS WILLING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR THE BELMONT AREA.  HE ASKED FOR THE TAX ABATEMENT TO MAKE THE CENTER COMPETITIVE.

 

MS. SANCHEZ STATED THAT SHE WAS AGAINST DECKARD GETTING A TAX ABATEMENT.  SHE SAID HE DOESN'T PAY HIS TAXES NOW.  SHE SAID LOOK AT ALL THE HOUSES THAT ARE EMPTY. USE WHAT WE GOT BEFORE YOU BUILD MORE.

 

ATTORNEY COPENHAVER ADVISED THE COUNCIL THAT THEY HAVE 2 RESOLUTIONS TO ACT UPON.

 

NO MOTION OR ACTION WAS TAKEN ON EITHER RESOLUTION.   FAILED.

                   

                         

CITIZENS APPEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL:

CHRISTIAN MILLER SAID SHE THOUGHT THERE SHOULD BE MORE RAMPS FOR THE HANDICAP IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.  SHE ALSO SAID THAT THE BUS HOURS NEED TO BE EXTENDED.

 

EDDIE HAGER, 906 S. 14^TH, SAID HE WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE COUNCIL FOR TURNING DOWN A TAX ABATEMENT FOR WESTMINISTER COMMUNITY CENTER AND SAYING NO TO 20 FAMILIES.  HE SAID HE WAS APPALLED THAT WESTMINISTER WAS TURNED DOWN AFTER ALL THE HELP THEY GIVE.

 

MAYOR SMALL SAID THE GREEN PARK IS COMING ALONG VERY WELL.  THE ASPHALT THAT IS BEING TAKEN UP IS BEING TAKEN TO OSBORNE PARK TO BE RECYCLED AND USED AS A BASE FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.

COUNCILMAN KIDD:  SECOND.