HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 4, 2020 City Council MinutesI
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
May 4,2020
The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session via teleconferencing on May
4, 2020.
Council President Owen along with City Clerk Gill called the virtual meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
The roll call was conducted by City Clerk Lisa Gill and those present were Council President Matt Owen,
Councilperson Steve Webb, Councilperson Donnie Croft; those members teleconferencing(Covid-19)were
Councilperson Dustin White,Councilperson Bill Burns,Councilperson Joe Paris(entered meeting at 7:10
p.m.),Council Vice President Scottie Maples,Councilperson Scott Hawkins, and Councilperson Ron Ellis—all 9
members present.
INVOCATION: Councilperson Ellis led us in prayer.
MINUTES TO BE APPROVED:
Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 20,2020 regular meeting with
Councilperson Webb seconding, roll call vote:
Councilperson White-yes
Councilperson Burns-yes
Council Vice President Maples—yes
Councilperson Croft-yes
Councilperson Webb-yes
Council President Owen -yes
Councilperson Hawkins—yes
Councilperson Ellis-yes
Motion passes 8-0
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Council Vice President Maples made the motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Councilperson Burns,
roll call vote:
Councilperson White-yes
Councilperson Burns-yes
Council Vice President Maples-yes
Councilperson Croft-yes
Councilperson Webb-yes
Council President Owen -yes
Councilperson Hawkins—yes
Councilperson Ellis-yes
Motion passes 8-0
CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED:
City Controller, Ms. Heather Metcalf presented the Civil City Claims in the amount of$486,869.94, no
changes. Council Vice President Maples made a motion to approve the Claims, seconded by Councilperson
Hawkins, roll call vote:
Councilperson White-yes
Councilperson Burns-yes
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Council Vice President Maples-yes
Councilperson Croft-yes
Councilperson Webb-yes
Council President Owen -yes
Councilperson Hawkins—yes
Councilperson Ellis-yes
Motion passes 8-0
City Controller, Ms. Metcalf presented the Parks'Claims in the amount of$70,577.21. Council Vice President
Maples made a motion to approve the claims with Councilperson Croft seconding, roll call vote:
Councilperson White-yes
Councilperson Burns-yes
Council Vice President Maples-yes
Councilperson Croft-yes
Councilperson Webb-yes
Council President Owen -yes
Councilperson Hawkins—yes
Councilperson Ellis-yes
Motion passes 8-0
REPORT OF THE CLERK: Nothing at this time
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS:
Heather Metcalf 2020-OR-23 Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds within the Same Department
Ms. Metcalf indicated the first item is$259.30 moving from Nachand Improvement Fund to Building
Materials fund. The second item is$1,000 in the Mayor contractual services to supplies. *Note*
Councilperson Paris joins the meeting 7:10 p.m. Council Vice President Maples made the motion for first and
second reading to approve the Ordinance,seconded by Councilperson Hawkins; roll call vote:
Councilperson White-yes
Councilperson Burns-yes
Councilperson Paris-yes
Council Vice President Maples-yes
Councilperson Croft-yes
Councilperson Webb-yes
Council President Owen -yes
Councilperson Hawkins—yes
Councilperson Ellis-yes
Motion passes 9-0
ATTORNEY COMMENTS:
Mr. Larry Wilder, Council Attorney—nothing at this time.
Mr. Les Merkley,City Attorney—nothing at this time.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
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COUNCIL COMMENTS:
• Councilperson White-thanked all the City workers for their hard work they have been doing during
this pandemic and - May the 4th be with you. Read the "Statement Regarding Catalyst Rescue
Mission". City Counsel, Mr. Merkley—City issued notice was sent to Catalyst advising tents were in
violation. City's position tents should be moved and advised fines would begin in 15 days or County
Health directly give order they remain for public health concerns. We received that order from Dr.
Yazel, Clark County Health Director,to remain for 14 days. Councilperson White-when was that
received? Mr. Merkley-minutes before meeting. Councilperson White-who requested the order?
Mr. Merkley-our position was they could be enforced and fined unless Dr.Yazel ordered that they
remain up. Councilperson White- last week they made the request to remain up. Mr. Merkley-if
the Health Department believed they remain up. Councilperson White—did someone from the City
reach out to them? Mr. Merkley-they were told the tents were not going to be allowed to remain,
they issued an Executive Order by Dr.Yazel.
• Councilperson Burns—things are opening up, reminder to keep up social distancing per the
Governor till July 4, if we don't listen I have no doubt he will go back on the plan, please practice
social distancing
• Councilperson Paris—no comment
• Council Vice President Maples—thank you to the continued work of City Workers
• Councilperson Croft—no comment
• Councilperson Webb—no comment
• Councilperson Hawkins—a question about the letter Councilperson White;your observation about
the boxes given out, if they contained tents? Councilperson White—no,two separate issues;the
person kicked out of Catalyst and I did not know if there was a relationship.
• Councilperson Ellis—applaud you Councilperson White for taking this position on Catalyst. Many
camps people are staying in leave the Catalyst and go to the Community Kitchen for lunch with no
social distancing. I talked with Dr.Yazel and he said tents would be removed. I would like the
Administration and Council President Owen, Councilperson Hawkins and myself,we all represent
Claysburg,we need to take an interest in this situation. Who is getting updates on virus deaths and
people that have got the virus in Jeffersonville. No one I know of that is weekly,daily or even
monthly know what is going on in our city. Is it possible for weekly updates: numbers caught virus;
in hospital and deaths? So we would all know. I get a number of calls about the virus and cannot tell
them anything.
• Council President Owen—speaking to Jeffersonville specifically the State, 334 cases and 16 death in
Clark County. I try to pay attention to State information and what they put out. Pastor Moon with
Catalyst reached out to me today; I understand that the tents were an immediate temporary need
for this unforeseeable problem for a shelter to the homeless until a permanent solution could be
devised. Some hotel rooms are now available for anyone who test positive for Covid, but one tent is
set up for screening for new folks until they could be deemed virus free. I understand how Claysburg
is concerned—no one in the tent or shelter has tested positive. I would not want this in my
neighborhood either regardless what purpose. All our agencies have to work together. I am happy
to try to mitigate this.
I sent out to the Council a document for some small business relief for businesses in Jeffersonville
that a few has worked on. I ask that you look over and communicate concerns or questions. Special
meeting at 5:30 p.m.this Wednesday we will consider those documents and also a proposal for the
Fire Union Contract; Mr.Wilder was sent the contract proposal.
Mr.White—Mr.Wilder will you look into the process how Council can get an open door request for
documents?
Page 3 of 4
Mr.Wilder—you as a citizen have a right to request anything you want related to government
communications and as a Council,as a body, ask question to investigate finances.
ADJOURNMENT:
Council Vice President Maples made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 7:35 p.m.
APPROVED BY:
* t� ,/
Matt O n, . esiden,
ATTEST:
Lisa Gill, Jerk
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Dustin T.White,LLM Licensed in Indiana
Attorney at Law
May 4, 2020
STATEMENT REGARDING CATALYST RESCUE MISSION, INC.
This Council approved $50,000, to Catalyst Rescue Mission, Inc., to care for those that,
for whatever reason, find themselves temporarily homeless. The approval of those taxpayer
dollars to care for those in need, demonstrated the City's commitment to care for those that have
fallen on hard times. Today, I am deeply troubled by some of my observations at Catalyst
Rescue Mission, Inc..
During the first weeks of April, a press conference was given by Catalyst Director, Paul
Stensrud and Catalyst President, Jim Moon, announcing the award of a State of Indiana grant
that would make Jeffersonville "ground zero" for fighting the Coronavirus for Southern
Indiana's homeless; including transporting symptomatic patients from 12 Indiana counties to
Claysburg. Although, said announcement has proven to be premature, it was a highly disturbing
revelation. Deservedly, the residents in the area were upset. Firstly, no one was included or
informed, from the neighborhood or the City of Jeffersonville, in the grant's preparation.
Secondly, to transport coronavirus symptomatic patients from 12 counties, to an area where the
population is disproportionately vulnerable to the virus and death, is outrageous.
As a result, area residents staged a protest at Catalyst Rescue Mission. It was during this
protest Director Paul Stensrud went live on Facebook. Throughout this video, one could hear
Director Paul Stensrud repeatedly making demeaning remarks regarding Jeffersonville's
taxpaying citizens. Those remarks are unbecoming of someone holding the title of Director and
a slap in the face to the protestors whose tax dollars were given to Catalyst earlier this year.
Later that night, Director Stensrud made the Facebook post"Have you ever had one of those
days, when you're holding a stick and everybody looks like a piñata?" When asked if he was
referring to the people of Claysburg, he responded that only I "could take something like this out
of context". When I asked him to put it into context, he was nonresponsive.
The Citizens of Jeffersonville deserve better and that is why I am demanding Paul
Stensrud be terminated as Director of Catalyst Rescue Mission, Inc.. I have given Catalyst
224 East Court Avenue, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130; 812-987-4257 /wlawpractice@aol.com
w
Dustin T.White, LLM Licensed in Indiana
Attorney at Law
sufficient time to do the right thing and as of today, I have not been informed of his termination.
This is why I am asking my fellow Councilmen to not give consideration to any future funding
requests from Catalyst unless Paul Stensrud is terminated within five (5) days. As far as I am
concerned, he is not welcomed in the City of Jeffersonville until he learns to respect its citizens.
The next matter of concern, to me, and my constituents are the tents in the parking lot
next to Catalyst. Let me first say this, no one in Jeffersonville should be sleeping in a tent unless
they are camping for recreation. The City of Jeffersonville has sent `notice' to Catalyst that its
tents need to be removed. Likewise, I am demanding Catalyst Rescue Mission take down the
tents it has erected in its parking lot. If it does not, I am requesting the Administration to enforce
our Zoning laws to ensure the tents come down as quickly as possible.
If Catalyst experiences a need to quarantine an existing resident or walk-in, it now has a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Red Carpet Inn to place those folks until they need
more serious treatment or are deemed free of the coronavirus. There are very few, if any, people
in the two remaining tents, so this will not be a large task. Alternatively, Park Memorial Church,
on Park Place, has a gym behind it with an industrial kitchen. Should there be a need, after the
tents come down, I suggest Park Memorial Church provide space in its gym, which has two
levels, for those who cannot find space at Catalyst. With Jim Moon as the Pastor of Park
Memorial Church, I am sure he will be able to arrange it.
Lastly, I have received reports of increased traffic by transients in Claysburg due to
Catalyst. In response, I made my own observations. Just yesterday, I observed nine (9) people
walk to Catalyst, retrieve something, and leave. I was able to determine two people went to a
wooded homeless camp next to the railroad tracks, one traded his box for money in front of
Spring Hill School, another gave her box away and three (3) went to the Housing Authority.
What is Catalyst giving away to people who do not reside there? Is Catalyst using the funds
received from the City of Jeffersonville to provide those things? Will Catalyst limit its foot
traffic to those seeking shelter due to falling on hard times? Is Catalyst giving out small tents for
people to use in the City like the one JPD removed last week behind Spring Hill School? I
224 East Court Avenue, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130; 812-987-4257 /wlawpractice@aol.com
w
Dustin T.White,LLM Licensed in Indiana
Attorney at Law
would like prompt answers to all these questions, preferably in written form to
dwhite@cityofj eff.net.
My comments are concluded.
/s/Dustin T. White, Esq.
Councilman-District 1
Cc:
Corporation Counsel
Council President
City Clerk
224 East Court Avenue, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130; 812-987-4257 /wlawpractice@aol.com