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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC OCTOBER 21, 2019 COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA OCTOBER 21, 2019 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 October 21, 2019. President Ed Zastawny along with City Clerk Conlin called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Councilperson Ron Ellis gave the invocation. Council President Zastawny asked those in attendance to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL:The roll call was conducted and those present were Councilperson White, Councilperson Maples, Councilperson Paris, Council Vice President Gill, Councilperson Hawkins, Council President Zastawny, Councilperson Owen, Councilperson Ellis,Councilperson Samuel. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED: October 7, 2019 Regular Proceedings—Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE the minutes with Councilperson Samuel seconding, PASSING on a vote,9-0. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE the agenda with Councilperson Maples seconding, PASSING on a vote,9-0. CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED: City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the Civil Claims in the amount of$3,140,929.15. City Controller Metcalf stated all claims were in order. Councilperson Gill stated there is a 2 million dollar health insurance claim. She did not get that memo and she likes to get notified of those ahead of time. With the Credit Cards we have quite a few vendors that we should be using accounts with like Menards, Rural King,there are like five or six that we should be doing this with. Controller Metcalf said she will be sending out an email on this. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE the Claims with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. City Controller Heather Metcalf presented the Parks Claims in the amount of$62,137.53. Councilperson Gill asked if all claims were in order and Controller Metcalf stated they are. Councilperson Gill said there is one claim and it could be the Vendor, but it is for Tons of Fun and Party Central those were invoices from July and August. Councilperson Gill would like a reminder sent out to make sure we get those claims processed timely. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE the Parks claims with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0 REPORT OF THE CLERK: Nothing at this time. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Ed Zastawny/Kim Calabro—2019-OR-57 An Ordinance Amending 2019-OR-56 An Ordinance Fixing the Salaries of Appointed Officers and Employees for All the Departments for the Year 2020—Council President Zastawny said he had informed Human Resources Director Kim Calabro she didn't need to attend for this,the only change was for the error that was discovered during the last meeting. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-57 on the third and final reading with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. 1 2. Ed Zastawny/Heather Metcalf—2019-OR-58 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds within the Same Department—City Controller Heather Metcalf presented 2019-OR-58. The line for Steamboat Nights will be removed as it is no longer needed. That amount is$5,909.49. Councilperson Owen made a motion to AMEND with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. Councilperson Owen made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-58 as amended with Councilperson Gill seconding, PASSING on a vote, 9-0. 3. Ed Zastawny/Heather Metcalf-PUBLIC HEARIN 2019-OR-59 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriations (Fire Department)—City Controller Heather Metcalf presented 2019-OR-59. There have been no changes since the last meeting. Council Vice President Gill motioned to APPROVE 2019-OR-59 on the third and final reading with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote,8-1 with Councilperson ELLIS voting against. Council President Zastawny advised a Public Hearing needed to be held on this matter and it was opened at 7:10 PM and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the Public Hearing was closed. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-59 on the third and final reading with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote, 8-1 with Councilperson Ellis voting against the matter. 4. Ed Zastawny/Heather Metcalf-PUBLIC HEARING 2019-OR-60 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriations(Parks Department)—City Controller Heather Metcalf presented 2019-OR-60. There have been no changes since the last meeting. Council President Zastawny opened the Public Hearing at 7:10 PM and as no members of the community came forward to speak for or against the matter the Public Hearing was closed. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-60 on the third and final reading with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote,8-1 with Councilperson Ellis voting against the matter. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Ed Zastawny/Dustin White-2019-R-16 A Resolution of the Common Council of Jeffersonville Indiana Renewing and extending the Term of the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Zone— Councilperson White presented 2019-R-6. This would be for a 5 year extension for the JUEZ. Councilperson White listed all of the benefits of renewing the organization and asked that the Council consider going ahead and renewing the UEZ now. Peggy Hardaway—228 E. Market St.—She would like to thank Mr. White for the good words of the JUEA. It is a good organization. They have been under a little bit of a time constraint with a lot of issues going on right now. They are preparing a formal presentation for the Council and she is requesting that this be tabled so that they could do that under proper procedure within some stipulations that come along with this and those haven't even been discussed with their boards so she would request that this please be tabled until a future meeting. Nathan Pruitt—500 Quartermaster Ct.—He is the Executive Director of the Urban Enterprise Zone. Again,Councilperson White has highlighted an amazing amount of work that the JUEA has done and actually there's way more than what's been discussed already. They would like to give the full picture so they would like to present formally and just make sure that if there are any stipulations that they have a chance to review them within the ordinance. He doesn't think there any opposition to having some stipulations or communications that are set forth by a resolution but they want to be involved in that. Councilperson Hawkins asked when they were thinking for this presentation, it would not be this next meeting but the following meeting due to when the JUEA meets. 2 Rita Fleming—3209 Utica Pike—She is here as a citizen and a Board President of Jeffersonville Main Street. Downtown and the areas that are associated with this zone face increasing completion for dollars from restaurants, entertainment venues,those sorts of things and as we develop move complexes out 62 and more places to eat we have to continue to be supportive and creative with our areas in the downtown area and hopefully north of Court Avenue and this is the sort of funding that we really depend on. We would really appreciate you taking amore extended look at this. There was further discussion,the JUEA will be ready for the Council to look at when they present during the meeting. Councilperson Ellis said that he is the JUEA representative from the City Council. He said he received that position because there was some things that was going wrong with the JUEA that the members of the board did not see fit to continue. Councilperson White said he would like for this to be acted on now. This was done 5 years ago in May. Councilperson Hawkins made a motion to TABLE 2019-R-16 with Councilperson Gill seconding. A roll call vote was requested: Councilperson White—No Councilperson Paris—Yes Councilperson Maples—Yes Councilperson Gill—Yes Councilperson Hawkins-Yes Councilperson Owen—Yes Councilperson Samuel -Yes Councilperson Ellis—Yes Council President Zastawny—Yes Final vote, motion PASSED 8-1 with Councilperson White voting against the matter. 2. Ed Zastawny/Heather Metcalf—2019-OR-61 An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds within the Same Department—City Controller Heather Metcalf presented 2019-OR-61. She believes this is the last of the big transfers of the year. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-61 on the first and second reading with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote,9-0. 3. Ed Zastawny/Heather Metcalf-2019-OR-62 An Ordinance of Additional Appropriation—City Additional Appropriation—City Controller Heather Metcalf said that Vehicle Maintenance Director Michael O'Brien was here for any questions. Councilperson Gill asked Mr. O'Brien to explain what they discussed when she was going through claims. Mr.O'Brien said in this year's budget they did pay for a month and a half worth of fuel from last year so that was included and that is part of the shortfall. Councilperson Gill said they have been keeping in good communication,she has been keeping an eye on the fuel cost. Councilperson Gill said he wasn't at the meeting but she mentioned that there were several fuel claims that had fallen through the cracks. Mr.O'Brien wanted to give a heads up he would probably be coming again for another additional appropriation for fuel and discussed the reason for the need for the increased fuel is directly correlated to the amount of assets and the types of assets the City has. Councilperson Ellis said he will vote against like he does all additional appropriations. Councilperson Gill made a motion to APPROVE 2019-OR-62 on the first and second reading with Councilperson Owen seconding, PASSING on a vote,8-1 with Councilperson Ellis voting against the matter. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY Council Attorney Larry Wilder said not to forget High School Football on November 1st It will be New Albany vs.Jeffersonville. 3 PUBLIC COMMENTS: Deb Henderson—222 Meigs Ave.—She is here as the current chairperson of JNLA. She is here to address the remarks that were made at the October 7th City Council meeting by Dustin White about JNLA and by extension the integrity of her leadership. Mr. White expressed concern about JNLA's political activity while receiving tax dollars, particularly our partnership with the League of Women Voters for the recent candidates'forum. He shared a text with Councilperson Gill that supposedly would substantiate his claims. She reached out to Mrs. Gill for a copy of that text hoping that it would add some insight. It did not. Let's start with the money that JNLA. JNLA does not receive taxpayer dollars to operate. They do receive an appropriation from the City for one project which is National Night out. The purpose of National Night Out is to promote neighborhood safety and offer residents an opportunity to forge relationships with police and fire personnel. The next issue is that political activity is not synonymous with partisan activity. They IRS doesn't have a problem with promoting voter registration. Ms. Henderson said that Mr.White inflated the number of times she tried to reach her via phone. Ms. Henderson provided a copy of her statement to the Clerk for the public record. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: Nothing at this time. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilperson White—Thanked Ms. Henderson for her comments. He apologized for not knowing how many times she contacted him. Ms. Henderson herself has ran for office in the past and he believed that was an issue that needed to be addressed for the integrity of the taxpayers'dollars. Regarding the Resolution, he hopes the JUEA does get passed. There is still a need for this. Councilperson Paris—He attended the JNLA event and he really enjoyed it and he thought that everyone was treated very fairly and he is so thankful that they invited them and he appreciates that. Councilperson Maples—As an elected official we hold a professional standard and it is supposed to be pretty high while we are sitting at this table and he would like the standard to be held a little bit higher in the future and maybe with the next upcoming Council. Councilperson Gill—She believes she heard right that he said she made comments about certain projects, she does not recall that. She made comments saying that when she sees issues she does her due diligence and she can't find financial records or minutes or copies of agreements or whatever to make her sound decision and she has a problem with that and she doesn't want to move forward with that saying she will vote against the JUEA if that continues. She appreciates and supports everything JUEA does now and working with Peggy. Councilperson Hawkins—Red Devils vs Bulldogs next week will be a great game, be sure to come support Jeffersonville. Additionally JNLA, he had to leave early but they were understanding. He thought it was a great event and everyone got to introduce themselves and he thought it went very well. He also asked that Dr. Fleming stay so he could talk to her. Councilperson Owen—Just an announcement on a personal level, he got engaged this past weekend. He is very excited about that. Councilperson Ellis—There is nothing that he has said here tonight that was not the truth. 4 Councilperson Samuel—He appreciates having the firefighters here tonight with the Chief, along with Captain Moreland back there. Good to see you all here. Council PreOent Zastawny—Jeffersonville Art Commission has contracted with an individual to do a long rangeo look at what we have today and how we can make it better. That's been ongoing and there's going to be a presentation on November 8th that the Council will get an invitation to present some of those findings. Some things that may be discussed are Way Finding Signs, Maintenance costs, and Administrative costs. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson White made the motion to ADJOURN and the meeting adjourned at 8:04 P.M. A7VED BY: i /i_. , . Zastawny, P esident 7T: Vicki Conlin, Clerk 5