COMMON COUNCIL
APRIL 18, 2011 7:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.
PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY PASTOR PHILLIP MILES, CORNERSTONE CHURCH AND PASTOR MIKE BROWN OF THE NEW COVENANT CHURCH.
MAYOR SMALL OPENED THE 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
MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
PRESIDENT YORK READ, IN FULL, THE INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF HENRY AND THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF INDIANA.
PRESIDENT YORK MADE THE MOTION TO PASS THIS AGREEMENT.
MAYOR SMALL STATED THAT THIS WAS A RENEWAL WITH MINOR CHANGES.
EMS DIRECTOR RON BURNS SAID THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR YEARS. PRIOR TO 2005, THE CITY PAID APPROXIMATELY $256,000.00 TO THE COUNTY FOR THIS SAME AGREEMENT. IN 2005, THE CITY AND COUNTY COMBINED THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND THE 911. WITH THE EMERGENCY IN 911, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO GO BACK TO THE SEPARATE CONTRACTS. GETTING 911 BY ITSELF AND THE AMBULANCE BY ITSELF. DISPATCH WILL BENEFIT A LITTLE BIT ON THE CASH SIDE OF IT AND THE PAYMENTS WILL BE GOING TO THEM. HE SAID THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THE AMBULANCE CONTRACT. HE SAID IT WAS NOT FINALIZED BUT ARE CLOSE TO AN AGREEMENT. BURNS SAID THIS IS JUST THE AGREEMENT FOR 911 SERVICES.
COUNCILMAN KOGER ASKED WHAT BUDGET THE PAYMENT COMES FROM.
DIRECTOR BURNS SAID IT WAS SPLIT BETWEEN THE POLICE, FIRE AND EMS. THINGS ARE VERY TIGHT WITH THE COUNTY AND CITY AND THIS WILL BE THE BEST WAY UNTIL DISPATCH CAN GET BACK ON THEIR FEET FINANCIALLY
COUNCILADY GOODMAN: SECOND.
MAYOR SMALL MADE THE COMMENT THAT HE WAS SO GLAD THAT HE WAS MAYOR OF NEW CASTLE BECAUSE THE COUNTY AND CITY WORK SO GOOD TOGETHER NOT LIKE MUNCIE AND DELAWARE COUNTY.
COUNCILMAN REID MADE COMMENT THAT HE FELT THEIR WAS STRUCTUAL ISSUES IN P11, THE WAY IT IS MANAGED. HE SAID HE WANTED TO SEE A 3 TO 5 YEAR CONTRACT IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE IT WOULD HELP PLAN FOR BUDGETS. HE SAID HIS BIGGEST HANGUPS WITH E911 WAS THAT HE FELT THAT E911 WAS OPERATING SOLEY AS AN ENTITY OF THE COUNTY WITH AN ADVISORY BOARD. IT SHOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION THAT GETS THE 911 FUNDING THAT HAS AN ACTUAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. INSTEAD OF HIRING 2 CO-DIRECTORS, THAT BASICALLY, BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS IN CONTROL, ACTUALLY HIRE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THAT E3XECUTIVE DIRECTOR RUNS 911 WITH THE IMPUT OF HIS OR HERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT IS APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNTY COUNCIL, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR, CITY FIRE, COUNTY FIRE, POLICE, SHERIFF, CITY EMS, COUNTY EMS, AND MAYTBE SOME OTHERS RATHER THAN A 15 PERSON BOARD. HE SAID AS FAR AS THE OPERATION GOES, HE SAID HE'S HEARD CONCERNS OVER THE YEARS, THE COUNTY IS DOING THIS OR THE CITY IS DOING THIS AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE POWER IS DISTRIBUTED FOR THE OPERATION OF THE 911 CENTER, THE COUNTY HAS FINAL SAY AND CONTROL. BUDGETERIALY, SUPERVISORY MANAGEMENT WISE. HE SAID HE THOUGHT THE FAIR WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS IN THE FUTURE IS MAKING THIS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY. AS FOR FACILITIES EQUIPMENT AND COST ALLOCATIONS CONCERNED, BEING AN IT PERSON, DOING A YEAR TO YEAR PLAN FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR THE COUNTY, E911 EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM AND A COST ALLOCATION, IS A SHORT FALL AND IN THE FUTURE HE WANTED TO SEE THAT ALSO BE ON A 3 TO 5 YEAR PLAN SO GOING INTO IT, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WILL KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM IN EACH OF THOSE YEARS AND SO THEY HAVE A PLAN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTRACT AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THEIR INFORMATION SYSTEM DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. HE SAID HE WAS GLAD THAT THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT EVERYONE CAN LIVE WITH. HE SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WAS STRUCTUAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT IN THE FUTURE. HE SAID HE OFFERED THIS AS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISIM AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE TO A MORE INDEPENDENT 911 SYSTEM.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO HOLD THIS UP WITH A NAY VOTE BUT HE SURE WAS GOING TO CHECK INTO IT FUTHER.
PUBLIC:
MAUIRE GOODWIN, 241 WEST RILEY ROAD, ASKED ABOUT THE ADVISORY BOARD AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
NORMA DISHMAN SAID SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE POLICE AND FIRE WERE INVOLVED. DIRECTOR BURNS SAID THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE RUN IN THE CITY. THE AMBULANCE RESPONDS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. THERE IS A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WHERE THE CITY PROVIDES THAT SERVICE TO THE COUNTY. SO FOR THE AMBULANCE TO GO OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, THERE IS A CONTRACT OR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THAT. CHARGES FOR SERVICE WAS DISCUSSED. DIRECTOR BURNS SAID NO COUNTY RESIDENT WILL PAY ANYTHING FOR SERVICE OUT OF THEIR POCKETS. THOSE WITH INSURANCE WILL PAY ONLY WHAT THE INSURANCE WILL PAY.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IT IS NOT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OR COUNTY DON'T PAY, THAT PAYMENT IS PART OF YOUR TAXES. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE SERVICE FREE OR WE COULDN'T CHARGE THE INSURANCE CARRIER. WHAT DOES ALLOW US IS THE TAX SUPPORTED UNIT FOR YOUR PAYMENT TO BE CONSIDERED AS YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID ONE LAST THOUGHT AND COUNCILMAN KOGER HAD ASKED ABOUT IT. HE SAID WHAT FUND IS THIS COMING OUT OF. THE 300 LINE.
IN THE BIGGER PICTURE, IT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND WHICH IS PAID FOR OUT OF PROPERTY TAX LEVY. IS THAT CORRECT?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID YES.
ROLL CALL VOTE:SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
COUNCIL REPORTS:
PRESIDENT YORK%u2026%u2026..ASKED ABOUT PLACES SHE AKED BE DEMOLISHED OR BOARDED UP SUCH AS 18TH AND A AVE., AN OLD APARTMENT HOUSE, THE TWLIGHT CLUB, THESE ARE ALL WIDE OPEN.
BUILDING INSPECTOR HALL SAID THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO OWNS THE TWILIGHT CLUB. WE WERE READY TO TEAR DOWN LAST FALL BUT THE FISH JUMPED OUT OF THE SKILLET. HE SAID HE WOULD SEE IF THEY CAN GET IT BOARDED UP. WE ARE LOOKING AT A CITATION FOR THE HOUSE ON A AND 18TH.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THAT WAS THE NEXT PLACE FOR HOPE INITIATIVE. THEY HAD PLANS TO TEAR THAT DOWN BUT THE FUNDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
COUNCILADY GOODMAN%u2026%u2026%u2026ASKED ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE COMPLETED ON THE DOWNTOWN MAXWELL COMMONS.
DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID ABOUT 85% COMPLETED ON MAXWELL COMMONS AND ABOUT 99.9% ON THE HOMES. SHE SAID THEY HAVE 2 OF THE 3 APPRAISALS IN. SHE SAID APPROACHMENT LETTERS ARE BEING SENT OUT. SHE SAID THEY WERE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AWAY FROM PUTTING THE HOUSES UP FOR SALE. RIGHT NOW, LOOKING AT JUNE FOR THE MAXWELL COMMONS.
COUNCILMAN KOGER%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026ASKED TO PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE CHECK ON THE CATCH BASIN AT MAIN AND BUNDY. HE SAID IT WAS COLLAPSED. HE ASKED ABOUT SPICELAND PIKE BETWEEN RILEY ROAD AND THE POOL, THAT IS ALL CITY PROPERTY?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID IF IT IS ADJACENT TO THE CITY LIMITS, THEN IT IS A CITY ROAD.
COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID THE ROAD IS TERRIBLE. FULL OF CHUCK HOLES YOU CANNOT MISS. WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT ROAD FOR FILLING. HE SAID 1 HOLE HAS BEEN PATCHED. WE NEED TO DO MORE. THIS SECTION IS BETWEEN RILEY ROAD AND RED RIVER ROAD, GOING SOUTH.
COUNCILMAN REID%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026..SAID HE HAS SEEN LOTS OF MATRESSES AND FURNITURE SITTING OUT. THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH GETTING BULK TRASH PICKED UP.
MAYOR SMALL SAID IF SOMEBDY CALLS, WE PICK IT UP. HE ASKED ATTORNEY COPENHAVER IF THE MEN CAN GO OUT AND PICK UP A CLEAN UP AND BILL THE OWNER?
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THE ORDINANCE HAD A PROVISION IN IT TO PICK UP. THAT IS SOMETHING THE BLDG. INSPECTOR WILL HAVE TO SEE TO. IF JOHN DOE PUTS HIS SOFA OUT, COUNCILMAN REID IS RIGHT. THAT IS HEAVY PICK UP.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIFFINITIONS FLOATING AROUND, ON WHAT A CLEAN OUT IS. THIS IS WHERE THE HOUSE IS GUTTED OR WALLS KNOCKED OUT BY THE LANDLORD. HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK A MATTRESS WAS A CLEAN OUT NOR CLEANING OUT A GARAGE TO GET RID OF STUFF. HE SAID WHEN WE PASSED THE TRASH ORDINANCE, THE BULK TRASH DECREASED. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, YOU COULD PUT OUT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AND SOMKEONE WOULD HAUL IT OFF. NOW PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR TRASH TO BE HULED OFF. THAT IS AN ISSUE. HE SAID IF SOMEONE WANTED TO DO THIS AS A BUSINESS, IT IS GOING TO TAKE 2 PEOPLE PLUS 30 TO 40 BUCKS PER LOAD TO DUMP A PICKUP TRUCK WHICH MIGHT CONSIST OF 2 MATTRESS AND A COUCH. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO STAY IN BUSINESS, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHARGE 50 TO 100 DOLLARS PER LOAD. MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE IT. MOST PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PAYING $12 PER MONTH, THEY USE TO GET THE SERVICE AND THEY SHOULD GET IT NOW. HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FEASIBLE TO RUN A SMALL PICKUP SERVICE. THE CITY NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB AT THIS SERVICE.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT ON THE TRASH ORDINANCE, NOTHING CHANGED WITH BULK PICKUP EXCEPT IT WAS PUT ON AN ONCALL BASIS. IT COVERED ALL THINGS SUCH AS MATTRESSES AND COUCHES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID CLEAN OUT IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE ORDINANCE. THERE WAS ALSO A MINIMUM AND THERE WASSCHEDULED DAYS.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THE ONLY CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE WAS IT WENT TO AN ONCALL DUE TO THE MAN POWER. NOTHING ELSE CHANGED.
PUBLIC:
SUSIE THOMPSON ASKED ABOUT NOTIFICATION TO THE PUBLIC OF WHERE TO CALL. SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE NUMBER IS ON THE UTILITY BILLING THAT YOU RECEIVE MONTHLY.
NORMA DISHMAN, SHOWED A BOX FULL OF PAPERS AND CALLED IT TRASH. SHE SAID SHE CAME TO EXPRESS HER THOUGHTS. SHE SAID SHE HAD BEEN CURSED BY ONE COUNCILMAN, LIED TO BY ANOTHER, GAVELED DOWN BY THE MAYOR AND LECTURED TO BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. SHE SAID IT WILL NOT STOP HER FROM COMING, IT IS HER RIGHT. SHE SAID YOU USE MY MONEY, I'LL VOICE MY DECISION. SHE SAID EVER SINCE WE FOUND OUT THAT THE MAYOR WENT BEHIND THE COUNCIL'S BACK AND PURCHASED THE TRASH TRUCKS, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TRASH AND FEES, FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. SHE SAID THEY WERE PROMISED REPEATELY THAT WE WOULD HAVE A FOURTH MEETING ABOUT THE FEES, WE NEVER GOT IT. SHE SAID TO COUNCILMAN REID, YOU DIDN'T WANT US TO TALK ABOUT THE TRASH FEES, YOU WANTED TO PUT A GAG ON US. THAAT DIDN'T WORK. YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT TRASH FEES UNTIL YOU HAD AN ORDINANCE, READY AND ON THE TABLE SO YOU COULD TALK ABOUT IT. AT THAT TIME, SHE HAD NEVER SEEN AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS NOT PASSED. THE CITIZENS WERE NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. WE WERE PROMISED A MEETING WHERE THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED COULD GO, SUCH AS THE LIBRARY. THERE WAS A MEETING SCHEDULED BUT THEN CANCELED. SHE SAID IN 2009, THE MAYOR SAID HE OPPOSED THE FEES, DIDN'T WANT THE FEES, WASN'T GOING TO COST US ANYTHING. DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. YES, WENT TO AUTOMATION TRASH AND YES WE ARE PAYING. ON TOP OF THAT, THE FIRE HYDRANT FEE. SHE SAID THEIR MONTHLY INCOME SINCE JANUARY HAS GONE DOWN $55.00
WITH INCREASE IN INSURANCE AND MEDICARE AND STUFF. $12 FOR FIRE HYDRANTS. SHE SAID TO COOUNCILMAN KOGER, YOU SAID THEY WENT BEHIND OUR BACKS. SHE SAID SHE HAS A PROBLEM WHEN SHE READS IN THE PAPER, OCT., 2010, WHEN MAYOR SMALL ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WASN'T GOING TO RUN AGAIN. TO THE MAYOR, YOU SAID IT WAS A BOARD OF WORKS DECISION NOT THE CITY COUNCIL. HE SAID HE KEPT THIS PLAN QUIET. HE DID TELL ONE COUNCIL PERSON ABOUT THE PLAN AND SWORE THEM TO SECRECY. SHE ASKED EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL AND THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. SHE SAID SHE GOT 6 NOS. SHE ASKED PRESIDENT YORK IF SHE WAS THE ONE SWORN TO SECRECY?
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SHE COULD NOT TELL HER WHAT THE MAYOR SAID TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR IS PRIVELDGED INFORMATION.
MRS. DISHMAN SAID, NO YOU SAID YOU COULDN'T DISCUSS IT. YOU SAID IT TWICE. THAT MEANS THE OTHER SIX DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHE SAID WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE MAYOR DOES IN THE BOARD OF WORKS BUT I WILL FROM NOW ON. SHE ASKED PRESIDENT YORK HOW HER CONSTITUENTS FEEL ABOUT YOU DOING AND KNOWING WITHOUT TELLING THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. JUST LIKE TONIGHT, THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY, THE COUNCIL RECEIVED IT THURSDAY AND HAD TO VOTE TONIGHT. DID YOU UNDERSTAND IT MAY?
COUNCILADY MALONE SAID YES. DID YOU UNDERSTAND JIMMIE? COUNCILMAN JKIDD SAID YES BUT I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
MAYOR SMALL SAID HE WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AT THE TIME WE WERE DISCUSSING GOING TO AUTOMATED TRASH COLLECTION, HE SAID HE HAD A SELECT NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT HEADS, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AT HIS HOME FOR LUNCH, AS A COURTESY, HE INVITED MS. YORK. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SABOTAGE PROBLEMS. THE LONGER WE GAVE TIME TO SOME EMPLOYEES, THE WORST THE SITUATION WAS GOING TO GET. LESS THAN A MONTH OF THAT MEETING, 2 MONTHS BEFORE WE IMPLEMENTED THE TRASH COLLLECTION PROCEDURE, THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO GO TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE IMPLEMENTED IT.
YES, HE SAID, I DID ASK MS. YORK AND MY DEPARTMENT HEADS NOT TO SPREAD THIS AROUND.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP QUIET. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS PRESENTED TO US THAT IS NEVER DISCUSSED PUBLICLY, TO PROTECT OUR CITY. THERE ARE THINGS WE ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO DISCUSS.
