HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-2002 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
SEPTEMBER 9, 2002
The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session
in the Multi-Purpose Meeting Room 308 in the City-County Building, Jeffersonville,
Indiana, at 7:30 P.M. on the 9th day of September 2002.
Council President Denny Frantz called the meeting to order with Clerk Treasurer
Peggy Wilder at the desk. Also present was Deputy Clerk Barbara Hollis. Council
President Frantz welcomed all in attendance, asking ail those present to stand as
Conncilperson Ron Ellis gave the invocation. Council President Frantz then asked all
those present to join him in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
The roll was called and those present were; Conncilpersons Ron Ellis, Denny
Frantz, Rob Waiz, Barbara Wilson, Ron Grooms, and Vicki Conlin.
Absent: Conncilpersnn Les Merkley.
Councilperson Ellis noted he had requested that Agenda Item #10 not be put back
on the agenda until September 23, requesting it be removed from the September 9
agenda. Conncilperson Ellis then made the motion to approve the agenda as amended,
seconded by Conncilperson Waiz, passing on a vote of 5-0. Councilperson Frantz did not
vote.
Councilperson Waiz made the motion to approve the minutes of August 19, 2002
as submitted, seconded by Councilperson Wilson passing on a vote of 5-0. Council
President Frantz did not vote. Conncilperson Waiz then made the motion to approve the
minutes of the September 3, 2002 meeting as presented, seconded by Councilperson
Wilson, passing on a vote of 5-0. Council President Frantz did not vote.
Conncilperson Merkley arrived at 7:40 P.M.
Conncilperson Waiz made the motion to approve the minutes of the August 28,
2002 workshop, seconded by Conncilperson Wilson, passing on a vote of 6-0. Council
President Frantz did not vote. Conncilperson Waiz made the motion to approve the
minutes of the September 3, 2002 workshop, seconded by Conncilperson Wilson, passing
on a vote of 6-0. Council President Frantz did not vote.
S~ptember 9, 2002 2
Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented the claim list for consideration by the Council,
introducing an additional claim to 1N Department of Transportation. Redevelopment
Director Duggins explained the claim and the need for passage. Following questions,
Councilperson Grooms made the motion to add the additional claim to the list, seconded
by Councilperson Conlin, passing on a vote of 6-0. Council President Frantz did not
vote. Councilperson Waiz then made the motion to pass the claim list as presented with
the addition, seconded by Councilperson Grooms passing on a vote of 5-1.
Councilperson Merkley voted against passage. Council President Frantz did not vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Redevelopment Director David Duggins explained the need to approve Agenda
Item #15 (Alley Vacation), asking for a favorable vote.
AGENDA ITEMS:
Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26, An Ordinance Of
Appropriations And Tax Rates. Councilperson Conlin made the motion to pass
Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26 on the second and third readings. Councilperson Merkley
distributed an Amendment to 2002-OR-26, a list of budget reductions. Councilperson
Merkley explained the City is in an unfortunate budget situation, and in tough times there
is a need to take every step possible to minimize the increase in the tax rate. Many
people will be experiencing an increase in property taxes due to tax restructuring.
Councitperson Merkley then made the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26 as
presented, seconded by Councilperson Ellis. Councilperson Conlin expressed her
concern for the reduction in funding for swimming pool staff. Councitperson Merkley
feels there is a need to work with the amount of money we have. Councilperson Conlin
does not disagree; insurance is where we have taken the hit. Councilperson Ellis is
concerned that Parks & Recreation had $35,000 in another fund that was used for a
statue, continuing Parks and Recreation is a "rich" fund, also money has been given for
projects that have not been started, such as a walking trail in Lansden Park.
Councilperson Ellis feels the Parks and Recreation Department needs to be told to live
within their budget the same as other departments. Councilperson Merkley wishes all
department needs could be funded. Councilperson Conlin said there is a need to start
living in the year that we are in. Councilperson Merkley said most cuts were 10%. There
September 9, 2002 3
is never enough money for government. A budget can't be based on what a department
wants. Councilperson Merkley is trying to minimize the tax burden for the City of
Je£fersonville taxpayers. Councilperson Conlin feels the people of the City want
services. She feels the insurance agent has "messed us up". Clerk Treasurer Wilder
feels if the tax base was to remain the same, taxes would not increase 19%. With the new
roles, some taxes will increase 50%, some may decrease 15%. The departments struggle
to get their bills paid. Expenses keep going up and budgets have been cut. This is a very
unusual year, however Clerk Treasurer Wilder believes the assessed value will go up and
will not be as bad as it appears. Councilperson Elhs believes those that will be affected
the most are the older homes. Many of the older homeowners are older and on fixed
incomes· Some may experience a 300% increase. He feels this is an unusual burden on
those that can least afford it. Councilperson Ellis feels some departments are run on
extremely rich budgets, and there is a need to make some hard choices. He feels there is
a need to make cuts in insurance and in salaries. Councilperson Grooms feels insurance
and the bond payment are where the bulk of the increase is. He feels increases would be
minimal if it were not for these two items. Councilperson Grooms said he couldn't vote
for a budget that cuts funding necessary to continue to provide services. He feels a need
to look at this again and suggests not passing on this tonight. Councilperson Grooms has
obtained an opinion from a corporate attorney that singling out one person to not give a
raise is probably discrimination. The City does not have a policy in effect for graduated
raises. Councilperson Conlin suggests not giving raises to department heads.
Councilperson Grooms said that would be better grounds. Councilperson Merkley
agreed. Councilperson Grooms suggests passing on the second reading. The vote to pass
the amendment to 2002-OR-26 was recorded as follows:
Ayes: Councilpersons Merkley, Ellis, and Wilson.
Nays: Councilpersons Waiz, Grooms, and Conlin.
The vote being 3-3, Council President Frantz votes no, thus the amendment failed.
Councilperson Conlin then withdrew her motion to pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-
26 on the second and third readings. Councilperson Conlin then made the motion to pass
Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26 on the second reading, seconded by Councilperson Waiz.
Councilperson Grooms then made the motion to amend the ordinance to reflect
September 9, 2002 4
reductions in salary increases from 3-½% to $500 per employee, excluding police and
fire, seconded by Councilperson Merkley. It was noted this is a savings of $16,450.
Council President Frantz noted $16,450 is less and ½ cent and of the 19 years he has been
on the fire department, the assessed value has gone up every year. Councilperson
Merkley feels a flat raise is more fair. Council President Frantz stated if the police and
fire get 3 ½%, the rest of the City employees deserve the same. Councilperson Ellis
noted the police and fire contracts were negotiated when the economy was better. The
motion to pass the reduction to $500, passed on the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Councilperson Grooms, Wilson, Ellis, and Merkley.
Nays: Councilpersons Conlin and Waiz.
Councilperson Conlin said she would like to see birthday pay cut. Clerk
Treasurer Wilder stated birthday pay is by Ordinance. Council President Frantz said it is
wrong to cut pay, people providing services are not overpaid. Councilperson Merkley
said the benefits employees' get has to be considered, saying look at insurance.
Councilperson Wilson said the whole situation is bad and there is a need to make cuts.
Council President Frantz questioned if part-time employees should get insurance.
He then asked how many Councilpersons are on the insurance. Councilperson Conlin is
on the City health insurance, noting the construction grew was hired without benefits and
they are all on insurance. Councilperson Ellis said he knows a large number of
employers that do not provide insurance, longevity, and birthday pay. Councilperson
Conlin noted the attempt to increase employees' deduction has been voted down. She
feels there is a need to look at another insurance agent and raise the deduction.
The following roll call vote was then recorded to pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26
on the second and third readings:
Ayes: Councilpersons Waiz, Grooms, and Conlin.
Nays: Councilpersons Merkley Ellis, and Wilson.
There being a tie vote, Council President Frantz voted nay, thus the motion failed.
Councilperson Grooms then made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26
on the second reading as originally submitted, seconded by Councilperson Conlin,
passing on the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Councilpersons Conlin, Grooms, and Waiz.
September 9, 2002 5
Nays: Councilpersons Wilson, Ellis, and Merkley.
Council President Frantz vote Aye to break the tie vote, passing the motion.
Ordinance No. 2002-OR-30, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2001-OR-30,
An Ordinance Fixing Basic Salaries Of Appointed Officers And Employees Of The City
Of Jeffersonville, Indiana For The Year 2002 was introduced. Councilperson Merkley
reviewed each change, noting some changes are to employees that are not on the tax rate,
however all employees are a burden to the insurance. Employees have been put in Motor
Vehicle and Sewer to keep them off the tax rate. Motor Vehicle has not been able to pay
for insurance. Councilperson Merkley then made the motion to pass Ordinance No.
2002-OR-30 on the first reading, seconded by Councilperson Conlin, passing on a vote of
6-0. Council President Frantz did not vote.
Ordinance No. 2002-OR-29, An Ordinance Fixing Basic Salaries Of Appointed
Officers And Employees Of The City Of Jeffersonville, Indiana For The Year 2003 was
introduced. Councilperson Merkley made the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2002-OR-
29 to reflect the changes passed on the first reading of Ordinance No. 2002-OR-30,
seconded by Councilperson Conlin, passing on a vote of 6-0. Council President Frantz
did not vote. Councilperson Ellis then made the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2002-
OR-29 changing civilian pay increases from 3-1/2% to $700 across the board, seconded
by Councilperson Merkley, with the following roll call vote being recorded:
Ayes: Councilperson Ellis, Wilson, and Grooms.
Nays: Councilpersons Merkley, Waiz, and Conlin.
Council President Frantz voted nay breaking the tie vote and defeating the
motion.
Councilperson Grooms made the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2002-OR-29 to
provide a 3-1/2% increase in the Department of Law for City Attorney, seconded by
Councilperson Merkley, passing on the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Councilperson Conlin, Grooms, Wilson, and Merkley.
Nays: Councilpersons Waiz and Ellis.
Councilperson Grooms then made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-29
as amended on the second reading, seconded by Councilperson Conlin, passing on a vote
September 9, 2002 6
of 5-1. Councilperson Merkley voted against passage. Council President Frantz did not
vote.
Ordinance No. 2002-OR-31, An Ordinance Granting Petition To Vacate A Public
Way In The City Of Jeffersonville, was introduced. Councilperson Conlin explained the
ordinance. Councilperson Conlin then made the motion to suspend the rules for
Ordinance No. 2002-OR-31, seconded by Councilperson Wilson, passing on a vote of 6-
0. Council President Frantz did not vote. Councilperson Conlin then made the motion to
pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-31 on all three readings, seconded by Councilperson
Wilson. Councilperson Ellis noted he is one that hates to pass an ordinance on all three
readings but he does think this is a good idea. The Ordinance passed on a vote of 6-0.
Council President Frantz did not vote.
Ordinance No. 2002-OR-32, An Ordinance Authorizing The Issuance Of Not To
Exceed $2,580,000 Ag~'egate Principal Amount Of City Of Jeffersonville, Indiana
Variable Rate Demand Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2002 (Southern
Indiana Mental Health And Guidance Center, Inc., D/B/A~ Lifespring) was introduced.
Councilperson Merkley explained the City is not responsible for any of the bonds.
Councilperson Merkley then made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-32 on the
first reading, seconded by Councilperson Ellis, passing on a vote of 6-0. Council
President Frantz did not vote.
COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS:
Councilperson Ellis said the taxpayers need to be present at these meetings when
the Council is working on budgets, noting there is only a handful here. There has been a
push to increase fees for solid waste, drainage, and even talk of charging for garbage
collection, noting the need to be frugal.
Councilperson Waiz informed the Council the Sewer Board approved a PILOT
payment of $100,000. Councilperson Ellis questioned the Sewer loan to Redevelopment
of $100,000, noting they are able to purchase property and should be able to repay the
loan. Councilperson Merkley asked if the resolution regarding a new city hall has been
vetoed. Clerk Treasurer Wilder stated she has not received it back from Mayor Galligan.
Councilperson Grooms informed those present that the Solid Waste Board will be
voting to adopt an increase from $19.75 to $34.75 in fees due to landfill costs.
September 9, 2002 7
ATTEST:
Councilperson Ellis has talked to Representative Bottorff who indicated the fee should be
voluntary.
Councilperson Conlin asked the Council to think about placing a cap on salaries,
mostly department heads. Also she suggests looking at PTO (paid time off).
Councilperson Merkley asked Clerk Treasurer Wilder to notify Personnel
Director Ellis about the possible elimination of positions.
There will be a special meeting Thursday, September 12, 2002 at 7:30 P.M.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was
adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
THOMAS R. GALLIG~AN,~Y~O~'~R
PEGGY W~LD~3ER, CLERK AND TREASURER