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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 6, 2014COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITy OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA January 6, 201_4- The 014 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7=00pm, on Monday, January 6, 2014. Council President Connie Sellers, with Vicki Conlin, City Clerk, called the meeting to order at 7=01 PM. President Seller asked those in attendance to stand as Bobby Campbell gave the Invocation. Council President Sellers then led all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The roll call and those present were= Council President Sellers, Councilperson Julius, Councilperson Samuel, Councilperson Zastawny and Councilperson Smith. Absent were Councilpersons Owen, Payne, Gill and Glover. APPROVAL OF THE ^GENOA= Councilperson Samuel made a Motion to APPROVE the Agenda with Councilperson Zastawny seconding the motion, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED= Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE the minutes from the December 16, 2013, Regular Council meeting with Councilperson Smith seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE the minutes from the December 30, 2013, Special Session with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED= General Claims= Councilperson Smith requested the claim for pen sets totaling $706.39 to be paid from the Mayor's Promotional budget be pulled from the claims list. Councilperson Smith stated that he would like to discuss this expenditure with Council Attorney Lewis to be sure the claim meets the standards of the ordinance promoting city business. Corporate Attorney Merkley stated that he feels that it does meet the standards of the ordinance and stated that the pen sets were ordered November 21, 2013, prior to the ordinance going into effect December 13, 2013. Councilperson Julius stated that he did not feel that this purchase promotes the city. Councilperson Smith requested time to review the ordinance before approving the claim and suggested bringing the claim back to the next Council meeting with their findings. Councilperson Zastawny made a motion to APPROVE the claims with the removal of the pen sets for $706.39 with Councilperson Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. City Clerk Conlin stated that the balance on the claims list after the removal of the claim for $706.39 is $1,025,993-30. ELECTION OF OFFICERS= President Sellers stated that although there are four Council members absent from tonight's meeting, Council Attorney Lewis explained that according to rules and regulations, election of officers must take place at the first meeting of the year. President Sellers opened up the nominations for Council President for 2014. 1 Councilperson Samuel nominated Vice President Dennis Julius for President with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. Councilperson Zastawny asked to make a statement to the Council to explain why, in part, he voted the way he did. Councilperson Zastawny explained that in the previous administration, he, Connie Sellers and Ron Grooms were in the minority as Republicans, but were still allowed to serve in leadership positions. Councilperson Zastawny feels this bipartisan attitude creates cohesiveness and cooperation for the Council to work together and feels that this tradition should continue. Councilperson Zastawny stated that he feels Dennis Julius will do a great job as President as would all the Democrats and Republicans on the Council. President Julius presented outgoing President Sellers with an engraved gavel she used at the Council meetings during her one-year term as President. President Julius asked the Council for nominations for Vice President. Councilperson Smith made a motion to nominate Councilperson Lisa Gill for Vice President with Councilperson Sellers seconding. There being no other nominations, the motion PASSED on a vote of 5-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Clerk Conlin introduced Jamie Miller to the Council as her First Deputy replacing Erica Burress who left the city to take a teaching position. Clerk Conlin stated that she has appointed and sworn in Ms. Miller and explained that she will be splitting her time working approximately three days upstairs in the Clerk's Office and a couple of days downstairs in City Court. Clerk Conlin and the Council welcomed Ms. Miller to the position of First Deputy. A. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None B. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Kim Calabro/Andy Crouch/Len Ashack — 2014 -OR -1: An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of Appointed Officers and Employees of All Departments for the Year 2014: Human Resources Director Kim Calabro stated that at the September 3, 2013, Drainage Board meeting, Rod Pate and Andy Crouch addressed the board regarding job reclassification of the general laborers. Ms. Calabro gave a brief outline of the changes that will take place. There will be three general laborers rather than five and will move one employee into the position of Heavy Equipment Operator and one into the position of Drainage Crew Leader. The only change that will take place is two people will be going from a 1B pay grade to a 4 pay grade and Mr. Crouch and the board plan to open the positions up to the Drainage crew. Ms. Calabro stated that Mr. Crouch sent an email indicating that the money will be coming out of the Drainage Fund and not the General Fund. Ms. Calabro stated that these personnel changes will allow them to always have someone in charge on-site which the Safety Department states is a requirement by OSHA. Ms. Calabro stated at the December 19, 2013, Sewer Board meeting, the new position of Laboratory Analyst was approved. This position is a pay grade 5 and the job description has already been written. Ms. Calabro stated that the position of Lab Technician/Plan Operator will go from three positions to four but the position of Solids Handling Utility Worker is being eliminated. Councilperson Sellers asked if the Laboratory Analyst is going to be used for the new 2 plant or take care of both plants and WWTP Director Len Ashack stated that it would be for both. Mr. Ashack stated that the downtown plant is sampled 365 days a year and the north plant is sampled five days a week. Mr. Ashack stated that they need someone with a chemistry background and everyone will be cross -trained in the lab and everyone will be required to be certified. Councilperson Smith asked if the new position of Laboratory Analyst will be advertised and Mr. Ashack stated that they will advertise it both internally and then within the city. Applicants are required to have a chemistry background and will require at least an AD in Chemistry and preferably a four-year degree. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2014 -OR -1 on a first reading with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. 2. Amy Deering — 2014 -OR -2: An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds within the Same Department: Mr. Merkley presented the ordinance in Ms. Deering's absence. This ordinance is to shift funds for Police salaries with a portion of it for the Fire Department. Councilperson Samuel asked what the $140,000 represented and Mr. Merkley stated that it was his understanding that the Fire Department is asking for $140,000 be transferred from the 300 line item which is Professional Services to the 400 line item for Capital Expenditures. President Julius asked Mr. Merkley if he knew how this money was to be spent and he stated that he did not. Councilperson Sellers made a motion to PASS 2014 -OR -2 on a first reading with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. COUNCIL BOARD APPOINTMENTS FOR 2014: • Building Authority: Councilperson Sellers made a motion to retain Bill Fry, Dennis Julius and Don Sperzel on the Building Authority Board for 2014 with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. • Public Arts Commission: Councilperson Samuel stated that all the members would like to remain on the board. Councilperson Samuel stated that he has communicated with all the Council members and they are supportive about retaining these individuals. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to approve the Public Arts Commission as Nathan Samuel, Shane Corbin, Dawn Spyker, Melissa Deaver and Jay Ellis seconded by Councilperson Sellers, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. • Solid Waste Board: Councilperson Zastawny made a motion to reappoint Councilperson Zach Payne on the Solid Waste Board with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5- 0. • Planning Commission: Councilperson Smith made a motion to reappoint Ed Zastawny, Connie Sellers, Lisa Gill and Brent Roberts to the Planning Commission with Councilperson Samuel seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. • Sewer Board: Councilperson Sellers made a motion to reappoint Dale Orem and William Saegasser to the Sewer Board with Councilperson Smith seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. • UEZ: Councilperson Samuel made a motion to reappoint Mike Smith to the UEZ Board with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. • Redevelopment Commission: Councilperson Samuel made a motion to reappoint Jamie Lake to the Redevelopment Commission with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. • Fire Merit: Councilperson Smith made a motion to reappoint Jeff Fry to the Fire Merit Board with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. 3 Clerk Conlin stated that she intends to attend each of these board meetings and have the appointments signed and then bring them back to the Council for the President's signature. President Julius asked Clerk Conlin if a copy of all board appointees and their phone numbers could be given to the Council. Clerk Conlin stated that she would be glad to. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Rick Lovan: Wanted to let the Council know how much he appreciates the year-end bonus that City employees received in 2013. Mr. Lovan stated that it came in very hand and thank you very much. The Council thanked Mr. Lovan for his comments. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilperson Smith — stated that he has called the insurance company and he understands the safety concerns of the riverfront and the docks, but has now been informed that an individual was told that they can stay and asked Mr. Merkley if he was aware of that. Mr. Merkley stated that he was not. Councilperson Zastawny — thanked Councilperson Sellers for doing a good job as last year's Council President and wished 2014 President Dennis Julius good luck. Councilperson Sellers — thanked the Council for their support while she was Council President in 2013. Councilperson Samuel — thanked Councilperson Sellers for all her hard work as last year's Council President and stated that being President is a difficult job and last year was a tough year. Councilperson Samuel also expressed his appreciation for her efforts to communicate which is very important. Councilperson Samuel also suggested creating a certificate for those people who are leaving the committees and boards that they have served on a volunteer basis for the city as a way to say thank you. The Council felt that this was a nice gesture and supported the idea. President Julius — thanked Councilperson Sellers for doing a great job as President in 2013. President Julius suggested getting in touch with someone who could have a round -table discussion with the Council and give them some insight on the tax abatements and incentives that the city is offering new businesses and have an open dialogue about any long or short- term repercussions. President Julius stated that there may be other enticements that would cost the city less that the businesses would be interested in. 4 ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Zastawny made the motion to ADJOURN with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 5-0. Vicki Conlin, City Clerk APPROVED BY: 5