COMMON COUNCIL
DECEMBER 15, 2008 7:00 PM
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE.
PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY REV. BOBBY YORK, PASTOR OF THE McCORMICK CHAPEL.
ROLL CALL:
SANDY YORK PRESENT
ANGIE GOODMAN PRESENT
JAMES KIDD PRESENT
MARY MALONE PRESENT
MARK KOGER PRESENT
VAUGHN REID PRESENT
RICHARD HAHN ABSENT
RESOLUTION:
CONFIRMING THE DESIGNATION OF AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK.
RESOLUTION:
CONFIRMING GRANTING A TAX ABATEMENT TO WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY CENTER INCORPORATED, AND ITS ASSIGNS WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK.
PUBLIC HEARING:
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER ANNOUNCED THAT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THESE TWO RESOLUTIONS AND ASKED IF ANYONE WANTED TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE RESOLUTIONS.
ATTORNEY JIM MILLIKAN, REPRESENTING WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY CENTER, INC., DEFINED THE AREA FOR ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION WOULD TAKE PLACE. HE DISCUSSED THE TAX ABATEMENT WHICH WOULD HELP SEEK FEDERAL CREDITS. HE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO MEET ALL THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS TO GET THESE CREDITS.
COUNCILMAN REID DISCUSSED THE TRACT OF LAND IN WHICH THE TAX ABATEMENT WAS TO BE GIVEN TO AND THE REVITALIZATION AREA THIS WOULD EFFECT.
REALTOR JOHN CARNES WAS THE ONLY ONE PRESENT TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST
THE ABATEMENT BECAUSE HE FELT THERE ARE TOO MANY VACANT HOMES IN NEW CASTLE ALREADY.
MOTION TO PASS:
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THE RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE DESIGNATION OF AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: FIVE AYES, ONE ABSTAIN (MALONE). PASSED AND ORDERED
MOTION TO PASS:
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THE RESOLUTION CONFIRMING GRANTING A TAX ABATEMENT TO WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY CENTER, INCOPORATED, AND ITS ASSIGNS.
COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: FIVE VOTES AYE, ONE ABSTAIN (MALONE) PASSED AND ORDER
RESOLUTION:
TRANSFERING FUNDS WITHIN A DEPARTMENT FROM ONE BUDGET CLASSIFICATION TO ANOTHER (POLICE) WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK. PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND.
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
RESOLUTION:
TRANSFERRING FUNDS WITHIN A DEPARTMENT FROM ONE BUDGET CLASSIFICATION TO ANOTHER (EMS) WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK. PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. COUNCILADY MALONE: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE PASSED AND ORDERED.
RESOLUTION:
TRANSFERRING FUNDS WITHIN A DEPARTMENT FROM ONE BUDGET CLASSIFICATION TO ANOTHER (FIRE) WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK. PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND.
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
RESOLUTION:
TRANSFERRING FUNDS WITHIN A DEPARTMENT FROM ONE BUDGET CLASSIFICATION TO ANOTHER (BUILDING INSPECTOR) WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK. PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
PROCLAMATION:
MAYOR JIM SMALL READ A PROCLAMATION, PROCLAMING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER AS THE MONTH OF THE LIBRARY IN NEW CASTLE. HE SAID THE NEW CASTLE/HENRY COUNTY LIBRARY WAS VOTED THE BEST LIBRARY IN INDIANA.
MAYOR'S PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL:
MAYOR JIM SMALL GAVE AN UPDATE, TO THE COUNCIL, ON HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. HE TOLD THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HIS FIRST YEAR AND WHAT HIS PLANS WERE FOR THE FUTURE. (A COPY OF THE REPORT IS INCLUDED.)
BUSINESSMAN NICK GOAR THANKED MAYOR SMALL FOR NOT LAYING OFF EMPLOYEES AS WAS A PLAN A MONTH AGAO. MAYOR SMALL SAID A LOT OF THE CREDIT HAD TO GO TO AFSCME UNION.
AGAIN, MR. GOAR ASKED ABOUT THE BUILDING INSPECTOR AND WHY WE HIRED SOMEONE FROM INDIANAPOLIS. HE ALSO DISCUSSED THE ADVERTISING BENCHES THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
BUILDING INSPECTOR RIGGS SAID THE CITY IS TRYING TO CLEAN UP AND IMPROVE MANY AREAS. HE TOLD MR. GOAR THAT HE IS THE ONLY QUALIFIED INSPECTOR AND THAT AS SOON AS HE SELLS HIS HOME IN INDIANAPOLIS, HE WILL BE MOVING TO NEW CASTLE.
DEPARTMENT HEADS:
WATER SUPERINTENDENT BEACH STATED THAT EVERYONE SHOULD LET A SMALL STREAM OF WATER RUN DUE TO THE SUB-FREEZING WEATHER.
COUNCILMAN KOGER THANKED CEMETERY SUPERINTENDENT HACKER FOR TAKING HIS CALLS AND EXPLAINED WHY THE CEMETERY GATES HAD TO BE CLOSED DURING THE LAST ICY ROAD CONDITIONS.
CITIZENS:
DAVID MILLER, N AVE., APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS A DIRT HILL NEXT TO HIS HOME. THIS HILL CONTAINS A SWELL AND THE SWELL EXPANDED AND BLEW OUT CAUSING FLOODING.
THE SEWAGE DEPARTMENT WILL PUT IN ANOTHER CATCH BASIN TO TRY TO HELP AS SOON AS THE WEATHER PERMITS.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.
COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND.
