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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMARCH 16, 2015COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA March 16, 2015 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7:OOpm, on Monday, March 16, 2015. Council President Gill, with Vicki Conlin, City Clerk, called the meeting to order at 7:OOpm. President Gill asked those in attendance to stand as Mr. Bobby Campbell gave the Invocation. Girl Scout Troop 542 then led all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The roll call and those present were: Council Vice President Zastawny, Councilperson Wadsworth, Councilperson Sellers, Councilperson Julius, Councilperson Webb, President Gill, Councilperson Owen and Councilperson Samuel. Absent: Councilperson Smith. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: Councilperson Julius remarked that the minutes from the March 2, 2015, meeting didn't reflect Marty Chalfant's Redevelopment Report comments. Councilperson Sellers asked Clerk Vicki Conlin if Mr. Chalfant provided Ms. Conlin a copy of his Report and Ms. Conlin stated that he did and it has been scanned in as part of the record. Councilperson Sellers suggested making a note in the minutes that his Report is part of the record in case anyone wants to see it. Ms. Conlin stated that she will include an amendment in the minutes. Councilperson Sellers made a motion to APPROVE the March 2, 2015, Council Regular Proceedings including the following amendment with Councilperson Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. AMENDMENT TO THE MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR PROCEEDINGS MARCH 2, 2015. Council Board/Commission Appointments Reports: Page 7 — Councilperson Julius requested the minutes of March 2, 2015 be amended to reflect Marty Chalfant, Redevelopment Commissioner Report and to look at the changes collectively. Councilperson Sellers asked Clerk Conlin if Mr. Chalfant report given to the Clerk, Ms. Conlin replied yes he had and the Report been scanned in Public Documents. Councilperson Sellers made the motion Requesting the Report be attached to the Minutes of March 2, 2015, seconded by Councilperson Julius. Ms. Conlin reported the Amendment will be reflected with the Minutes of March 2, 2015 and in the Minutes from tonight's meeting March 16, 2015. 1 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the agenda with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: General Claims: Controller Amy Deering presented the general claims list in the amount of $646,856.57. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the general claims list with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 7-0-1 with Councilperson Julius abstaining. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Ms. Conlin explained that tonight's minutes will indicate that Council requested Marty Chalfant's Report be added so that the new minutes will reflect what was asked today. Ms. Conlin stated that she is unable to access the Council's main web page, but is able to update each individual Council member's page as well as the Clerk's page. Ms. Conlin explained that she can no longer update or take off the old meeting dates until Pro -Media gives her final permission to be on the main web page and just wanted to make the Council aware. Councilperson Sellers stated that this isn't the first time this has happened and Ms. Conlin agreed. A. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Amy Deering — 2015 -OR -12 PUBLIC HEARING An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation: Ms. Deering stated that there have been no changes since the first reading. Councilperson Sellers requested changing the Fire Merit Board members pay to $6,000 making it equal to what the Police Merit Board members receive. Councilperson Samuel asked if the Fire Merit Board members are aware of this and Ms. Conlin stated that she has informed them. PUBLIC HEARING — 2015 -OR -12 Council President Gill OPENED the Public Hearing at 7:10 pm and without further comment CLOSED the Public Hearing at 7:11 pm. Councilperson Julius made the motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -12 on the Second and Third Reading amending the Fire Merit Board members pay to $6,000 with Vice President Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. 2. Scott Lewis — 2015 -OR -13 An Ordinance Establishing a Woehrle Athletic Complex Non - Reverting Fund: Mr. Lewis stated that he was asked to add language to this ordinance to include "and Parks projects" in regards to the construction and expansion of the Woehrle Athletic Complex. Mr. Lewis explained that this language will provide flexibility in case a decision would be made in the future to use the money for some other project. PUBLIC COMMENT: Ron Smith explained that he feels Woehrle is the ugliest piece of property in Clark County and suggests if Council is smart they will look for an alternative piece of property to develop. Mr. Smith stated that the streets in Jeff are in terrible shape and 10th Street needs to be widened. Also, Council is going to have to realize that we are going to need money to take care of the sewer program. Sewer bills are already high, so Council needs to make some kind of plan before it's mandated for us. Mr. Smith pleaded with Council to not put anymore lipstick on the Woehrle Athletic Complex because you can't put enough lipstick on that pig to make it pretty. 2 Alice Butler stated that she has been a CPA for forty years and firmly believes in fiscal responsibility and transparency especially when it comes to someone else's money. Ms. Butler stated that no one has disclosed what the $3MILLION is going to be used for stating that Council has communicated conflicting responses to her inquiry. Ms. Butler stated that it is her understanding if the money is placed in a non -reverting fund it cannot be returned to the fund in which it came and questioned why $3MILLION needs to be put in a non -reverting fund for a "what if, or maybe". Ms. Butler suggested having a developer build the complex, not the City and asked Council if they have considered how much the annual operational cost of this facility will be. Ms. Butler said not too long ago Council stated that they couldn't afford to keep the much-needed City Court open, but suddenly they have five or six million dollars for a sports complex. Ms. Butler stated stop the nonsense, use their tax money wisely and say no to this additional money for the Woehrle Complex. President Gill stated that everyone on the Council takes fiscal responsibility very seriously and the ordinance is just to establish the non -reverting fund and anything to be used with this fund will be discussed in public meetings, there is no plan in place and no contract has been signed. President Gill stated that the Parks Department has established non -reverting funds in the past at the recommendation of the State Board of Accounts in order to track expenditures for projects like Vissing Park. Vice President Zastawny stated that there was never a vote to build a complex and there was never a proposed indoor soccer complex as she described. Vice President Zastawny said it's the twisting of words and innuendos on blogs such as Clark County Chatter that distort the facts. And as far as a sports indoor facility, that has always been part of what they have tried to do at the Woehrle Athletic Complex by having football and soccer and a nice indoor multi sports floor. Consequently, since the cost was higher than they thought, they broke the complex down into phases and didn't do the indoor multi -sports building which was supposed to be phase 2. Since the soccer complex was so popular, parking became a problem and the Parks Authority discussed not putting a building there, but use that property for additional parking. Vice President Zastawny explained that what they are trying to do is expand parks, finish the Woehrle Complex, maybe consider an indoor multi -sports facility in the future, and choose the best option for the parks in Jeffersonville. Ms. Butler questioned why they are putting the horse before the cart pointing out that they don't currently have a plan, specific facility or proposal and suggested they wait to get a plan and then they move the money out of the general fund. Ms. Butler explained that moving those dollars out first means you cannot put those dollars back into the general fund which is a misuse of tax payer dollars. Vice President Zastawny asked Finance Director Amy Deering if the Council can vote to put non -reverting funds back into the general fund and Ms. Deering stated yes. President Gill stated that this has been standard procedure in most of their parks projects. Councilperson Julius stated that some of these things you have to do in order to plan for the future, or in five years there is nothing going to be happening and remarked they don't need handcuffs tying their hands and not allowing them the ability to negotiate on a piece of property. 3 Councilperson Webb stated that he hasn't been on the Council very long but has met with each and every one of the Council members over time and he can assure Ms. Butler that each and every one of them has Jeffersonville in their best interest. Councilperson Sellers made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -15 on the Second and Final Reading with Councilperson Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. B. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Amy Deering — 2014 Annual Financial Report: Ms. Deering stated that this is the Annual Financial Report that has been filed with the State on February 28, 2015, and provided Council with a brief overview of the Report. Ms. Deering explained that the Cash Fund Statement is just an overview of their funds, showing the beginning cash, receipt disbursements and ending cash. The next section represented an overview of all the debt that the City already has across the governmental and the Wastewater funds. Ms. Deering also provided in the Report all the grants received in the year 2014, as well as all the Capital Lease Payments for 2015, and the beginning and ending dates of each lease. A list of the 2014 encumbrances that were carried into the 2015 budget, most of which are credit card payments where the cost was incurred in 2014, but did not pay until 2015, were in the Report. Ms. Deering explained that the last section is a requirement from the State Board of Accounts who requires approval from the Board to receipt outstanding checks that are more than 2 years old back into the ledger. Councilperson Owen made a motion to accept the 2014 Annual Financial Report into the record with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. Councilperson Owen made a motion to carry forward the encumbrances from 2014 with Vice President Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. Councilperson Owen made a motion to receipt back in the outstanding checks that are more than 2 years old back into the ledger with Vice President Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY REPORT: None at this time. COUNCIL BOARD/COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS REPORTS: None at this time. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: PUBLIC COMMENT: Already took place under Unfinished Business #2. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilperson Zastawny: Thanked Ms. Deering for the very informative Annual Financial Report. Councilperson Wadsworth: None at this time. Councilperson Sellers: None at this time. Councilperson Webb: None at this time. 4 Councilperson Julius: Informed the Council of Officer Joshua Leveronne's act of bravery over the weekend for saving a youth who got into the City's Sewer Treatment Plant. Councilperson Julius stated that we have an officer in Jeffersonville that we should be very proud of. Councilperson Owen: Stated that he has had comments from people who live in other communities but work in Jeffersonville that Jeffersonville's streets were by far the best in the area during our recent snow event. The Street Department is also out patching pot holes which is a work in progress. Thanks to Mr. Miles and his department who are working tirelessly. Councilperson Samuel: Stated that at this time at Preservation Station there is something going on called "Monumental Memories" which are vintage photos brought in by folks of downtown Jeffersonville. The photos have been laid out on tables and 11 or 13 of them will be selected, blown up, framed and placed on buildings downtown — possibly a photo of the same building 100 years ago. Councilperson Samuel stated that a few of the Council members were at a meeting today from 2:OOpm until approximately 5:30pm listening to 5 different Redevelopment proposals for the Gateway at 10th Street. A couple of the proposals were very interesting and hopefully very good things will come out of those proposals. Councilperson Samuel stated that the first piece of artwork on the berm on 10th Street will be mounted this Friday and a master plan meeting will be here at City Hall on March 30th and everyone will then go from here to the berm for a dedication. Councilperson Samuel thanked Councilperson Webb for his kind words at tonight's meeting. President Gill: Stated that she also appreciated Councilperson Webb's kind words. President Gill thanked Clerk Conlin for arranging the Girl Scout Troop 542 to lead Council with the Pledge of Allegiance stating it is always a treat to have the young people from the community to come and participate in the meetings. President Gill stated that they have quite a few issues with the Salary Ordinance and with the two new Council members she felt it would be best to have a Workshop April 6th at 5:30pm before the Council meeting which starts at 7:OOpm. Human Resources Director Kim Calabro offered to meet with the two new Council members prior to the Workshop in order to familiarize them with the Salary Ordinance. President Gill informed the Council that several people met last Friday with Redevelopment. Those in attendance were: Director Rob Waiz, DeLynn Rutherford, Kelly Hoffman, and they went over the report that Marty Chalfant had with concerns about more spending going out than was coming in. President Gill stated that he has a few things in his report that were a little mixed up and asked Ms. Deering if she would like to address what was discussed at the meeting. Ms. Deering stated that she met with Mr. Chalfant a couple of weeks prior to the last Council meeting and she thought they were on the same page and was put off guard with all the numbers that were flying around. To hit on the high notes of the presentation that was given at the last Council meeting, there were a lot of opinions being thrown out. Mr. Chalfant's use of overspending — not sure what he means by that and I don't want to put words in his mouth, but there were some claims made that there 5 were expenditures made that weren't on the books so I can't write a check if it's not on the ledger. Ms. Deering stated that she just wants to say that she feels good about where we are financially. We have $22MILLION in the TIF's to start 2015, so she doesn't think there are really any financial concerns there. Ms. Deering stated that she also wants to point out that the TIF spreadsheets that are handed out are stated with our liabilities and our expenditures. Mr. Chalfant made the allegation that we are stating all our revenues and half our expenditures, well, once something has been paid you've got a payable and you've got an expenditure and it's all there — he's just not understanding the format, so I would like to meet with him when he's back in town and kind of get that all straightened out, but I think we're in a good position. President Gill stated that she has informed Council that she will meet with them as well. Councilperson Samuel asked out of the $22MILLION for TIF's, how much of that was bonded and Ms. Deering stated that it was around $10MILLION and was a 2013 A&B. Councilperson Julius stated that when he was on the Redevelopment Commission, which was before Ms. Deering worked for the City Finance Department, they were supposed to put $8MILLION into Inner City Roads and $2M1LLION into Falls Landing as he remembers it. Ms. Deering stated that sounds correct and it should be on the Annual Report she gave Council as well. President Gill also thanked Councilperson Samuel for all the great work he is doing with the Arts Council and asked if he had something to say about Parks Director Paul Northam and the Green Space position. Councilperson Samuel explained that Mr. Northam is in need of moving ahead with his team of folks and believes the Council's consensus was to go ahead and try this "Green Team" this year which Paul will oversee through the Parks Department. Since H.R. Director Kim Calabro couldn't be here tonight to discuss the Salary Ordinance, they don't have those positions in the ordinance and Mr. Northam was concerned about hiring someone if they aren't in the ordinance to pay them. Councilperson Samuel wants to give Mr. Northam permission to go ahead and start the process knowing that we're going to have those people slated in the Salary Ordinance at the next meeting. Councilperson Samuel made the motion to give Parks Director Paul Northam permission to start the process of hiring someone for the Green Space position but not actually start working until they are placed in the Salary Ordinance with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. President Gill stated that she is one of 16 members in a Citizens Police Academy class that goes for 12 weeks and stated that she is excited. Thanks to Major Lynch and Officer Chris Martin for putting it all together. It's an impressive curriculum and will be a good asset for the City. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Owen made a motion to ADJOURN at 7:55pm with Councilperson Samuel seconding, PASSING on a vote of 8-0. TED BY: Vicki Conlin, City Clerk APPROVED BY: 6