The City of New Castle, Indiana

 

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE.

PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY STEVE HACKER.

MAYOR SMALL OPENED THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.

 

ROLL CALL:

SANDY YORK                                              PRESENT                  

ANGIE GOODMAN                                      PRESENT

JAMES KIDD                                                 PRESENT

MARY MALONE                                           PRESENT

VAUGHN REID                                              PRESENT

RICHARD HAHN                                           PRESENT

 

PRESIDENT YORK MADE THE MOTION TO REAPPOINT CAROL GOODWIN TO THE HENRY COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU BOARD, EFFECTIVE JANUARY1, 2009 TO DECEMBER 31, 2011.

COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND.   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

 

RESOLUTION:  AN APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A REDUCTION IN APPROPRIATIONS FROM CERTAIN FUNDS WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK.

     PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO TABLE THIS RESOLUTION DUE TO A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, NOVEMBER 17, 2008.     COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.     TABLED

 

     PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.     COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND

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

 

     PRESIDENT YORK SAID BECAUSE THE COUNCIL HAD RECEIVED MORE INFORMATION, SHE MADE A MOTION THAT THIS ORDINANCE BE TABLED FOR REVIEW.     COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND.     ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.              TABLED

 

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

     DISCUSSION: COUNCILMAN REID ASKED THE POLICE OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE IF THEY THOUGHT THIS 4-WAY STOP TO BE PLACED AT 11^TH AND VINE WAS A GOOD IDEA AND WOULD IT HELP.   ALL OFFICERS AGREED THAT DUE TO THE HILL GOING UP TO 11^TH AND VINE, IT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

     ROLL CALL VOTE: ONE VOTE AYE (GOODMAN)    FIVE VOTES NAY.       FAILED.

 

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

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

 

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

     DISCUSSION: COUNCILMAN REID DISCUSSED THE THREE BATTALION CHEIFS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PLUS THE DEPUTY.  COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF THAT DEPUTY POISTION WAS GOING TO BE FILLED.

     SECOND QUESTION, HE SAID HE KNEW MONEY WAS TIGHT, BUT THAT THE NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT THE LAY OFFS WERE GOING TO ACCOUNT FOR APPROXIMATELY $365,000.00 OF THE $900,000.00 THAT NEEDS TO BE CUT NEXT YEAR.  HE ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW AND WHAT CUTS ARE PLANNED TO GET TO THE EXTRA FIVE OR SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR NEXT YEAR.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL LAYOFFS PLANNED.  THIS IS WITH A 10% CUT FROM ALL DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.  HE SAID THEY HAVE THE $265,000.00 IN HEALTH BENEFIT CUTS AND THEN THE MENTIONED LAYOFFS AND THE BALANCE IS THE 10% CUT ACROSS THE BOARD.

     COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED IF THIS WAS EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID ONLY IN THE GENERAL FUND.

     COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF THIS WAS CUTTING INTO THE SALARIES.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID THE LAYOFFS PLAYED INTO THE SALARIES.  HE SAID HE DID NOT FORSEE ANY LAYOFFS IN 2009.  MAYOR SMALL SAID THE WAY IN STANDS NOW; WE HAVE FIVE LAYOFFS, ONE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FOUR FROM AFSCME.  HE SAID THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR ATTRITION AND WE DO ANTICIPATE ATTRITION IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

      COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED WHEN THE LAYOFFS WERE GOING TO BE.

      MAYOR SMALL SAID JANUARY 1, 2009.  HE SAID IN THE CASE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE MAY GAMBLE AND WAIT UNTIL APRIL 1, 2009.  IF WE HAVE ATTRITION BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, THERE WILL BE NO LAYOFFS THERE.

     COUNCILMAN KIDD ASKED IF SOMEONE QUITS OR RETIRES, WILL THOSE POSITIONS BE FILLED WITH THE ONES LAID OFF.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID YES, THEY WOULD BE FIRST.

     COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF THERE WERE PLANS TO FILL THE DEPUTY FIRE CHIEFS POSITION.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID NO AND THE BATTALION CHIEFS WERE LEFT OFF ACCIDENTLY.

     COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE SAW WHERE THE PARTIME EMPLOYEES AT THE PARK AND CEMETERY WERE GIVEN A $.50 RAISE.  THAT CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR.  WE DISCUSSED THAT BEFORE AND THEY WERE WRITTEN THAT AWAY AT THE LAST MEETING.  IF WE INCREASE THAT BY FIFTY CENTS AN HOUR, DUE TO THE PARITY CLAUSE IN THE AFSCME CONTRACT, REQUIRING PAY RAISE TO AFSCME EMPLOYEES.  THAT COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS.

     COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THAT WAS JUST AN ERROR.

     PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT IT WAS A TYPE ERROR AND IT WAS CORRECTED.

     COUNCILADY GOODMAN ASKED ABOUT THE TIME THE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE GOING TO RETIREE OR TAKE THE BUY OUT.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID THEY HAD THREE DAYS TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS BECAUSE THE BUDGET HAD TO BE PREPARED.

     COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, LIKE NEXT YEAR, HE HOPED IT WOULD BE STARTED EARLY SO THAT EVERYONE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A DECISION.  NOT THREE DAYS.

     COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT SEVERAL EMPLOYEES SAID THAT IF THEY WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD IT BETTER OR HAD MORE TIME TO CONSIDER IT, MORE OF THE AFSCME MEMBERSHIP WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED IT.

     COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE BATTALION CHIEFS MOVEMENT OVER TO THE MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, WHICH IS APPOINTED POSITIONS, HE SAID HIS PERSONNEL OPINION, HE WANTED TO SEE A FIRE CHIEF AND DEPUTY AND DO AWAY WITH THE BATTALION CHIEFS AND LET THOSE JOBS BE PERFORMED BY CAPTAINS AND PUT THE BATTALION POSITIONS BACK.  NOT NECESSARILY THOSE PEOPLE, BUT THOSE POSITIONS.  THAT WOULD BRING IT MORE IN LINE SO IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE EMS OPERATIONS.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID HE AGREED THAT THE BATTALION CHIEFS SHOULD NOT BE POLITICAL APPOINTED.  THEY SHOULD COME UP THROUGH THE MERIT SYSTEM.

     PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT THE MERIT SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE TONIGHT SO A MEETING SHOULD BE HELD TO DISCUSS THE MERIT SYSTEM WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID HE FELT AS THESE POSITIONS SHOULD NOT BE POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS.

     COUNCILMAN REID MADE THE MOTION TO REDUCE THE BATTALION CHIEFS PAY ONE DOLLAR BI-WEEKLY.  HE SAID THERE WERE TOO MANY CHIEFS, WHEN YOU HAVE FIVE.  WE CAN STILL HAVE A MERIT BOARD.  THERE SHOULD ONLY BE TWO POLITICAL APPOINTEES.

                                        

                                     NO SECOND.                                 FAILED.

 

COUNCILMAN HAHN WANTED TO TALK WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS BEFORE HE COULD VOTE TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM THEM.

     COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THAT THE FIREMEN HE TALKED WITH DID NOT WANT TO BE USED AS A POLITICAL PAWN.

     COUNCILADY GOODMAN SAID TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION NOW, SHOULD BE PUT OFF UNTIL A NEW COUNCIL PERSON IS PUT IN PLACE.  SHE SAID THIS COUNCIL PERSON WOULD BE ON THE PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY COMMITTEE AND THAT HE OR SHE WOULD BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.

     COUNCILMAN REID EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT FIVE POLITICAL POSITIONS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WANTS TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER. 

     PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT THIS WAS DISCUSSED AND VOTED ON LAST YEAR AND BROUGHT BACK AS A VETO AND REVOTED ON AND WAS GIVEN TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON WHAT THEY WANTED AND THEY DID NOT WANT IT DONE.  UNTIL A MERIT SYSTEM IS PUT IN PLACE, THIS IS HOW IT IS DONE.  SHE ENCOURAGED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO GET WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SEE IF THEY WANT A MERIT SYSTEM, AND THEN DO IT AASAP.

      COUNCILMAN REID SAID THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.  THEY COULD HAVE A MERIT SYSTEM AND STILL HAVE 3 BATTALION CHEIFS, DEPUTY AND A CHIEF.

 

      PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE #3554.     COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND

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

 

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

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

 

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

ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE                      PASSED AND ORDERED.

 

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

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

 

     PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO TABLE THIS ORDINANCE AND GIVEN TO THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE.  COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND.

     DISCUSSION: COUNCILADY GOODMAN SAID THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION (100S AND BARCLAY ROAD).

     POLICE WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS SPEEDING THERE AND SEE WHAT MIGHT BE DONE TO HELP.

     ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE.                              TABLED.

 

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

     DISCUSSION: PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT WE WERE WORKING OFF OF A LEVY OF 6.9 MILLION THAT WE ARE WORKING OFF OF ANDWE HAVE A PROPOSED BUDGET OF 15.145178 MILLION.

     LIEUTENANT JIM HEFFERNAN, NEW CASTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FOP, APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL, DISCUSSING LAYOFFS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SAFETY OF THE OFFICERS AND CITIZENS OF NEW CASTLE, DUE TO THE DECREASE IN MANPOWER ALREADY.  HE SAID SINCE THE YEAR 2000, THE DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO DECLINE FROM A 39 MAN DEPARTMENT TO A PROPOSED 32 MAN DEPARTMENT IN 2009?

DURING THE FIRST NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY, WE WERE INFORMED THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY WAS GOING TO REQUIRE A 10% CUT FOR THE 2009 BUDGET.  WE WERE ALSO ADVISED THAT THE CUT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD COME TO APPROXIMATELY $190,192.00.   A SHORT TIME LATER, WE WERE INFORMED THAT TWO POLICE OFFICERS HAD TO BE CUT FROM THE 2009 BUDGET.  THAT DID NOT INCLUDE ONE OFFICER THAT LEFT HERE IN 2008, THE POSITION NEVER FILLED.  THAT LEAVES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CUT 3 OFFICERS FOR 2009, BRINING OUR DEPARTMENT TO A 32 MAN DEPARTMENT.  THIS REDUCTION WILL PUT NEW CASTLE AT 1.7 OFFICERS FOR EVERY 1,000 RESIDENTS.  THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A CITY OUR SIZE IS 2 OFFICERS FOR 1,000 RESIDENTS.  HE SAID THAT THEY REALIZE THE BUDGET CRUNCH LIKE SO MANY OTHER CITIES AND ARE NOT OPPOSED TO HELPING WITH THE REDUCTION OF OUR BUDGET.  WE HAVE HELPED WITH THE VOLUNTARY INSURANCE CUTS FOR THE CITY, AND OFFERED TO TAKE THAT CUT FOR 2008.  THAT WAS DENIED BY THE PAST MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION.  WE ONCE AGAIN AGREED TO TAKE THOSE CUTS IN 2009.   HE SAID HE BELIEVES THAT THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND OF WHAT HAS BEEN ASKED OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  LOOSING MORE OFFICERS ON OUR DEPARTMENT IS NOT AN OPTION ANYMORE.  THAT HAS HAPPENED THE PAST 8 YEARS, NOT COMPLAINING OR GOING PUBLIC WITH IT.  IT IS TIME TO LOOK ELSEWHERE TO LOOK FOR CUTS.  IT SHOULD NOT BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE UP FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT CAN NOT CUT THEIR BUDGET 10%.  WITH THESE CUTS IN OUR DEPARTMENT, WE WILL GO OVER 10% AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A 10%CUT.  THE FOP WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO REVIEW ALL THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU BEFORE YOU CUT ANYMORE MANPOWER ON THE STREET.  ANY HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.  THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP.  THEY SAY OUR 10% WOULD BE AROUND 190,000. WE ARE LOOSING 3 OFFICERS, THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS COME TO $180,000., AND ALSO THE MECHANICS SALARY AND BENEFITS.  WE ARE WAY OVER 10%.  IN 2009, WE WILL HAVE LOST 7 OFFICERS IN 8 YEARS.  WE HAVE DONE WITHOUT RASIES, APPROXIMATELY 5% TOTAL IN FIVE YEARS.  WE HAVE CUT AND CUT AND THERE ISN'T ANY MORE PLACES TO CUT.  WE HAVE DONE OUR PART.  IF YOU ARE GOING TO CUT OFFICERS, YOU HAD BETTER HAVE CARS FOR THE OFFICERS TO TAKE HOME IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THEIR PRESENCE.  WHEN WE WORK THE ROAD DURING THE DAY, WE WORK WITH 3 OR 4 PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.  IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT ON STATE ROAD 3, WE HAVE 2 POLICE OFFICERS THERE THAT ARE TIED UP.  IF WE HAVE A FIGHT, WE SEND ONE POLICE OFFICER.  THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE OFFICER AND THE CITIZENS.  YOU CAN CUT THE DEPARTMENT SO THIN AND WE FEEL WE ARE UNDER STAFFED NOW.

     COUNCILADY GOODMAN ASKED WHAT KIND OF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING DONES AN OFFICER HAS TO HAVE.

     POLICE CHIEF NICHOLSON SAID THAT THEY MUST GO TO THE LAW ENFORECEMENT ACADEMY AND HAVE IN SERVICE TRAINING.  HE EXPLAINED HOW OFF DUTY OFFICERS TAKE HOME THEIR CARS BUT ARE CALLED OUT MANY A TIME TO BACK ANOTHER OFFICER OR GO TO THE SCENE ALONE IF HELP IS NEEDED.  ALL OFFICERS, COUNTY,STATE, EXCISE ETC. TAKE HOME THEIR CARS. 

     OFFICER BRAD FLYNN EXPLAINED THE MAINTENANCE OF THE POLICE CARS.  HE SAID THAT MOST CARS ARE DOUBLE THE MILEAGE AS HIS CAR IS. 

     COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT WHEN THE CARS WERE RUNNING 24/7, NEW CARS

WERE BOUGHT EVERY 1 1/2 TO 2 YEARS. 

     OFFICER FLYNN SAID THAT THE WAY THINGS ARE NOW THE CARS LIFE HAS BEEN GREATLY EXTENDED.  ANOTHER THING, THE RESPONSE TIME TO A TRADGETY OR TRAIN DERAILMENT OR JUST ABOUT ANY THING IS CUT AT LEAST IN HALF.  IF WE HAVE TO COME FROM HOME, PICK UP A POLICE CAR, THEN GO, A LOT OF TIME HAS GONE BY.

     LIEUTENANT HEFFERNAN SAID THEY WERE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE TAKE HOME CARS.  OUR CONERN WITH THE FOP IS WE ARE LOOSING POLICEMEN.  THE FOP'S POSITION TO BE HERE TONIGHT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TAKE HOME CARS.  WE CAN MAKE BUDGET CUTS, FIND MONEY OTHER PLACES IN THE BUDGET; WE'RE TIED OF LOOSING POLICE OFFICERS.   HE SAID THERE IS AN ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS THAT SAYS THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS 52 POLICE OFFICERS.  WE ARE 20 BELOW THAT.

     MAYOR SMALL APOLOGIZED FOR INTERRUPTING AND STATED THAT THE 52 NUMBER INCLUDED DISPATCH AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NO LONGER HAS THAT.  IT ALSO INCLUDES THE AMBULANCES WHICH THE POLICE NO LONGER HAVE. 

     LIEUTENANT HEFFERNAN SAID HE WAS GOING TO SAY IT INCLUDED EMS AND DISPATCH BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE IF DISPATCH WAS INCLUDED.  EVEN IF YOU TAKE OFF THE EMS, THIS GIVES YOU 42, NOT 32.  THE ORDINANCE HAS NEVER BEEN CHANGED. 

     MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 YEARS AGO, WE HAD A POPULATION OF 22,500 AND WE ARE NOW DOWN TO 17,600 ACCORDING TO THE 2000 CENSUS.  WE HAVE LOST SOME SINCE BUT GAINED SOME THROUGH ANNEXATION.  AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY HAD ABOUT 250 EMPLOYEES.  WE ARE DOWN TO ABOUT 183 NOW.  THERE WAS A TIME BACK IN 2002 WHEN OUR BUDGET WAS 16.9 MILLION DOLLARS.  NOT ALL WAS SPENT BUT IT WAS THE CITY'S BUDGET.  LAST YEAR, THE BUDGET WENT DOWN TO 15.9 AND THIS YEAR THE BUDGET HAD TO BE REDUCED TO 15.6 MILLION.  THE BUDGET WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS EVENING IS 15 MILLION.  WE ARE GOING DOWN VERY FAST IN POPULATION.  HE SAID HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE POLICE STAFFING IS BARE BONES.  THERE IS BARE BONES IN MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.  THERE IS CONCERN THAT WE DID NOT CUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  IF WE START LAYING OFF PEOPLE THERE, IN ADDITION TO THE DISABILITIES THAT WE HAVE AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH OF THE 3 FIRE STATIONS WE WILL HAVE TO CLOSE.  WE MIGHT HAVE TO CUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEXT YEAR.  CAN'T THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEXT YEAR, THEY ARE BARE BONED.  IF WE HAVE 3 PEOPLE LEAVING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE HIRING PER OUR BUDGET.  THE IDEAL STAFFING IS AROUND 39 IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  WE ARE AT 34.  ONE IS ATTRITATION AND ONE LAYOFF SO WHEN JOE COMES BACK FROM IRAN, HE WILL BE ADDED TO OUR TOTALS.

ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE TAKING HITS EXCEPT THE UTILITIES.  HE SAID HE WAS SORRY THINGS ARE LIKE THEY ARE BUT WE WILL WEATHER THE STORM.  HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNIOW FOR SURE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR, 2010.  WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOSE AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAXES.

     ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IF OUR ECONOMY WAS BLOOMING, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS.  HE SAID IT WAS EASY FOR PEOPLE IN INDIANAPOLIS TO SAY THEY CUT PROPERTY TAXES.  YOU ALL HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THAT, THEY HAVE TO SUFFER FOR IT.  WHEN THE TAXPAYER UNDERSTANDS, WHAT THWEY PAY IS WHAT THEY GET, THE BETTER WE ALL WILL BE.

     COUNCILMAN HAHN WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BURGLARY, THEFT, RAPE, ARE HIGH ON THE LIST.  IF WE DON'T HAVE OFFICERS TO GO TO THE SCENE, WE CAN EXPECT MORE VIOLANCE AND CRIMES.  OFFICERS WILL HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID HE HAD BEEN LOOKING AT USER FEES TO HELP OUT. 

     COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT IN THE PASS FIVE YEARS, BUDGET CUTS HAVE IMPACTED MAYOR NIPP AND MAYOR SMALL THE ABILITY TO THE CITY TO GOVERN.  TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES.  THIS YEAR, IT WAS MORE SIGNIFICANT DUE TO THE CHANGE IN PROPERTY TAXES.   THERE IS A PHILOSOPHY AT STATE LEVEL, PROPERTY TAXES SHOULD BE MINIMIZED AND PEOPLE SHOULD PAY FOR SERVICES THEY RECEIVED.  THIS ADMINISTRATION CAN'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT TRY TO WEATHER THE STORM.  ADDITIONAL CUTS OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN BAD BUT NEXT YEAR WORSE.  HE URGED THE ADMINISTRATION TO BEGIN A MIXED VOLUNTEER AND PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT LIKE GREENFIELD AND OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE.   HAVE A POLICE RESERVE UNIT LIKE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.  WE MAY NOT HAVE THE OPTION.  HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE ANY OFFICER GO, BUT, WE ARE GOING TO BE CUT ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR.  WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THE WORSE AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.  THE MAYOR HAS TOUGH CHOICES AHEAD REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE DOES BUT COUNCILMAN REID URGED THE MAYOR TO THINK ABOUT HIS SUGGESTION.

     MARY LOGAN, RESIDENT WHO WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITY SERVICES NOT THE BEAUTIFICATION.  ANYONE MOVING INTO NEW CASTLE WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IF THERE WERE ENOUGH POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION.  SHE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO CUT IN OTHER WAYS.

     DALE COLE, SAID IN DEFENSE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE SHORT 2 FIREMEN AT THIS TIME.  TALKING ABOUT BATTALION CHIEFS, THERE WERE 30 FIREMEN WORKING DURING THE ELECTION.  THERE WASN'T ANYBODY GUARANTEED A JOB AS BATTALION CHIEF.  HE SUGGESTED CUTTING THE COUNCIL TO SAVE MONEY OR REDUCING DEPARTMENT HEADS.  IF YOU DON'T HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU DON'T NEED PEOPLE UP HERE.

     MAYOR SMALL SAID HE ASSURED THE POLICE CHIEF THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER CUTS AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE THE FIRST TO SEE THE BENEFIT OF BRINGING PEOPLE BACK.  HE SAID HE DID UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION.

 

 

 

COUNCILMAN REID ASKED ABOUT COPIES OF THE MAXIMUS REPORT.

HE ASKED ABOUT COPIES OF APPROPRIATIONS  REPORTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS

 

PRESIDENT YORK MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.

COUNCILMAN HAHN:  SECOND.