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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-20-01 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, iNDIANA AUGUST 20, 2001 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in the Multi-Propose Meeting Room in the City-County Building, Jeffersonville, Indiana, at 7:00 P.M. on the 20th day of August 2001. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Thomas R. Galligan, with Clerk and Treasurer Peggy Wilder at the desk. Also present were City Attorney Anne Made Galligan, and Deputy Clerk Barbara Hollis. Mayor Galligan welcomed all in attendance, asking all those present to stand as Councilperson Ron Grooms gave the invocation. Mayor Galligan then asked all those present to join him in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. The roll was called and those present were; Councilpersons Ron Ellis, Les Merkley, Denny Frantz, Rob Waiz, Barbara Wilson, Ron Grooms, and Vicki Conlin. Absent: None. There were no minutes to be approved. Clerk Treasurer Wilder asked that an Ordinance regarding the Animal Shelter be added to the agenda as it had been presented to her office in a timely manner and was inadvertently left off the agenda. Council President Merkley made the motion to amend the agenda per Clerk Treasurer Wilder's request, seconded by Councilperson Ellis, passing unanimously. Council President Merkley then made the motion to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Councilperson Grooms, passing unanimously. Clerk and Treasurer Wilder presented the claim list for consideration by the Council, explaining one additional claim for the Building Commission office. Following questions, Councilperson Grooms made the motion to approve the claims, including the additional claim, as presented, seconded by Councilperson Waiz, passing unanimously. PUBDIC COMMENT: Ms. Jean Crook appeared before the Council in support of Dr. Cindy Keller. Dr. Keller has been Ms. Crook's vet for many years, and she is appalled at the terrible things that have been said about Dr. Keller. She is a very good vet and a nice person. Ms. Myra Foster-James is a frequent user of the animal shelter. She has known Dr. Keller for 10-12 years. She told of an experience she had with a sick bird. The shelter is a lot cleaner now and she finds the employees courteous. Ms. Foster-James said you couldn't find a person who cares more about animals. Dr. Keller does an excellent job. Mr. Laurie Holbrook said he has been associated with Dr. Keller for 18 years. She does love animals and will take care of them. He would recommend Dr. Keller to any one he kno~vs. Dr. Keller read a statement (attached), asking Councilperson Ellis to respond. Councilperson Ellis will make a statement when the Ordinance is introduced. Ms. Pat Hecker, said she has been a friend of Dr. Keller for 27 years. She also said she has almost given up her own practice to serve animals. Ms. Hecker told the Council, "She is here to help, go for it." Mr. Michael Wright, Jeffersonville Animal Control Officer told the Council he knows the shelter and feels there is no need for the proposed Ordinance. There is need to change the financing, and a need for more employees. Mr. Wright said he is an Eagle Scout. Ms. Betty Head, a resident of 201 Riverside Drive, told the Council she does want the boat dock Ordinance passed. She wants a good image of the riverfront projected. Ms. Susan Hughes, a resident of 405 Riverside Drive, stated she would like to see the boat dock Ordinance passed. Ms. Jane Hop, of Mellwood Subdivision, asked the Mayor what the engineers had recommended regarding the drainage in her subdivision. Mayor Galligan responded that the firm of Jacobi, Toombs, and Lanz, has three recommendations. The City will be looking at all three alternatives. Ms. Lisa Gill reported the storm drains at 2060 and 2059 Cardinal are caving in. Mayor Galligan said he will look at this. Engineer Miller said he did send a man to look at the situation. Mayor Galligan thanked the Mellwood Subdivision residents for coming, saying they can just call him. Council President Merkley suggested some of these issues should go before the Board of Public Works and Safety. City Court Judge Vicki Carmichael appeared before the Council requesting passage of Ordinance No. 2001-OR-20, An Ordinance Amending Certain Portions Of Ordinance No. 2000-OR-39, on the third reading. Councilperson Waiz made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2001-OR-20 on the third reading, seconded by Councilperson Conlin, passing on a vote of 6-1. Council President Merkley voted against passage. Council President Merkley presented and explained amendments to Ordinance No. 2001-OR-24, An Ordinance Prohibiting The Parking Of Recreation Vehicles At Any Boat Dock, Slip, Or Harbor Facility. Council President Merkley then made the motion to amend Ordinance 2001~OR-24, seconded by Councilperson Conlin, passing unanimously. Council President Merkley then made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2001-OR-24 on the second and third readings, seconded by Councilperson Conlin, passing unanimously. Ordinance No. 2001-OR-25, An Ordinance Fixing Basic Salaries Of Appointed Officers And Employees Of The City Of Jeffersonville, Indiana For The Year 2002 was presented for consideration. Council President Merkley stated there is a need to get more budget figures, therefore Council President Merkley made the motion to table Ordinance No. 2001-OR-25, seconded by Councilperson Conlin, passing unanimously. Ordinance No. 2001-OR-26, An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds Within Same Department (City Engineer) was presented for consideration. City Engineer Bob Miller explained the transfer is necessary to help fund the GIS program. Councilperson Conlin made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2001-OR-26 on the first reading, seconded by Council President Merkley, passing unanimously. Ordinance No. 2001-OR-27, A Petition Of Voluntary Annexation Of Contiguous Territory, was presented for consideration. City Attorney Galligan explained the area. Mayor Galligan explained the need for a drainage ditch in the area to prevent flooding and help drainage. This project will be a combined effort of the Port, the County, the City, and the developer. Council President Merkley made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2001-OR-27 on the first reading, seconded by Councilperson Wilson, passing unanimously. Ordinance No. 2001-OR-28, An Ordinance Establishing The Jeffersonville Community Animal Control Board, was presented for consideration. Councilperson Ellis 4 read a statement (attached). Councilperson Ellis then made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2001-OR-28 on the first reading, seconded by Council President Merkley. Mayor Galligan said he does not agree with the Ordinance. It is his job to manage and he will do that. He hires people to manage and if they do not do the job he will fire them. Mayor Galligan feels Dr. Cindy Keller does a nice job. She is understaffed. Mayor Galligan said there are a few people who want to disrupt. The motion to pass Ordinance No. 2001-OR-28 on the first reading passed on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Councilpersons Merkley, Ellis, Wilson, and Grooms. Nays: Councilpersons Frantz, Waiz, and Conlin. COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS: Council President Merkley made the motion to appoint Mr. Keith Stayton, Ms. Flora Clipper, Councilpersons Conlin and Merkley to the Bi-Centennial Committee, seconded by Councilperson Grooms, passing unanimously. Council President Merkley next read a thank you letter from the Red Cross for the contribution and a thank you note from Sharon and David King for the employee picnic. Council President Merkley thanks the Council, especially Councilperson Grooms, for taking the initiative on the picnic. He also thanks Harry Wilder and Big Daddy's for the food, and Mayor Galligan for his help. Councilperson Ellis said as a member of the Jeffersonville City Council, when a citizen comes to him and asks him to read a statement he feels obligated to do so. He will continue to read statements. As far as the contents of the statements he takes them to be truthful. Councilperson Wilson stated the Concerts In The Park have been fantastic. There are three more and she urges all to come. Councilperson Grooms has checked on the payments in lieu of taxes from Housing and informed the Council they go to the Department of Redevelopment. Mayor Galligan reported Warder Park is nearing completion, noting the lights in the trees. He said there are a lot of nice places in Jeffersonville with what is going on from the Overlook to Warder Park on Spring Street. Mayor Galligan thanked all for coming and wished all a safe trip home. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 P.M. THOMAS R. GALLIGAN, YOR ATTEST: PEGGY WILDER, CLERK AND TREASURER Proposed Jeffersonville Communi ,ty Animal Control Board In light of the recent controversies surrounding the operation of the Josephine B. Ogle Animal Shelter, I am submitting this proposed ordinance to establish the Jeffersonville Community Animal Control Board. The primary purposes of the ordinance are to more effectively and efficiently operate the shelter and to provide the animals with a standard of care, promulgated by animal lovers and the veterinary profession. Although we appreciate the effort put forth to operate the shelter unilaterally, We believe it would be more effective and efficient to delegate this duty to a board composed of seven members with an emphasis towards quality animal treatment and veterinary care. Establishment of the board would benefit the community three-fold: (a) Mayor Galligan would be free to focus his energies on other pressing governmental affairs; (b) The operation of the shelter would be placed in the hands of a board of individuals, qualified to provide the appropriate standard of management and veterinary care for the animal shelter; and (c) It would render an appropriately fair and even-handed manner of managing the human resources side of the shelter. Councilman Ron Ellis August 20, 2001 88/23/2881 13:29 8122856458 JEFF ANIMAL SHELTER PAGE 88/23/2881 13:29 8122B~B45B JEFF ANIMAL SHELTER PAGE