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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-03-02COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA September 3, 2002 The Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana met in regular session in the Multi-Purpose Meeting Room in the City-County Building, Jeffersonville, Indiana, at 7:30 P.M. on the 3rd day of September, 2002. Council President Denny Frantz called the meeting to order with Clerk Treasurer Peggy Wilder at the desk. Also present was Deputy Clerk Barbara Hollis. President Frantz welcomed all in attendance, asking all those present to stand as Councilperson Ron Grooms gave the invocation. President Frantz then asked all those present to join him in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. The roll was called and those present were, Councilpersons Ron Ellis, Les Merkley, Denny Frantz, Rob Waiz, Barbara Wilson, and Ron Grooms. Absent: Councilperson Vicki Conlin. It was noted Councilperson Conlin's brother is ill. Councilperson Grooms requests Agenda Item #10 be removed, requesting this be placed back on the agenda for the first regular meeting following passage of the budget. Councilperson Merkley then made the motion to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Councilperson Waiz, passing on a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented the minutes of the meeting of August 19, 2002 for consideration by the Council. Councilperson Waiz made the motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Councilperson Wilson. Councilperson Grooms questioned the number of gallons of fuel needed each week noted on page 7. Following discussion, Councilperson Wilson withdrew her second and Councilperson Waiz withdrew his motion. The amount will be checked and the minutes presented at the next meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT: Ms Barbara Anderson asked where is Jeffersonville headed as a community, saying she is disappointed in the "fight for control" that is being portrayed in the media. September 3, 2002 2 She is disappointed there is opposition to a new City Hall. She is further disappointed the salary ordinance reflects no raise for City Attorney Galligan and eliminates the position held by Dustin White. She would like the Council to sit back and consider how to work with Mayor Galligan. Ms. Anderson also noted the funding and hours of talk about animals with nothing for people. She feels the City should give the Animal Shelter to the County Commissioners and let them run it. Ms. Anderson said there are those in the community that feel a new slate of elected officials is needed, starting at the top. Citizens should not have to worry about what they say. She has asked some Councilpersons to call and they have not. A 2-way street is needed. Councilperson Waiz noted he does return Ms. Anderson's calls. Ms. Peggy Hardaway appeared before the Council saying she resides beside the proposed City Hall property. She stated she visited 25 homes in her neighborhood and received 11 signatures on a petition against the proposed City Hall location. She found only 2 in favor and 13 were not home. She requests the Council vote against the proposed location. AGENDA ITEMS: Councilperson Ellis made the motion to table Ordinance No. 2002-OR-20, An Ordinance Establishing An Animal Control Authority to allow time for review by an attorney, seconded by Councilperson Waiz, passing on a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. Councilperson Ellis then made the motion to retain Attorney Jack Vissing to review the ordinance at a rate of $70 per hour, seconded by Councilperson Merkley, passing on a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. Clerk Treasurer Wilder presented Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26, Ordinance Of Appropriations And Tax Rates. Councilperson Grooms made the motion to remove Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26 from the table, seconded by Councilperson Merkley, passing on a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. Councilperson Grooms made the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26 as presented in the Council packet, seconded by Councilperson Merkley, passing on a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. Councilperson Waiz then made the motion to pass 2002-OR-26 as amended on the first reading, seconded by Councilperson Wilson. Councilperson Grooms explained this reflects an increase to the maximum levy to fund in increase of 1.4 September 3, 2002 3 million dollars. Not all increases requested by the Mayor are in this budget, some are. Councilperson Merkley explained this is the first reading and may not be the final tax rate. Councilperson Waiz noted the increases are in hospitalization, fuel, landfill, pool bond, pool employees, pool supplies and utilities. Ms. Anderson asked what impact this will have on homeowners. Clerk Treasurer Wilder explained, due to the recent legislative changes in property assessment, it is not possible to say. Councilperson Grooms noted the budget Mayor Galligan proposed was 1 million dollars over the amount that can be raised. The Council has tried to provide basic services. This is the first time in Councilperson Grooms experience of 10 budgets the City has had to go to the maximum levy. Mr. Ken Ogden said he had read the Aquatic Center employs 70 and this seems excessive and needs to be looked at. Councitperson Merkley reviewed the changes in the formula for the tax rate saying the increase is 19%. Councilperson Grooms noted about $400,000 of the increase goes to the Aquatic Center. He also noted the Council is not finished yet. The motion to pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-26 as amended passed on the first reading by a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. Ordinance No. 2002-OR-27, An Ordinance Fixing Basic Salaries Of Appointed Officers And Employees Of The City Of Jeffersonville, Indiana For The Year 2003, as tabled, was presented. There being no action, Ordinance 2002-OR-27 dies. Clerk Treasurer Wilder explained Ordinance 2002-OR-29, An Ordinance Fixing Basic Salaries Of Appointed Officers And Employees Of The City Of Jeffersonville, Indiana For The Year 2002 (Revised 9-3-02). Councilperson Grooms made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-29 on the first reading, seconded by Councilperson Wilson. Councilperson Grooms noted the Ordinance contains an approximate 3.5% increase consistent with the Police and Fire contracts. The motion to pass Ordinance No. 2002- OR-29 on the first reading passed by a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. Councilperson Waiz made the motion to pass Ordinance No. 2002-OR-28, An Ordinance Transferring Certain Funds With Same Department (Cumulative Capital Improvement - Fuel) on the second and third readings, seconded by Councilperson Merkley, passing on a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. September 3, 2002 4 Councitperson Merkley read aloud Resolution No. 2002-R-27, A Resolution Opposing Funding And Construction Of New City Hall. Councilperson Merkley stated he is in support of a new City Hall as he did vote to move out of the City-County Building. His opinion now is with the budget at the maximum levy it cannot be afforded at this time. The plan is for a 58,000 sq. ft. building at a cost of 5.8 million dollars to construct. The Aquatic Center bond payment now is at $343,000. Councilperson Merkley noted incidental expenses over the "rocks and mortar". Councilperson Merkley then made the motion to pass Resolution No. 2002-R-28, seconded by Councilperson Ellis. Councilperson Grooms made the motion to amend Resolution 2002-R-27 to add "now held by the Department of Redevelopment" following the work proceeds in the first sentence of the last "It Is Further Resolved" paragraph, seconded by Councilperson Merkley, passing on a vote of 5-0-1. Council President Frantz did not vote. Councilperson Grooms noted the City is now paying about $10 a square foot that includes parking, maintenance, and utilities. This is a good opportunity here for affordable space. Councilperson Grooms also noted the bond market rates are good now and one would think this is a good time, however it is difficult now to approve this type of funding. He would love to see a new City Hail, it seems fiscally irresponsible. COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS: There were no comments. There being no further business to come before the Council the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M. T~~~~,~ HOMAS R. GALLIGANt M/A¥OK ATTEST: PEGGY WILDER, CLERK AND TREASURER