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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNOVEMBER 16, 2015COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA NOVEMBER 16, 2015 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in Room 101, 500 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville, Indiana at 7:00 pm, on Monday, November 16, 2015. Council President Gill along with City Clerk Conlin called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Council President Gill asked those in attendance to stand as Mr. Campbell gave the Invocation and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the recent attacks on Paris. Council President Gill asked those in attendance to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll call was conducted and those present were: Councilperson Wadsworth, Councilperson Sellers, Councilperson Webb, Council President Gill, Councilperson Owen, and Councilperson Samuel. Councilperson Smith, Councilperson Zastawny, and Councilperson Julius were absent from the meeting and all had contacted Council President Gill to inform her of being out of town. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: Minutes from the Regular Council Proceedings November 2, 2015- Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the minutes with Councilperson Webb seconding, PASSING on a vote, 6-0. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the agenda with Councilperson Webb seconding, PASSING on a vote, 6-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: GENERAL - $835,392.20 City Controller Deering presented the Claims in the amount of $835,392.20. Councilperson Samuel stated he did not see any claims from the Edit Fund and he assumed that there were none, City Controller Deering confirmed that there were no claims from the Edit Fund in this amount. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the claims as presented with Councilperson Sellers seconding PASSING on a vote, 6-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: The Council received a letter from the Pat Harris Norton's Cancer Foundation thanking the City Council for their $25,000.00 donation. Council President Gill asked City Clerk Conlin to read the name on the plaque and City Clerk Conlin stated the name of the area is "The City of Jeffersonville". Additionally the Clark County Youth Shelter does an annual "Celebrity Waiter" Fundraiser. In the past, the Council has supported this however this year it happens to fall on the date of a City Council Meeting. City Clerk Conlin asked if the Council would still like to fund a table. Councilperson Sellers made a motion to purchase a table for the event with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 6-0. 1 AGENDA ITMES: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: CJ7c hep 07 wuks 1. Les Merkley —TABLED -2015-OR-61 An Ordinance changing the Zoning Map Designation of a Certain Tract of Property Located at 2113 Allison Lane and Fully Described in Attached Exhibit A from R1 to IS (TABLED 11/2/15) City Attorney Les Merkley presented the Ordinance to the Council. The petitioner has been advised by Planning and Zoning Director Corbin that they will need to apply for a Use Variance for this property so there is no used for a rezoning ordinance. Because of State Statutes the Council has to formally act on this ordinance within 90 days or it would be adopted as passed. Councilperson Owen made a motion to Deny the rezoning based on the fact the petitioner is going through the BZA. City Attorney Merkley stated we would need to open the Public Hearing since it was continued from the last Council Meeting. Council President Gill opened the Public Hearing at 7:09 PM and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the Public Hearing was closed at 7:10 PM. Councilperson Sellers seconded the motion to deny. The final vote tally was: 0 Voted for 2015 -OR -61, 6 Voted Against. City Clerk asked how the Council should sign the Ordinance and City Attorney Merkley stated they were to sign under voting against. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Josh Rodriquez - Neighborhood Leadership Association — Mr. Rodriguez stated he just wanted to come and give an update on the National Night Out. 21 neighborhoods participated and between 19,000-21,000 individuals participated in the event. Just for anyone who isn't aware what National Night Out is — it is a night to promote crime awareness and the supports the Community has. Thank you to the City Council for the funding of $6,000.00 — that money was used to help provide snacks and bounce houses for the community as well as other things that were needed. Any money raised from the event was filtered back into the community in one form or another. A huge thank you to the Police and Fire Department — the community was able to see tanker trucks, K9 Units and other measures of public safety. The update was really just to say thank you to the Council and all of the volunteers that participated. 2. Kim Calabro— 2015 -OR -62 An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of Elected Officials of the City of Jeffersonville, Cark County Indiana, Commencing January 1, 2016 Human Resources Director Kim Calabro presented 2015 -OR -62. Council President Gill asked that Ms. Calabro go through the changes to the General Fund and to the Sewer Department. The changes are as follows: FROM THE GENERAL FUND The Mayor was increased from $64,000 to $69,000. The City Clerk increased from $50,000 to $60,000. The City Council President increased from $15,000 to $17,000. 2 AGENDA ITMES: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Les Merkley —TABLED -2015-OR-61 An Ordinance changing the Zoning Map Designation of a Certain Tract of Property Located at 2113 Allison Lane and Fully Described in Attached Exhibit A from R1 to IS (TABLED 11/2/15) City Attorney Les Merkley presented the Ordinance to the Council. The petitioner has been advised by Planning and Zoning Director Corbin that they will need to apply for a Use Variance for this property so there is no used for a rezoning ordinance. Because of State Statutes the Council has to formally act on this ordinance within 90 days or it would be adopted as passed. Councilperson Owen made a motion to Deny the rezoning based on the fact the petitioner is going through the BZA. City Attorney Merkley stated we would need to open the Public Hearing since it was continued from the last Council Meeting. Council President Gill opened the Public Hearing at 7:09 PM and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the Public Hearing was closed at 7:10 PM. City Clerk asked how the Council should sign the Ordinance and City Attorney Merkley stated they were to sign under voting against. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Josh Rodriquez - Neighborhood Leadership Association — Mr. Rodriguez stated he just wanted to come and give an update on the National Night Out. 21 neighborhoods participated and between 19,000-21,000 individuals participated in the event. Just for anyone who isn't aware what National Night Out is — it is a night to promote crime awareness and the supports the Community has. Thank you to the City Council for the funding of $6,000.00—that money was used to help provide snacks and bounce houses for the community as well as other things that were needed. Any money raised from the event was filtered back into the community in one form or another. A huge thank you to the Police and Fire Department —the community was able to see tanker trucks, K9 Units and other measures of public safety. The update was really just to say thank you to the Council and all of the volunteers that participated. 2. Kim Calabro— 2015 -OR -62 An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of Elected Officials of the City of Jeffersonville, Cark County Indiana, Commencing January 1, 2016 Human Resources Director Kim Calabro presented 2015 -OR -62. Council President Gill asked that Ms. Calabro go through the changes to the General Fund and to the Sewer Department. The changes are as follows: The Mayor was increased from $64,000 to $69,000. The City Clerk increased from $50,000 to $60,000. The City Council President increased from $15,000 to $17,000. The remaining City Council increased from $13,000 to $15,000. The City Court Judge salary was eliminated (City Court closes on December 31, 2015). 2 There are no changes to be made to the Sewer Department. Section III A - (Longevity Pay) is eliminated from the Ordinance. Section III C — The language was removed concerning take home vehicles and department heads. Section III D — P.E.R.F was replaced with the Public Retirement System (INPRS). Also the voluntary additional contribution was removed from the ordinance. Councilperson Webb stated he had no issue with the City Clerk's increase or the City Council's but he felt as though there was a much larger increase (percentage wise) in those salaries opposed to the Mayors. He would like to see a positive working relationship between the City Council and the Mayor during the next term and he feels that in order for that to happen the raises need to be comparable. Councilperson Wadsworth asked how much money was available to pay for the increases. Councilperson Sellers stated she feels as though the Mayor's vehicle and insurance should be factored into his salary since those are out of pocket expenses that the Mayor does not have to pay. Councilperson Sellers recommended looking at other cities to see where Jeffersonville salaries fall in comparison. Councilperson Samuel reminded the Council that this Ordinance would take a minimum of two readings, so a plan could be put in place to revise the Ordinance and this could be approved as a place holder. City Attorney Les Merkley stated that for the record the administration did not see any numbers for the raises prior to the ordinance and this was not the amount requested by the administration. Council President Gill stated after she worked with City Clerk Conlin on the revisions of the Ordinance she contacted the Mayor to let him know what would be presented in the Ordinance. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -62 changing the top line (Mayor's Salary) to $74,000 and keeping the rest as presented on the first reading with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote, 6-0. 3. Amy Deering — 2015 -OR -63 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds with in the Same Department City Controller Amy Deering presented Ordinance 2015 -OR -63. All that is being requested is in the Budget, the Department Heads came in and requested these changes. $500,000 should be $1,000,000 and is going to be presented as a claim for the Woehrle Fields. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -63 as amended with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote, 6-0. 4. Amy Deering — 2015 -OR -64 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriations (Public Hearing for December 7th 2015) City Controller Amy Deering presented Ordinance 2015 -OR -64. The additional $21,000 is for the Aquatic Center. Additionally after meeting with Planning and Zoning Director Shane Corbin an additional appropriation amount of $15,000.00 needs to be added under appropriation number 229-009-439.031. This is coming out of the Unsafe Building Fund. One is a burnout building and one is the Masonic Building. There is currently $98,000 in this fund. Councilperson Sellers asked who owned these properties and if the City was going to be reimbursed for the cost of demolition. 3 New Hope Services owns these buildings. Councilperson Sellers stated that usually this falls on the shoulders of the owner. Normally we don't go in and pay for something just because someone can't pay for it. Councilperson Samuel made a motion to APPROVE Ordinance 2015 -OR -64 adding appropriation number 229-009-439.031 with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 6-0. CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY REPORT: Noting at this time. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORT: Noting at this time. PUBLIC COMMENT: Mr. Bill Krammes from Eastern Cemetery in Jeffersonville was the only person signed up to speak. He is currently the only living member of the Board of Trustees (all of the others are deceased) and he is trying to spread the word for people to join the Board of Trustees. The amount of time he is dedicating to this is becoming overwhelming and he is looking for additional member. If anyone is interested they can contact him at 812-903-0074 for additional information. He is currently working to try and get notification in the paper as well. COUNCIL COMMENT: Councilperson Smith: Not present. Councilperson Zastawny: Not present. Councilperson Wadsworth: Nothing at this time. Councilperson Sellers: Nothing at this time. Councilperson Julius: Not present. Councilperson Owen: Would like to acknowledge the guests, Former Councilperson Zach Payne, and newly elected Council Scott Hawkins, Josh Rodriguez and Callie Jahn. Welcome. Councilperson Samuel: Apologies for running slightly late, as I was attending a meeting for the Public Arts Committee (planning for next year) and will be returning to the meeting after the Council Meeting adjourns. There will be some exciting things for next year. Council President Gill: Welcome to our new members come January 1. I have had several discussions with the Mayor, he was requesting a certain amount but I do not want to publicly disclose what he was asking. I would like to publically thank Mayor Orem (currently serving on the Sewer Board) in the back, we have a lot of decisions to make here and I encourage everyone to become educated especially about EPA mandates. There is a lot of hard work that goes into this and I thank you all for your efforts and time. 4 ADJOURNMENT: Council President Gill asked for a motion to adjourn, made by Councilperson Owen and seconded by Councilperson Samuel. Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM. APPROVED BY: Lisa G ATTEST: Vicki Conlin, Clerk Resident 5