COMMON COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 7:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS GIVEN BY EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.
PRAYER WAS GIVEN BY MARYBETH VAN ARSDOL
DIRECTOR DAVIS OPENED THE MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL IN THE ABSENCE OF MAYOR SMALL WHO HAD BACK SURGERY. DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID THE MAYOR WAS AT HOME AND DOING WELL. WE WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
ROLL CALL:
SANDY YORK PRESENT
ANGIE GOODMAN PRESENT
JAMES KIDD PRESENT
MARY MALONE PRESENT
MARK KOGER PRESENT
VAUGHN REID PRESENT
RICHARD HAHN PRESENT
MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
PRESIDENT YORK ANNOUNCED THAT THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2012 BUDGET. SHE SAID THE COUNCIL RECEIVED A BUDGET BOOK LAST WEEK TO STUDY. THE BUDGET HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND CUTS HAVE BEEN MADE AFTER MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL FINANCE.
PRESIDENT YORK YIELD THE FLOOR TO DEPUTY CLERK CHRISTY YORK WHO HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR, DEPARTMENT HEADS, COUNCIL AND UMBAUGH CONSULTING FIRM.
DEPUTY CLERK YORK SAID BECAUSE OF THE TIME LINES REQUIRED BY STATE AND COUNTY, WHAT WAS PUBLISHED WAS A FIRST DRAFT OF THE BUDGET.
SHE TOLD THE COUNCIL WHAT THEY ADOPT CAN BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE PUBLISHED BUDGET BECAUSE OF CUTS THAT WERE MADE DURING OUR MEETING WITH UMBAUGH CONSULTING AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILMAN REID.
SHE SAID SHE HANDED OUT 2 HANDOUTS TONIGHT. FIRST ONE WAS ACTUALLY PUBLISHED AND SUBMITTED TO THE STATE AND COUNTY FOR OUR DRAFT BUDGET. THE SECOND ONE IS WHAT WE HAVE REDUCED AND ARE NOW REQUESTING THAT IT BE ADOPTED. SHE SAID THERE WAS A ZERO PERCENT INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR 2012. THE OVERALL INCREASE IS
1.8%.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SO THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT THAT WAS PUBLISHED VERSES WHAT IS PROPOSED TO BE ADOPTED IS %u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026.
COUNCILMAN REID SPOKE UP STATING THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE PUBLISHED
AMOUNT WAS $13, 894,722. AND THE REQUEST TO ADOPT IS $13,186,278.
DEP. CLERK YORK SAID THERE WAS A $236,000. INCREASE FROM LAST YEARS BUDGET.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID SO IT IS ABOUT $600,000. LESS, THAN WHAT WAS PUBLISHED.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID THE PERCENTAGE THAT WAS PUBLISHED WAS A 6.7%
AND THIS IS A 1.8%.
DEP. CLERK YORK SAID THE COUNTY GROWTH PERCENT WAS .05%; THE STATE GROWTH WAS 2.9%.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THE POOL WILL HAVE ITS OWN BUDGET LINE.
DEP. CLERK YORK SAID THE DEMOLITION WAS PROPOSED TO BE A NEW DEPARTMENT IN THE GENERAL FUND BUT THAT HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HIS UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE STATE GROWTH WAS 2.5% FOR THE YEAR AND THE COUNTY WAS .05%. HE SAID THE CITY'S BUDGET IS WITHIN THE STATE GROWTH AMOUNT. HIS UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT UMBAUGH THOUGHT THAT THE REQUEST TO ADOPT BUDGET IS A SUSTAINABLE AMOUNT THAT CAN BE FUNDED AND TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE
EFFECTS OF THE PROPERTY TAX REBATES?
DEP. CLERK YORK SAID YES AND PER UMBAUGH, THIS WAS A BALANCED BUDGET.
PRESIDENT YORK OPENED THE FLOOR TO CITIZENS WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
DANNY MARCUM ASKED ABOUT THE EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT IN THE PAPER, DOES THAT MEAN WE ARE GOING TO CALL BACK PEOPLE THAT ARE LAID OFF?
PRESIDENT YORK SAID WITH THE REDUCTIONS IN ORDER TO FALL UNDER THE CAPS OF THE PROPERTY TAX CAP DANNY, I'M SURE THAT IT LOOKS THAT AWAY. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SAID THE BUDGET IS A WISH LIST SO IF WE CAN FIND ANY MONIES AT ALL, SHE WOULD BE THE FIRST TO SAY LET'S GET LADIES AND GENTLEMEN BACK TO WORK.
NORMA DISHMAN ASKED HOW LONG IS MAYOR SMALL GOING TO BE OUT OF THE OFFICE.
DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID SHE WAS IN CONTACT WITH HIM DAILY AND HE IS WORKING BY COMPUTER.
MRS. DISHMAN ASKED HOW LONG PHYSICALLY IS HE GOING TO BE OUT.
DIRECTOR DAVIS SAID HE HAD PLANNED ON BEING HERE TONIGHT BUT HE HAS NOT RECOVERED COMPLETELY. HOPEFULLY, HE WILL BE HERE AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
MRS. DISHMAN SAID SHE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT PROCEDURE. WHO WOULD BREAK A TIE IF THERE WERE SIX COUNCIL PERSONS AND A TIE NEEDED TO BE BROKEN, WHO WOULD VOTE AND BREAK THAT TIE.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID WE WILL CROSS THAT BRIDGE IF IT EVER COMES.
MRS. DISHMAN SAID IT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID HE HAS NOT RESEARCHED THAT ISSUE BUT WE HAVE SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT THERE
WOULD BE A 3-3 TIE. NORMALLY WHEN A MAYOR IS NOT HERE, WE DON'T HAVE A DEPUTY MAYOR SO HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE CLERK TREASURER THAT WOULD BREAK ANY TIES. SINCE WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTING MAYOR, THE CLERK TREASURER WOULD BREAK IT.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET. ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET NOW IS THE TIME TO COME FORTH AND SPEAK. AT THE END OF THE MEETING, WE WILL HAVE AN OPEN SESSION FOR ANYONE TO SPEAK. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET OF 2012.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THERE WAS ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ADDED TO THE DEPARTMENTS FOR 2012.
MR. MARCUM SAID HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HAVE EXTRA MONEY AND MEN BEING LAID OFF. WILL THEY BE CALLED BACK?
HR VAN ARSDOL SAID THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A POSITION.
PHILLIP WILKINSON, N. 21ST. AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, SAID HE UNDERSTOOD WE ARE GETTING LESS MONEY BUT THERE WAS ALSO TALK ABOUT GIVING SUPERVISORS RAISES. IT WAS IN THE PAPER.
DEP. CLERK YORK SAID THERE ARE NO RAISES FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE. SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE HENRY COUNTY COUNCIL.
MR. WILKINSON ASKED IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANY MONEY FOR RAISES FOR THE WORKERS OF THE CITY. HE SAID HE WAS CONCERNED SINCE THE CITY HASN'T HAD A RAISE FOR FIVE YEARS. WE ACCEPTED THAT TO HELP OUT BUT IF THERE IS ANY RAISES TO BE HAD, HE FELT AS THOUGH IT SHOULD GO TO THE EMPLOYEES.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE KNOWS THAT IF THE CASH FLOW ISN'T THERE, THOSE POSITIONS MAY OR MAY NOT BE FILLED. JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR WITH THE MONEY THAT IS APPROPRIATED IN THE 100 LINE ITEM FOR EACH PARTICULAR BUDGET FUND, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THOSE POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED. IF WE COME AROUND THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AND
AN EXTRA 5% OF THE PEOPLE DON'T PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES OR WHATEVER FUNDS THAT IS GETTING THE MONEY, DOESN'T GET THE REVENUE THE STATE IS ANTICIPATING AT THIS POINT, THOSE POSITIONS MAY OR MAY NOT BE FILLED. ONLY MAKES SENSE IF THE BUDGET HAD TO BE CUT, TO CUT POSITIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CURRENTLY HIRED, THEN TURN AROUND AND HAVE TO CUT MORE TO MAKE UP FOR IT. KEEP THAT IN MIND. IT WILL DEPEND ON THE REVENUE THE CITY RECEIVES. THE BUDGET IS BASED UPON A PROJECTION OF WHAT THE REVENUE IS, NOT WHAT THE ACTUAL REVENUE IS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL BE UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER ASKED IF ANY ONE ELSE WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET?
THE BUDGET HEARING WAS CLOSED.
RESOLUTION:
AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF REAL ESTATE WAS READ IN FULL BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION COUNCIL LADY GOODMAN: SECOND ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.
PASSED AND ORDERED.
ORDINANCE #3623
AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING CERTAIN TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, INDIANA WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY ON THIRD AND FINAL READING BY SANDY YORK. (RED'S COLLISION, SOON TO BE CASEY'S)
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. COUNCILMAN HAHN: SECOND ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.
PASSED AND ORDERED
ORDINANCE #3630
AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROPRIATIONS AND TAX RATES WAS READ IN FULL ON FIRST READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK SAID THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE.
PRESIDENT YORK MADE THE MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE #3630 ON FIRST READING. COUNCIL LADY MALONE: SECOND. ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.
PASSED AND ORDERED.
ORDINANCE #3631
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SALARIES OF THE ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE, HENRY COUNTY, INDIANA WAS READ IN FULL ON FIRST READING BY SANDY YORK.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. NO CHANGE FROM 2011 HAS BEEN TO THIS ORDINANCE. COUNCILMAN KIDD: SECOND
DISCUSSION: AGAIN, NORMA DISHMAN MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THE SALARIES AND INSURANCE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T THINK ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE ON CITY INSURANCE AND
THIS ORDINANCE SHOULD BE AMENDED BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE. PASSED AND ORDERED.
SPECIAL BUSINESS:
APPOINTMENT OF 2 SEATS ON THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMMITTEE BY CITY COUNCIL: ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MAYOR'S 2 SEATS.
COUNCILMAN REID NOMINATED STACEY GUFFEY, DEMOCRAT, AS ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL TO THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMMITTEE. PRESIDENT YORK: SECOND ROLL CALL VOTE: SEVEN VOTES AYE.
PASSED AND ORDERED.
DISCUSSION ON SEA 292. PRESIDENT YORK YIELD TO COUNCILMAN REID.
COUNCILMAN REID SAID HE HAD SOMEONE TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS NEW LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1, 2011.
ATTORNEY COPENHAVER SAID THAT LAW DIDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE CITY OF NEW CASTLE. HE SAID IF THERE WAS A SPECIAL EVENT AND FIREARMS WERE PROHIBITED, THE CITY WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND THIS. HE SAID THAT 292 HAS NO EFFECT ON THE CITY.
COUNCIL REPORTS:
COUNCILMAN KOGER THANKED SUPERINTENDENT HAMILTON AND HIS CREW FOR PICKING UP THE LIMBS AND LEAVES HE HAD ASKED ABOUT BEFORE.
PRESIDENT YORK MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT.
COUNCILMAN REID: SECOND
