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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDECEMBER 7, 2015COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA DECEMBER 7, 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, December 7, 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 and that we pause for a moment to remember Pearl Harbor. Councilperson Samuel gave the Invocation and Council President Gill asked those in attendance to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll call was conducted and those present were: Councilperson Smith, Councilperson Zastawny, Councilperson Wadsworth, Councilperson Sellers, Councilperson Webb, Council President Gill, Councilperson Julius, Councilperson Owen, and Councilperson Samuel. All members of the Council are in attendance. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: Minutes from the Regular Council Proceedings November 16, 2015- Councilperson Zastawny stated after looking over the minutes under Unfinished Business item 1 (2015 -OR -61) he saw a motion to deny but he did not see a noted second or a vote tally and that both would need to be added to the minutes. He saw later in the notes where City Attorney Les Merkley stated if there was no action taken on 2015 -OR -61 then it would be adopted as approved so we need to make sure that we not it did not get approved by the second and the vote. CORRECTION TO NOVEMBER 17, 2015 MINUTES: 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. Additionally under the New Business item 2 (2015 -OR -62) he saw it stated the Mayor's salary was set at $64,000 and he knew that was not the actual salary of the Mayor. Please add clarification that this is the amount taken out of the General Fund and not the entire salary. With the amended changes Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the minutes with Councilperson seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-0-1 with Councilperson Julius abstaining stating he would abstain due to being absent from the November 16, 2015 proceedings. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: 1 Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the agenda with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: GENERAL - $1,322,373.87 City Controller Deering presented the Claims in the amount of $1,322,373.87. Councilperson Samuel noted that there is $1400 in donations just to Jeffersonville High School. There is $500 to the Basketball Team, $200 to the Swim Team, $450 to the Theater, and $250 to the Cheerleading Squad. "We have been criticized for reducing the budget, the intent is not to just support one school, and it is to support multiple schools. Just wanted to make note of that. " Councilperson Samuel stated we are also spending $500 on two churches. Councilperson Sellers stated she had planned on speaking on that so Councilperson Samuel stated he would not and would go to his next item. Councilperson Samuel stated the claims show we are renting a church venue on page 7. We are spending $860.00 to rent out a hall for the Christmas Party even though we have always had that at a City Building. Not that this is not allowed just unsure as to why we are starting that this year. Council President Gill stated this fee is for a 7 -hour rental and the $300 cleanup fee is included in this amount. Councilperson Samuel stated under Riverstage we are paying $700 for cleanup to HamHed, LLC. This used to be completed by the Parks Department and again, not sure why we are subbing that out now and there may be a very good reason for that. On page 2 and 14 there is a claim for Word Systems- on page 2 under the Police Claims there is one for the amount of $8542 and then on page 14 under the LOIT Fund there are two claims one in the amount of $6000 and the second for $6700 so in total we have three claims totaling $21242. What is the Word System and why is it being broken up like that? City Controller Deering stated she was not exactly sure what the Word System was but she assumed it was broken up in the manner it is due to budget constraints. Councilperson Sellers asked her to find out what it was for. Councilperson Sellers stated she noticed the two claims for $250 for the two churches (totaling $500.00) on Friday when she and Council President Gill were going through claims. Councilperson Sellers stated she called City Attorney Les Merkley and asked what these were for because we could not just do donations to churches and City Attorney Merkley stated it was just for the end of the year because there was money left over to donate. Councilperson Sellers then contacted Council Attorney Scott Lewis and questioned if that should be allowed. Councilperson Sellers stated she has some constituents are not religious people and would not want their tax dollars going to a church. However today just before the meeting Mr. Lewis approached Councilperson Sellers and informed her that these "donations" are actually going the be covering the speakers for the swearing in ceremony that is going to be taking place this year and covers all of the elected officials that are to be sworn in. Councilperson Sellers stated she still thinks that this should come from campaign funds or the Democratic Party pay half and then the Republican Party pay half and not from the City funds. President Gill stated- And on Friday we did contact our Council who recommended that we pull these claims. Attorney Lewis commented - On Friday and that was based on the information that these were strictly donations. Just this afternoon Mr. Merkley contacted me and informed me the donation is really to cover the speakers and based on that if that is true then I think this can be allowed. Councilperson Sellers stated- It could be but I still think that is a political function and never before have we gone through the City to fund a political function. Corporate Council Merkley commented - Political parties are not putting this on, it is being sponsored and put on by the Mayor's Office and is a bipartisan event to include all incoming elected officials. 2 Councilperson Sellers stated - I still don't agree with it and another this is I'm not sure how long they are planning on speaking but that is pretty large per diem. Normally they speak for 30 minutes a -piece. That's my thoughts on it; it should be sponsored by the parties. Councilperson Owen stated - I can see where that would come from because that's how it's always been done, but it is a required function to hold office to be sworn in and it is a bipartisan event and if you think of other units of government, the Governor the state of Kentucky is going to pay for the Governor to be sworn in tomorrow and that is going to be tens of thousands of dollars paid for by taxpayers. I am not giving an opinion one way or another but that's just an example that this is done. Councilperson Sellers stated - On Friday I was told that this was just a donation and now I am being told that this is for the swearing in ceremony. President Gill commented - And according to the claim, it does not state that on the claim, we need to be very specific that that is stated on the claim for State Board of Accounts. Councilperson Sellers stated - And if that is really what it is for it should have been known at that time. Corporate Counsel Merkley - I just think the Mayor was trying to get off on a good foot with the Council by including all of the members of the Council and the Clerk. I'm sure I could look through the last 4 years of Claims and find some that the Council approved that the taxpayers would question as well. Councilperson Owen stated one of the other things that Councilperson Samuel mentioned was for paying for a venue for the Christmas Party and the reason for that this year is there was a sense that it was a little bit of a burden to the Street Department for everyone who works for the City to come to their facility. There is a lot of work in that, setting up and transporting tables and chairs, and cleaning up and breaking down afterwards. This is clean and ready for the party, includes cleaning up after the party, and is just going to be much easier and more enjoyable for all of the employees to have it off site. Human Resources Director Kim Calabro was present and stated the main reason it was decided to have the function off site was because this is supposed to be an employee appreciation event and it seemed like some of the employees were not being as appreciated because they were having to set up and break down and clean up after the party and really don't have time to enjoy it. The budget was $10,000 and even after renting this and including the clean-up fee we are still under budget. Councilperson Samuel stated he wasn't against having it offsite he just wasn't sure why it changed this year. Councilperson Owen stated if there was nothing else he made a motion to APPROVE the Claims with Councilperson Zastawny seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-2 with Councilperson Zastawny, Councilperson Wadsworth, Councilperson Webb, Council President Gill, Councilperson Julius, Councilperson Owen, and Councilperson Samuel voting for and Councilperson Smith and Councilperson Sellers voting against. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Nothing at this time. AGENDA ITMES: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. 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 (Passed on 1St reading 11/16/15). As Samuel mentioned just a moment ago, he did make a motion for the Mayor's salary to move from $69,000 to $74,000 out of the General Fund, no changes under the Sewer Fund for the Mayor's salary. The other changes remain as discussed last month the 3 same from last month, City Court Judge is eliminated, Council will go from $13,000 to $15,000, and Council President will go from $15,000 to $17,000. President Gill commented - Just to make a comment by state statute we have to do this by each election cycle and it may look like we are voting on raises but the approach I am taking is by looking at other Class two cities with similar populations and comparing the salaries such as Greenwood, Lawrence, Elkhart, Anderson, and New Albany and we just tried to go with the average and this is the most fair way I can think of to do it. Councilperson Sellers - Also the salaries do not increase every year. Councilperson Zastawny made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -62 on the second and third (final) reading with Councilperson Sellers seconding, PASSING on a vote, 7-0-2 with Councilperson Webb and Councilperson Samuel abstaining from the vote. 2. Amy Deering — 2015 -OR -63 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds with in the Same Department (Passed on 1St and 2nd reading 11/16/15) City Controller Amy Deering presented 2015 -OR -63. This is on the third and final reading, there were a few changes since the last meeting but this is all within the budget. Councilperson Sellers made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -63 on the third and final reading with Councilperson Julius seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. 3. Amy Deering — PUBLIC HEARING - 2015 -OR -64 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriations (Passed on 1St and 2nd reading 11/16/15) City Controller Amy Deering presented 2015 -OR -64. There are no changes from the last meeting and this is scheduled for a Public Hearing. Council President Gill opened the Public Hearing at 7:26 PM and as no members of the community came forward to speak For or Against the matter the Public Hearing was closed. Councilperson Zastawny made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -64 on the third and final reading with Councilperson Samuel seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Rachele Cummins — PUBLIC HEARING 2015 -OR -65 Ordinance Granting Petition to Vacate a Public Way in the City of Jeffersonville (Block 144 RHN Clark Memorial Hospital, LLC) Ms. Cummins stated she had come before the Council on a number of these in August and this one was inadvertently left out. This pertains to a portion that used to be part of Illinois Ave. Council President Gill opened the Public Hearing at 7:28 and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the Public Hearing was closed. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE 2015 -OR -65 with Councilperson Webb seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. 2. Kelly Hoffman — Revolving Loan Request City Attorney Les Merkley presented this request. Certain loans have to be approved by the City Council in when approved by the committee. The Loan Committee is recommending a loan for $50,000 for a 5 -year term to a company (Medoria) which is a 4 technology company who is looking to relocate from Louisville to Jeffersonville, Indiana. Mr. Andrew Aebersold was present and stated currently they have 16 employees but are looking to grow that number to upward of 50 employees They are excited to relocate to Jeffersonville and they offer a variety of jobs. Some of their employees currently live in the area and a few others are considering relocating to the area. Council President Gill stated she had reviewed the Loan Application and it was in order. Councilperson Smith state he had seen some of the construction and it looked like good quality, he has had lots of conversations regarding this and thinks it is an excellent fit and supports project. Councilperson Owen just wanted to welcome company to Jeffersonville. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the Revolving Loan Request with Councilperson Smith seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY REPORT: Noting at this time. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORT: Noting at this time. PUBLIC COMMENT: COUNCIL COMMENT: Councilperson Smith: Just recently, we had our last 911 Consolidation meeting. Last year we presented a pretty conservative budget, it has remained spot on, and overall the budget worked very well. There is talk of starting to hire an additional dispatcher in 2016. The only current problem is with New World (the whole County uses this system now) as they are not holding up their part of the contract. Therefore, a small portion of payment will be withheld until the issue is resolve and there is a letter being drafted to them in regards to the dissatisfaction. Before next Council meeting, we will work on having a group picture taken for the current City Council. Councilperson Zastawny: There is a Parks Authority Meeting before our next City Council Meeting. That will be an important meeting as all the bids will be in on December 18 by 2 PM. We currently have a football team practicing on the field since their field is flooded and they are paying to do so. Councilperson Wadsworth: Nothing at this time. Councilperson Sellers: Nothing at this time. Councilperson Julius: Nothing at this time. Councilperson Owen: Assistant Chief McVoy was recognized recently for stopping a burglary in progress at KFC. Our Police Officers act on things all of the time no matter what they are doing 5 MINUTES COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR PROCEEDINGS DECEMBER 7, 2015 or where they are. Congratulations on the Loan Request earlier tonight being approved. Also just to make sure everyone on the Council is aware Mr. Corbin and Ms. Hoffman will be leaving City Employment and going elsewhere. They both have been a great contribution to the City. Councilperson Samuel: Pause for a Cause was a great event and raised enough money for the vests for the Police Dogs, however I was asked why couldn't the City have paid for the vests and I don't want people to think that we were not willing to do so. All the Chief has to do is come before the Council with the needs of the department and we will do our best to deliver. In addition, the Bridge Ceremony was a great opportunity and event. Jeffersonville did a great job contributing to that. Council President Gill: Just to let everyone know, Allison Lane is being repaved. Because it is such a staple to handling school traffic, it will be done in the evening time (hopefully completed around Thursday of this week). ADJOURNMENT: Council President Gill asked for a motion to adjourn, made by Councilperson Owen and seconded by Councilperson Smith. Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM. APPROVED BY: ATTEST: Vicki Conlin, Clerk isa Gild, President 6