COMMON COUNCIL
AUGUST 15, 2011 7:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.
PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY REV. CLAY MORGAN.
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.
MAYOR SMALL MADE COMMENT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS FOR SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS ON LEGAL LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL MATTERS AND CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC. THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL FORUM AND HE ASKED ALL CANDIDATES TO HONOR THAT. HE SAID AS A MATTER OF THE PUBLIC, YOU MAY SPEAK OUT ABOUT MATTERS OF CONCERN, NOT A FORUM FOR POLITICAL VIEWS OR TO SEEK VOTES.
ORDINANCE #2623-
AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING CERTAIN TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, INDIANA. SHE SAID THIS ANNEXATION WOULD BE AT 3100 SOUTH MEMORIAL DRIVE, CURRENTLY RED'S COLLISION, THE PROPOSED SITE FOR CASEY'S GENERAL STORE.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID TONIGHT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE. HE SAID ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD REGARDING THIS ANNEXATION OF THIS CORNER PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER WHERE STATE ROAD 3 AND RILEY ROAD. HE ASKED ANYONE WANTING TO SPEAK SHOULD COME FORTH, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PRESENT ANY EVIDENCE YOU HAVE TO THE COUNCIL.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID TO LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT THERE WERE NO INTERESTED PEOPLE WANTING TO SPEAK.
ORDINANCE #2623
AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING CERTAIN TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, INDIANA WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON SECOND READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING. COUNCIL LADY GOODMAN: SECOND.
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
ORDINANCE #3626
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING FOUNDATION FEES WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON THIRD AND FINAL READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE #3626. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND ROLL CALL VOTE: FIVE VOTES AYE. ONE VOTE NAY (MALONE) PASSED AND ORDERED.
ORDINANCE #3627
AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING PROPERTY CLEAN UP, DEBRIS REMOVAL AND CHARGES WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON THIRD AND FINAL READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON THIRD READING. COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
ORDINANCE #3628
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING DISTRICTS OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON THIRD AND FINAL READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE #3628, FINAL READING. COUNCIL LADY MALONE: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
ORDINANCE #3629
AN AMENDED ORDINANCE PROHIBITING EXTREME SPORTS ACTIVITY ON CERTAIN PARK AREAS AND CITY OWNED PROPERTIES WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON SECOND BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK READ THE CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE. THE VOLLEY BALL AREA AT ANY CITY PARK AND THE SHELTER HOUSES AT ANY CITY PARK PROPERTIES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL CHANGE THERE ABOUT ALL MUNICIPAL OWNED PARKING LOTS. HE SAID THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE AMENDMENT. THAT WAS ADDED FOR DISCUSSION.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE #3629 ON SECOND READING. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND
DISCUSSION:
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE THOUGHT THE MUNICIPAL OWNED PARKING LOTS IS MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN ANTICIPATED. THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPTY LOCATIONS THAT ARE LOTS IN TOWN THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR THIS TYPE ACTIVITY. FOR EXAMPLE, SEARS PARKING LOT, THE PARKING LOT BY THE BALL DIAMONDS, THE BASKETBALL COURT AT OSBORNE WHICH IS BESIDE THE SKATE PARK. HE SAID THIS IS TOO RESTRICTIVE. HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUE ABOUT A PARKING LOT THAT IS BEING USED FOR PEOPLE PARKING, BEHIND THE BUILDING, ACROSS THE STREET, THE AQUATIC CENTER PARKING WHEN IT IS BEING USED AS A PARKING LOT. IF WE ELIMINATE ALL THE PARKING LOTS, THERE WON'T BE ANY PUBLIC LOCATIONS EXCEPT ON THE STREET WHERE THE KIDS CAN SKATE.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER STATED THAT UNLESS THE PARKING LOT IS CLEARED OF CARS AT CERTAIN TIMES, THE RISK YOU RUN BY NOT PROHIBITING THE CONTENT ON THOSE LOTS WORK 2 WAYS. IF THE SKATEBOARDER CAUSES DAMAGE TO A CAR PARKED THERE, THE PERSON COULD CLAIM THAT THE CITY WAS NEGLIGENT BY ALLOWING THE SKATEBOARDING TO TAKE PLACE, AN AREA THAT WAS POSTED FOR PARKING. THE OTHER WOULD BE THE REVERSE. IF A DRIVER OF A CAR WOULD HIT SOMEONE WHO WAS SKATEBOARDING, THE SKATEBOARDER COULD CLAIM THAT YOU DIDN'T PROHIBIT HIS CONDUCT HERE THAT PRESUMABLY IT SAYS IT IS ALLOWED HERE. IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT YOU ALLOWED TO EXIST. THE EXTREME PARK ORDINANCE OR STATUTE, STATE LAW, IS VERY CLEAR. IN ORDER TO BE ABSOLVED FROM LIABILITY INVOLVING SKATEBOARDING, OR OTHER EXTREME SPORTS, IT HAS TO BE A PROPERTY THAT HAS TO BE DESIGNED AND MAINTAINED FOR THAT PURPOSE. A PARKING LOT IS NOT DESIGNED AND MAINTAINED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THAT IS WHY YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL BEFORE YOU REMOVE THAT PROHIBITION. YOU COULD HAVE LIABILITY ISSUES BOTH WAYS. HE SAID BY PASSING THIS ORDINANCE, YOU BASICALLY SAYING IF WE ARE NOT PROHIBITING IT, WE ARE ALLOWING IT. EVEN IF YOU DON'T SAY IT IN HERE THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE ASSUMED BY A PERSON WHO READS IT.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THAT IS WHY HE KIND OF LEFT THAT AS OPEN ENDED. HE SAID HE KNEW THAT WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION. HE ASKED THE MAYOR IF WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO SET ASIDE AN AREA, A PARKING LOT WHERE PARKING IS PROHIBITED AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, WHERE PEOPLE COULD DO THIS. THE ONE AT OSBORNE PARK, THE SIZE AND LOCATION...
HE SAID DOES THIS GIVE THE CITY THE FLEXIBILITY TO DESIGNATE SPACES AT...
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID CERTAINLY. YOU COULD DESIGNATE ANY SPACE. IF YOU HAVE AN AREA THAT IS PAVED, THAT IS NOT BEING USED, DEDICATE THAT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SKATEBOARD PARK. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE STATE LAW. HE SAID IT MAY NOT BE ATTRACTIVE BUT THERE IS NO LAW IN THE EXTREME SPORTS STATUTE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RAMPS. YOU COULD DEDICATE AN AREA OF ASPHALT FOR EXTREME SPORTS USE, MAYBE IN A PARK. PUT UP SIGNS STATING THAT THIS AREA IS FOR EXTREME SPORTS. THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THEY DO IT AT THEIR OWN RISK. THERE ISN'T ANY REASON THAT YOU COULDN'T DO THAT TO ANY CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THERE WAS AN AREA AT OSBORNE PARK AND AT ONE TIME THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE BIG CITY LOT ON NORTH 14TH.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE THOUGHT MAYBE THE BACK PART OF THE AQUATIC CENTER, DURING CERTAIN HOURS. HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THERE ARE CONCERNS THERE. HE SAID WHAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE US DO, IS CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THEY GO FROM BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE PLACES WHERE MAYBE CITY OWNED PROPERTY, WHERE THERE ISN'T A CONFLICT OF USAGE, WHERE THE ONLY PLACE LEFT IS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT ALLOWING EXTREME SPORTS ACTIVITY AT CITY OWNED DESIGNATED PARKING LOTS UNLESS YOU HAVE VERY STRICT RULES BECAUSE OF THE CARS. YOU PROBABLY ARE ASKING FOR AN ACCIDENT AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON 2ND READING. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND READ ORDINANCE #3629 ON THIRD AND FINAL READING.
COUNCIL LADY MALONE: SECOND ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. SUSPENDED
ORDINANCE #3629
AN AMENDED ORDINANCE PROHIBITING EXTREME SPORTS ACTIVITY ON CERTAIN PARK AREAS AND CITY OWNED PROPERTY WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON THIRD AND FINAL READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS ORDINANCE #3629. COUNCIL LADY GOODMAN: SECOND
ROLL CALL VOTE: SIX VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PRESIDENT YORK: UPDATE BY THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE IN REGARDS TO ORDINANCE #3625, TABLED AT A PRIOR MEETING.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH A 3-WAY STOP AT THAT LOCATION. HE SAID HIS ORIGINAL PLAN WAS VIRGINIA STREET AND NORTH 20TH. HE ASKED THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE WOULD SUGGEST THAT BEFORE THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE LOOKS AT IT AS AN ORDINANCE, THE CHIEF AND HIS OFFICERS SPEND SOME TIME DOWN THERE AND GIVE THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
PRESIDENT YORK%u2026%u2026%u2026SAID THEY WERE GIVEN A COPY AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT OPEN BURNING. SHE SAID IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS, THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO HER AT THE LAST MEETING WAS SUFFICIENT FOR HER, AS LONG AS THERE ISN'T ANY TRASH. THE LITTLE FIRE PITS IN THE BACK YARD ARE ACCEPTABLE.
FIRE CHIEF MURRAY SAID THE ORDINANCE IS SPECIFIC ABOUT LEAF BURNING AND TALKS ABOUT GIVING OFF AN ODOR, THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY THING. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN SPECIFIC THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T BURN IN THAT PIT. WHEN WE GET CALLED TO COME OUT, IT IS A NEIGHBOR BATTLE BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S SMOKE IS BLOWING INTO THEIR HOUSE. A NIGHT LIKE TONIGHT, THEY CAN'T HAVE THEIR WINDOWS OPEN. THAT CREATES PROBLEMS FOR US. AS LONG AS THEY ARE COOKING, WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM BUT WHEN THEY ARE BURNING TRASH, LEAVES OR CREATING A NASTY WHITE SMOKE, THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM PUT IT OUT. WE GIVE A WARNING THE FIRST TIME BUT AFTER THAT A CITATION.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED THAT A CLARIFICATION BE SENT OUT IN THE UTILITY NEWS LETTER GIVING AN EXPLANATION. WHERE THIS GOT STARTED, WAS THE NOTE STATING ALL BURNING WAS PROHIBITED
COUNCIL LADY GOODMAN SAID THE LEAF BURNING IS APPROACHING AND SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE TEETH IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WOULD MAKE THE FIREMEN'S JOB A LITTLE EASIER, MONITORING THAT.
SHE WONDERED IF ANOTHER LOOK SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE LEAF BURNING ORDINANCE.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE LEAF ORDINANCE IS VERY SPECIFIC. THE KIND OF CONTAINER THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE, WHERE IT HAS TO BE PUT TO BURN, VERY SPECIFIC.
COUNCILMAN KOGER WANTED TO KNOW IF OUR ORDINANCE SPECIFIES IF THERE IS A BAN IN PLACE THAT WE CAN'T BURN IN THE CITY.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE COUNTY ORDINANCE WOULD COVER THAT. IF THE COUNTY PASSES A NO BURN ORDINANCE, DUE TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS, THAT WOULD SUPERSEDE ANY ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE.
MAYOR SMALL ASKED ABOUT BAGGING LEAVES.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS THE RAKING OF LEAVES TO THE FRONT OF YOUR HOME TO BE PICKED UP WITH THE LEAF VAC. ALSO, YOU CAN BAG THE LEAVES, SET THEM ON THE CURB AND THEY WILL BE PICKED UP.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THE REASON HE BROUGHT IT UP, THE PART TIME WORKERS HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT THE CEMETERY AND PARK. HE SAID HE HAS AUTHORIZED THE HUMAN RESOURCES LADY TO HIRE 2 ADDITIONAL PART TIME WORKERS TO HELP WITH THE TRASH AND PICKING UP OF THE BAGGED LEAVES.
COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID THE VACUUM THAT IS USED ON CERTAIN STREETS, IS THERE A WAY MAYBE THIS YEAR WE COULD ALLOW THE VACUUM IN CERTAIN AREAS ON CERTAIN STREETS IN TOWN? HE SAID WHAT CAME TO MIND WAS WOODLAWN, EDGEWOOD DRIVE, HICKORY DRIVE, AREAS WITH LOTS OF TREES, SWEEP THE LEAVES TO THE CURB.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THAT COULD CAUSE A CONFLICT.
COUNCILMAN KOGER SAID WE HAD LEAVES SETTING AT THE CURB WHEN THE SNOW FELL LAST YEAR. IF WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW IT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO SO THAT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED MAYOR SMALL WHAT KIND OF TIME ARE YOU LIMITED TO HAVING PART TIME PEOPLE.
MAYOR SMALL SAID SIX MONTHS.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID SO IF YOU WANTED TO AND THE MONEY WAS AVAILABLE, YOU COULD BRING ON ANOTHER CREW.
DEPUTY CLERK YORK SAID WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, THEY WOULD BE HIRED, WORK 89 DAYS, LAID OFF FOR 1 DAY AND THEN BE REHIRED.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE, THERE JUST HAS TO BE A BREAK IN EMPLOYMENT. WOULD IT BE CHEAPER FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, RATHER THAN LAYING THEM OFF FOR ONE DAY AND THEN REHIRE THEM OR ACTUALLY GET A NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE. IF WE LAID OFF AND HIRED A NEW GROUP, WOULD THE FIRST GROUP GET UNEMPLOYMENT?
DEPUTY YORK SAID THEY COME TO WORK APRIL FIRST SO THEY WOULD WORK IN THAT QUARTER AND GET A QUARTER IF YOU WORK THAT QUARTER. THAT IS HOW THEY DID IT ALL THESE YEARS. LAY THEM OFF ONE DAY THEN BRING THEM BACK THE NEXT.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID WE ARE PAYING EXTRA UNEMPLOYMENT FOR PART TIME PEOPLE, IT SEEMS IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO WORK PEOPLE 89 DAYS IF IT IS A 90 DAY CUT OFF, THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT WANT THESE JOBS THAT YOU COULD ROTATE, HIRE A DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THERE WAS A WAY THAT THE CITY AND THE AFSCME UNION COULD WORK TOGETHER. THEY COULD ROTATE.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HIS GOAL WAS TO REDUCE THE PAYING OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR PART TIME PEOPLE. HE SAID IT DIDN'T SEEM REASONABLE TO PAY UNEMPLOYMENT TO PART TIMERS.
DEPUTY YORK SAID IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY, YOU ARE BETTER OFF KEEPING THE CREW YOU GOT. THEY ALREADY ARE TRAINED.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE IN LAID OFF STATUS. WHEN WE HIRED PART TIME PEOPLE THIS SPRING, WE WENT TO THAT LIST FIRST.
CITIZENS:
MICHAEL DENNY, 640 N. 27TH, SAID YOU SAY YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE LEAVES. HE SAID INSTEAD OF WRITING AN ORDINANCE, IF YOU WOULD SEND OUT A NOTICE AND ASK NICELY, IN SAID AREAS, YOU COULD RAKE YOUR LEAVES AND PUT THEM IN BAGS AND BRING THEM OUT FRONT. THAT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER THAN TO PASS A LOT OF LEGISLATION.
THEN MR. DENNY SAID TO WORK A MAN 89 DAYS AND THEN LET HIM GO PURPOSELY SO NOT TO PAY HIM UNEMPLOYMENT IS DESPICABLE TO HIM AND HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN. WHY NOT WORK THEM FOR THE DURATION
THAT YOU NEED THEM, THEN LET THEM GO.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THOSE ARE PART TIME JOBS. THEY ARE NOT FULL TIME POSITIONS. AS A PART TIME POSITION, HE DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT FOR A PART TIME JOB. HE SAID A PART TIME JOB SHOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO UNEMPLOYMENT. HE SAID HE AGREED WITH MR. DENNY THAT A PART TIME EMPLOYEE SHOULD BE TOLD AHEAD OF TIME ABOUT THE 89 DAYS.
MAYOR SMALL SAID AT THE BOARD OF WORKS THIS MORNING; AN UPDATE WAS GIVE ON THE GARNER STREET PROJECT. WEATHER PERMITTING, THE COMPLETION DATE SHOULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER. IF THE GROUND STARTS TO FREEZE, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PUT THE LAST LAYER OF ASPHALT DOWN. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE ON SCHEDULE.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED MAYOR SMALL FOR THE CITY TO LOOK, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, BURY THE UTILITIES DOWN THROUGH THERE. IT LOOKS SO NICE AND CLEANER. IT WILL BE CHEAPER DURING CONSTRUCTION THAN AFTERWARDS.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE EXPENSE FOR ANYTHING THAT IS BURIED. EVEN IF THE UTILITIES ARE BURIED, YOU HAVE TO HAVE STREET LIGHTS.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF THE UTILITIES CHOSE TO BURY, THEN THEY WOULD BEAR THE COST IS THAT RIGHT?
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID THAT AT THIS TIME HE IS NOT SUGGESTING AN ORDINANCE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IF THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IF WE WANTED EVERYTHING UNDER GROUND, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS THE WAY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE. HE SAID THE REASON THAT HE IS NOT SUGGESTING THIS AT THIS TIME IS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE ANY NEW BUSINESS FROM COMING.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THE CITY BEAR THE COST EITHER. IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG OR BREAKS, BECAUSE WE ASKED THEM TO BURY, IT WILL GET EXPENSIVE REAL QUICK.
MAYOR SMALL SAID THE INDUSTRIAL PARK SOUTH OF TOWN; HE THOUGHT THAT ALL UTILITIES ARE BURIED BECAUSE HE HASN'T SEEN ANY POLES.
COUNCILMAN KIDD SAID HE WANTED A DISCUSSION ON ALL OF OUR NEW ROADS, BUILDINGS OR WHATEVER HAS UNDERGROUND WIRES. HE SAID HE WANTED TO KNOW IF IT ACTUALLY WOULD FALL BACK ON THE CITY TO DO.
COUNCILMAN REID ASKED IF UMBAUGH IS TAKING A LOOK AT THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. LIKE THEY DID LAST YEAR AND GIVE US THEIR BLESSING.
MAYOR SMALL SAID NOT AT THIS TIME. EXTREME COMPLAINTS ABOUT SPENDING MONEY ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN OUR LOCAL ACCOUNTING AND ATTORNEYS. THE BUDGET IS A DREAM BUDGET. WE DON'T SET HOW MUCH WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEND. HENRY COUNTY AND DELAWARE COUNTY HAD TO CUT THEIR BUDGETS FOR NEXT YEAR. ONCE YOU CUT YOUR BUDGET AND SUBMIT IT TO THE STATE, IF YOU GENERATE MORE MONEY THAN WHAT YOU EXPECTED%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026. HEY, YOU ARE STUCK WITH THE RESULTS.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT. HE SAID UMBAUGH WAS GOOD AT HELPING IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. YOU DEAL WITH YOUR ACTUAL CASH FLOW EXPECTS TO BE VERSES WHAT THE DLGF SAYS YOU CAN HAVE. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE DLGF SAYS YOU CAN HAVE, IT IS SUFFICIENTLY MORE AND THE CITY DOES HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT SERVICE FROM UMBAUGH OR ANOTHER GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST, HE SAID AS A COUNCIL PERSON, HE FOUND IT HIGHLY VALUABLE AND ONLY IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WITH THEIR ASSISTANCE, THE CITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET A HANDLE ON HOW THE BUDGET ACTUALLY WORKS. HE SAID IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT IF IT HELPS THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID IF WE PAY TEN TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND IT HELPS US INCREASE OUR CASH FLOW AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS OUR BIG PROBLEM, BY ONE HUNDRED FIFTY OR TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, IT IS MONEY WELL SPENT.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO ADJOURN.
COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
