Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 8, 2023 City Council COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA November 8, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met for the Regular Meeting on November 8, 2023. Council President Owen along with City Clerk Gill called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was open to the public in person as well as live streamed via the City Website using Zoom. INVOCATION: Councilperson Ellis led the Invocation. Pledge of Allegiance: ROLL CALL: The roll call was conducted by City Clerk Lisa Gill and present in Council Chambers were Councilperson White, Councilperson Burns, Councilperson Anderson, Councilperson Webb, Council Vice President Hawkins, Councilperson Ellis and Council President Owen. Councilperson Paris and Councilperson Croft were absent. Let the record reflect that 7 Council Members were present in Council Chambers and 2 were absent. APROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Minutes from the October 16, 2023 regular Meeting, seconded by Councilperson Webb, Councilperson Ellis abstained; motion passed, 6-0-1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed, 7-0. CLAIMS TO APPROVE: Civil City$1,939,008.51 Mrs. Metcalf advised the amount of the Civil City Claims was$1,939,008.51 and there were no changes. Councilperson Webb made a motion to approve the Civil City claims, seconded by Councilperson Burns; motion passed, 7-0. Parks$136,271.45 Mrs. Metcalf advised the amount of the Parks Claims was$136,271.45 and there were no changes. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve the Parks Claims, seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed, 7-0. REPORT OF THE CLERK: Nothing Reported UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-63 Ordinance of Transfer of Funds Within the Same Department Mrs. Metcalf advised this was tabled at the last meeting,there were no changes. Mr. Merkley advised that the additional money was for Riverstage. After going over the contract it was determined that there were two (2) contracts, the General Contract and the Riverstage Contract. The charges for Riverstage were determined by what events were scheduled, therefore the charges fluctuate. Mr. Merkley advised that there be a Cap set on next year's contract. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-OR-63 on the Second and third Reading, seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed, 6-1; Councilperson Ellis voted no. 2. Les Merkley 2023-OR-64 Ordinance Establishing Jeffersonville Animal Shelter Non-Reverting Fund Mr. Merkley advised this would establish a new Non-Reverting Fund for the Animal Shelter to be used for Building and Capital Improvements along with the Sprint Lease going to this fund. There were no changes since the last meeting. Councilperson Anderson made a motion to approve 2023-OR-64, seconded by Councilperson Burns; motion passed, 7-0. 3. Sarah Green 2023-OR-65 Ordinance Repealing Ordinance 1996-OR-14,An Ordinance Establishing a Non-Reverting Fund for the Jeffersonville-Clark County Animal Shelter and 1996-OR-98 an Ordinance Designating Funds for the Jeffersonville-Clark County Animal Shelter Building and Capital Improvement Non-Reverting Fund Council President Owen advised 2023-OR-65 goes along with 2023-OR-64. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-OR-65 on the Third and Final Reading, seconded by Councilperson Anderson; motion passed, 7-0. 4. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-66 Ordinance of Additional Appropriation (Public Hearing) Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Council President Owen opened the Public Hearing at 7:07 pm; Clerk Gill stated there were no comments sent to the Clerk's office.There were no members of the community present to speak for or against the matter. Council President Owen closed the Public Hearing at 7:08 pm. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-OR-66 on the Third and Final Reading, seconded by Councilperson Anderson, motion passed, 7-0. 5. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-67 Ordinance of Additional Appropriation (Public Hearing) Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Council President Owen opened the Public Hearing at 7:08 pm; Clerk Gill stated there were no comments sent to the Clerk's office.There were no members of the community present to speak for or against the matter. Council President Owen closed the Public Hearing at 7:08 pm. Councilperson Anderson made a motion to approve 2023-OR-67 on the Third and Final Reading, seconded by Councilperson Burns, motion passed, 7-0. 6. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-68 Ordinance of Transfer of Funds Within the Same Department Mrs. Metcalf advised there were no changes. Councilperson Anderson made a motion to approve 2023-OR-68 on the Third and Final Reading, seconded by Councilperson Burns, motion passed, 7-0. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Kim Calabro 2023-OR-69 Ordinance Amending 2023-OR-47 Fixing the Salaries of Appointed Officers and Employees for all Departments of the City of Jeffersonville Mrs. Calabro advised there were changes and additions to the Salary Ordinance and she will need to come back at the beginning of 2024 to amend these changes for the New Year. On page 8, a therapy dog was added and the handler will need to be compensated. Page 10, newly hired Police Officers Sign- On Bonus for new hires after they successfully completed 1 year of active service with the City of Jeffersonville. Every Officer will be required to sign an agreement. Council Vice President Hawkins made a motion to approve 2023-OR-69 on the First and Second Reading, seconded by Councilperson Webb, Councilperson Ellis voted no; motion passed, 6-1. 2. Les Merkley 2023-R-11 A Resolution Approving Interlocal Agreement Between The Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commission,The Common Council and The Greater Clark County School Corporation Mr. Merkley advised this Agreement between The Common Council and The Greater Clark County School Corporation was for$268,000.00 to help fund TV Broadcasting Program at Jeffersonville High School. Those Funds would come out of Inner City Road Falls Land Tiff District. This would include two (2)TV's to be placed in Johnson Arena. This would be in addition to the $50,000.00 that was agreed upon earlier this year. Redevelop Commission has approved this agreement. If approved tonight, this would go before the School Board next week. Projected date for completion would be February 2024. Mr. Merkley advised this equipment would be a great training tool for the students of Jeffersonville High School that plan to further their education in TV/Radio/Broadcasting. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-R-11, seconded by Councilperson Webb, Council Vice President Hawkins abstained; motion passed, 6-0-1. 3. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-70 Ordinance of Additional Appropriation Council President Owen advised that the next two (2) Ordinances were not related, however on the Transfer Ordinance there were several transfers for the Fire Department which shifts some Utility money into LIT fund so General Fund money can be transferred into Income Tax due to the Fire Department running short on overtime funds. Council President Owen advised that he had spoken with Mrs. Metcalf and does not feel that the Utility Appropriation should not be put into the Income Tax. Utility money has been taken from LIT during Covid, however he does not want that to become a precedence that the Utilities should be paid from Income Tax. Council President Owen made a motion to amend 2023-OR-70 to add $27,334.00 out of the General Fund for Fire Department Overtime on the First and Second Reading, seconded by Councilperson Burns; motion to amend 2023-OR-70 passed, 6-1, Councilperson Ellis voted no. Mrs. Metcalf advised the change was properly advertised. Councilperson Ellis advised that he has not been in favor of all of the Appropriations throughout the year and was not in favor of this one. JFD Deputy Chief Sharp advised they were trying to move funds around to keep from asking for an Additional Appropriation. Councilperson Burns made a motion to approve 2023-OR-70 as amended, seconded by Councilperson Webb; motion passed, 6-1,Councilperson Ellis voted no. 4. Heather Metcalf 2023-OR-71 Ordinance of Transfer of Funds Within the Same Department Council President Owen made a motion to amend to remove all transfers in regards to the Fire Department from 2023-OR-71, seconded by Councilperson Burns; motion passed, 6-1. Councilperson Ellis voted no. Councilperson Anderson made a motion to approve 2023-OR-71 as amended, seconded by Councilperson Webb, motion passed, 6-1. Councilperson Ellis voted no. ATTORNEY COMMENT: Larry Wilder—read a letter of resignation effective as of 12/31/2023. (See attached) Council President Owen thanked Mr. Wilder for his service, hopes the next Council will seek him out to represent them. Les Merkley—No Comment DEPARTMENT HEADS: Kim Calabro----received the final draft of the New Employee Handbook, waiting on Les Merkley to approve the changes,then would like to be brought before the Council on November 20, 2023. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None COUNCIL COMMENTS: • Councilperson White—No Comment • Councilperson Burns—No Comment • Councilperson Paris—Absent • Councilperson Anderson---No Comment • Councilperson Croft---Absent • Councilperson Webb—thanks to Larry Wilder for his services, hopes that the new Council will seek him out for future counsel. • Council Vice President Hawkins---appreciate Mr. Wilders service to the Council • Councilperson Ellis— He continues to be against additional appropriations and thanks to Mr. Wilder for his service. • Council President Owen—the council received an invitation from Parkview Theatre Department for Adventures of Peter Rabbit and Friends to be on October 27-28, 2023, however Council President Owen just received the mail today, sorry for the inconvenience. ADJOURNMENT: Councilperson Burns made the motion to ADJOURN the meeting at 7:29 p.m. APROVED BY: Matt Owen, President � ATTEST: Lisa Gill, Clerk Larry O. Wilder Attorney at Law 530 East Court Avenue Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130 Tx: 812.288.6820 Fax: 812.282.3188 Cell: 502.930.4152 Ern: larn-wilder@me.com To: Members of the Jeffersonville City Council Re: Resignation Gentlemen: When I was chosen to serve as attorney for the Jeffersonville City Council eight years ago I expressed a full understanding of the political nature of the job. It was then that I made it clear that I had no misapprehension that I served at the "will" of the client. Yesterday's election results established that in 2024 the "client" will be comprised of many new faces, and with new faces comes new ideas, new goals and new philosophies. I applaud change and believe that the new leaders of Jeffersonville should be given a clean slate to determine how and with whom they want to move forward. In an effort to ensure that the newly constituted Jeffersonville City Council has an unencumbered opportunity to choose its legal counsel, I humbly submit my resignation as effective December 31 , 2023. It has been an honor to serve this group of councilmembers. Thank you for your time, attention and reliance. I am, CC: Lisa Gill, Jeffersonville Clerk Michael Moore, Mayor 1