Loading...
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 Page 1 of 4 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: Page 2 of 4 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 Page 4 of 4 w 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