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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-23-1991COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE~ INDIANA NOVEMBER 23~ 1991 The regular session in Council Jeffersonville, Indiana, at 199!. x The meeting was Carter, with Deputy Clerk Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville met in Chambers in the City-County Buildings 9:30 A.M. on the 23rd day of Novembers called to order by Council President Jimmy Barbara Hollis at the deski Council President Carter asked ali those present to stand as Father Harold Knueven of St. Augustine Catholic Church gave the invocation. He than asked all those present to join him in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. The roll was called and those present were Councilpersons Jimmy Carter~ Marie Clapp, Ron Grooms~ Tony Harrod, John Perkins, Andrew Williams, and Robert Wa~z. Absent: None. Council President Carter presented the minutes of the meeting of November 4~ 1991 for consideration by the Council. Councilperson Waiz made the motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Councilperson Waiz and carried unanimously. Deputy Clerk Barbara Hollis presented the claim register for consideration by the Council. Following all discussion Councilperson Waiz made the motion to approve the claims as presented~ seconded by Councilperson Clapp and carried unanimously. Council President Carter introduced Mr. Tom Kimmell who invited the Council to participate in the tree lighting in Warder Park~ and the carroling to the dedication of the lights at Preservation Station Park. He also announced the annual Jeff-Clark Preservation Christmas Tour will be December 8, 1991. Jeff Clark Preserviation wishes to extend their appreciation to the City and the Council for their cooperation during their tenure, hoping the newcomers will be as cooperative. Council President Carter thanked Jeff Clark Preservation as well as Sunny Side Pride and Main Street for their contribution and hard work in Jeffersonville. PAGE 8 NOVEMBER 23~ 1991 Council President Carter introduced Mr. David Mosley~ Town of Utica Attorney~ who asked the Council for permission for Utica to annex Areas A, B, C~ and D as shown on a map he presented. He explained it is economically feasible to annex to extend the sewer system under a grant. He further explained the reasons for annexing each area. Mr. Mosley answered questions and City Engineer Scales explained there is an interlocal agreement between Jeffersonville and Utica for sewer service. Following all questions Councilperson Harrod made the motion to table this decision until the December 8, 1991 meeting, seconded by Councilperson Clapp~ and carried unanimously. Councilperson Clapp, as well as others stated they would like to tour the areas. Arrangements will be made for' this. Council President Carter introduced Resolution No. 91-R-34~ A Resolution Committing The City To Maintenance Of Court Avenue Traffic Islands. Councilperson Clapp asked if this was something City employees could do. It was explained this would be contracted with Walnut Ridge and the fee would provide for supplies~ as most of the labor will be donated. Following all discussion, Councilperson Perkins made the motion to pass Resolution No. 91-R-B~, seconded by Councilperson Harrod and carried unanimously. Councilperson Grooms introduced Mr. Fred Hale who approached the Council on behalf of Southern Indiana Economic Development Council. Mr. Hale explained the purpose is to bring new business and jobs to the area. He asks that the City of Jeffersonville become a member. Membership dues are $5,000 per year and would permit a Councilperson to be a representative on the SIEDCO Council. Mr. Hale justified the $5~000 by stating Apollo America recently paid $5~000 to Jeffersonville for Economic Development. Following further discussion, Councilperson Harrod made the motion to pass Resolution No. 91-R-35 A Resolution Supporting And Funding SIEDC, seconded by Councilperson Perkins and carried unanimously. Councilperson Clapp feels this is an excellent investment. there will be a public meeting, P.M. in the Jeffersonville High invitation for all to attend. Councilperson of the Bridge Committee, announced December 11~ 1991 starting at ?:00 School Auditorium. He extends an Waiz asked to be excused at 10:10 o'clock A.M. PAGE 3 NOVEMBER 83 1991 Councilperson Grooms to the Council regarding Councilperson Grooms explained introduced Ms. Sharon Hilton who spoke Indigent Health Care Coalition. the program Ms. Hilton will be speaking about will be located in the same building that his business is located in~ however he has no interest in and will not be supplying drugs to the program. Ms. Hilton then gave a brief history of how this program started. She explained this is a broad-baeed community effort to provide health care to those who "fall between the health-care cracks". She doctors and approximately Money is needed and she is the City, charity groups~ has received commitments from A3 area 100 nurses to volunteer their services. seeking financial support from the County~ and businesses. She asks the City to provide $5,000. Councilperson Perkins feels that as this is a County-wide program he feels it unfair for the taxpayers of Jeffersonville to have both the City and the County provide funding as the City behalf of Mayor Conference where community effort. taxpayers will be paying twice. Attorney Fifer~ speaking on Orem~ stated he had attended the Healthy Cities this program was commended as being a worth-while Councilperson Grooms made the motion to provide, by Clinic Inc., seconded by the concept, within the Council budget, $5,000 to Clark County Health Care subject to at least a $5~000 donation by Clark County, Councilperson Williams. Councilperson Williams supports however he has concerns regarding who will be able to use this service. Ms. Hilton asking for service will have to have no access to other services. carried unanimously. Councilperson Grooms called Are You O.K.?. Jasper, stated the rules will be stringent and those prove residency and also prove they Following all discussion the motion then introduced and explained a program Indiana has this program and has found it to be successful. The Town of Clarksviile also participates in this and the program has received praise from Police Chief Hall. The investment in equipment to put this in place should not exceed $?~000 and could be monitored by the Police Department, Fire Department, or Central Alarm. Councilperson Grooms asks the Council to look over the information he has provided. PAGE ~ NOVEMBER 23~ 1991 Councilperson Grooms also asks the Council to look over information he has provided regarding Jeffersonville City Court and take a position. He feels City Court should either be expanded to be made more meaningful, or be abolished. He does feel an efficiency audit is needed. He further explained the magistrate court system and how it works. City Court Judge Lindsey explained there is no City magistrate system available at this time, only a County magistrate system. He is comfortable with Jeffersonville City Court and is very proud of it. Judge Lindsey further stated he feels no need for the City to spend $2~0©© to $3,000 for an efficiency audit when he feels the results may be acquired simply by asking the County Prosecutor and local attorneys to fill out a questionnaire. Council President Carter introduced Ordinance No. 91-OR-6R~ An Ordinance Amending Certain Portions Of Section 1 Of Ordinance No. 91-0R-~4. He then introduced Agent of Record Pepper Cooper who explained he has appreciated working with a cooperative Council stating it has been a good decision to go to self-funding health insurance and it has worked. The prescription program, which the City is administecing~ is saving $15 per month~ per enrolled employee. Mr. Cooper volunteered to reduce his commission by $1,500 to help provide half of the $3~000 requested as many extra hours and travel have been required. It was asked if this additional administrative cost can be expected when going self-insured. Agent Cooper explained this is true and felt it was understood. Other insurance questions were discussed. Councilperson Perkins wonders if it would not be more feasible to hire another person in the Clerk and Treasurer's Office and allow Suzy to work the insurance full time. Councilperson Grooms would personally like to see the new Council make this decision. He will however support a motion to pay a one-time payment in 1991 of $1,500, if Agent Cooper will provide one-half. Councilperson Harrod will not support any more raises as he feels this should have been taken care of at budget time or at the time of implementation of self-insurance. Councilperson Grooms then made the motion to table until brought back by motion of Council, Ordinance No. 91-0R-6~, seconded by Councilperson Clapp. Councilperson Perkins is in favor of compensating that person that does do the insurance. Councilperson PAGE 5 NOVEMBER ~3~ 1991 Williams feels Suzy should by compensated for the work that she has done but he does not know the best way to do this fairly~ Councilperson Harrod stated as an example Vehicle Maintenance Director Wathen justified~ by savings in his department, a raise which was denied by the Countil and he does not feel it fair to do this as others have asked for raises and been told no. At the conclusion of all discussion the vote was called for and passed on a vote of 5-1 with Councilperson Perkins voting against. Council President Carter introduced Ordinance No. 91-0R-63~ An Ordinance Amending Certain Portions Of Section 1 Of Ordinance No. 90-0R-37. Councilperson Grooms~ as liason to the Parks Department explained this is not an additional person or additional money only a rearrangement within the budget. Ordinance No. 91-0R-64, An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds Within Same Department (Park) was introduced for discussion in conjunction with Ordinance No. 91-0R-63. Counncilperson Perkins inquired regarding the requested transfers for equipment saying this would have an impact on the 199~money. Following further discussion, CounciIperson Perkins made the motion to table Ordinance No. 91-0R-63~ and Ordinance No. 91-0R-64 until further explanations have been made, seconded by Councilperson Grooms, and carried unanimously. Council President Carter introduced Ordinance No. 91-0R-65, An Ordinance Establishing Longevity Pay For Elected Officials Of The City Of Jeffersonville, stating this was not "his" Ordinance as stated in the Evening News. The majority of the Council did not want to act on this as Clerk and Treasurer Spencer was not in attendance to explain it. Deputy Clerk Hollis explained this Ordinance has been discussed previously by Councilmembers*and Clerk and Treasurer Spencer was unable to attend this meeting due to previous plans and the regular meeting being rescheduled for this date. This Ordinance would have to be passed on one or two readings at this meeting in order to be published thirty days before the third reading at which could be lowered or defeated. Councilperson Perkins then motion to pass Ordinance No. 91-0R-65 on the first readings by Councilperson Grooms~ time it made the seconded failing on the following roll call vote; PAGE 6 NOVEMBER 83, 1991 Clapp. Ayes: Councilperson Perkins. Nays: Councilpersons Grooms~ Harrod, Car'ter~ Williams, and Councilperson Perkins made reference to recent articles in the Courier Journal and the Evening News regarding the redistricting of the County Commissioner Districts. It his is feeling that these districts should be single member districts with each district voting only for the Commisioner in that district rather than at-large. He would like input from others on their feelings toward single-member, equal population run only from your district Commissioners. Councilperson Harrod asked to be excused at 11:45 o'clock aJMI Attorney challenge of State Filer stated that it would require a change or Law to have the Commissioners elected by district voters. He suggests the Legislature be approached~ Attorney Filer made comments on monority dilution. Councilperson Grooms is irritated to read that the Commissioners are concerned about roads and miles and he does not recall during eight years on the Council the City receiving so much as a nickle from the County to maintain a street or a road. Councilperson Perkins followed this with the comment that it is ludicrious that the dog is being waged by the tail~ and the City needs to take a strong position and perhaps join with others in it. He then asked Attorney Filer to draft up something along these lines. Council President Carter called attention to Ordinance No. 86-0R-54, a noise Ordinance. The Police have answered many complaints regarding a band practicing in a residence on Park Place. Councilperson Perkins said the City needs to have decible meters and trained operators. Police Chief Rodden spoke regarding the problems involved. Council President Carter asks the Ordinance be amended from restricting the hours from 11:00 P.M. to ?:00 A.M., to from ?:00 P.M. to 9:00 A.M. by passage of Ordinance No. 91-0R-66. Councilperson Perkins then made the motion to suspend the rules for Ordinance No. 91-0R-66, seconded by Councilperson Grooms and carried unanimously. Council President Carter then made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 91-0R-66 on the first and second reading, seconded by Councilperson Clapp~ passing on a vote of 4-1. Councilperson Williams voted no, stating he feels 9:00 P.M. is too early for aspiring musicians. PAGE ? NOVEMBER 23, 1991 Councilperson Grooms thanked the Council for allo~ing the payment of $5,000 to the Economic Developemnt Commission and the $5~000 to Clark County Health Care Clinic Inc. Regarding City Court, Councilperson Grooms does not feel it is up to Jeffersonville City residents to continue to spend $85,000 a year to make the County Court system work better. Councilperson Perkins called attention to an article in the Police Chief Rodden and past Police Chief ATTEST: CLERK AND TREASL~ER C.~CHARD Evening Harrod tagged SPENCER JR. News regarding being responsible for missing money. These men have been unfairly as during construction complete walls were missing and many people had access to~ and were in and out of, the Department. He would like to go on record as saying both men have served, honorably, and professionaly, as Chiefs and there should never be any question about their honesty and integrity and it ho]ds well on them to stand up and say it was not their fault but they would pay the money back anyway. Councilperson Perkins feels they are only at fault for believing that others were as honest as they. They have been caught in a technicality and "it stinks". Attorney Filer stated it is the policy of the State Board of Accounts to account for the money and he questions why they did not have the State Police investigate and find the thief. The guilty are still out there and it is a shame. He asks that if the Council feels that strongly, they consider asking the money be returned to the individuals and the bonding company be made to pay. Councilperson Perkins asks Attorney Filer to draw something up and hopes the press picks up on the fact that the Council feels very strongly about the honesty and integrity of these two men. Council President Carter feels the same about the others in the Department. There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Perkins moved to adjourn at 12:05 o~clock P.M. seconded by Council President Carter and unanimously carried. MAYOR DALE OREM X ! ! / , /