NEW WHITELAND TOWN COUNCIL

OCTOBER 3, 2006

MEETING MINUTES

 

Town Council President John Perrin opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the pledge to the American flag. Council members present were Joe Noonan, Scott Alspach, Don Harris and Terry Spencer.   Also present were Attorney J. Lee Robbins, Clerk-Treasurer Maribeth Alspach along with Department Heads Mary Facemire, Ed Stephenson, Brian Hedrick, Assistant Supt. Jim Wilkerson and Office Manager Cindy Yates.  Public Works Supt. Jim Lasiter was absent.  Councilman Noonan offered the opening prayer. 

 

MINUTES

Member Spencer moves to approve the minutes of the September 19th meeting.  Motion seconded by Councilman Noonan.  Vote 4 affirmative and 1 abstention.  Member Harris abstains.

Member Noonan moves to approve the minutes of the September 22nd Executive Session.  Motion seconded by Councilman Alspach.  Vote 5 affirmative.

Member Alspach moves to approve the minutes of the September 27th Executive Session.  Motion seconded by Councilman Spencer.  Vote 4 affirmative and 1 abstention.  Member Harris abstains.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Phone System Upgrade

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach states that the questions raised at the last meeting concerning the Police and Fire Departments have been answered.  The new system will be compatible with the existing 911 system and the computers at the Fire Department can be upgraded to work with the DSL line.  President Perrin and Councilman Harris both state that due to the budget reductions they are both opposed to upgrading the phone system.   President Perrin asks how long the quote is good.  Patti Collins of Embarq states 30 days but she can maybe get an extension.  Many of the rebates included in the proposal expire before the end of the year.  Perrin asks if any other agency has the proposed system that we could look at.  Collins offers to schedule a demonstration of the proposed equipment.  Councilmen Perrin and Harris will contact her to schedule a time.  Councilman Spencer asks if Collins could provide a list of references with the same system that we could contact.  Ms. Collins states she can provide reference information.  President Perrin thanks Patti Collins for her work on putting together this proposal and for attending tonight’s meeting.

 

Waste Removal Contract Specifications

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach has distributed copies of the documents and made some revisions that were recommended by Councilman Noonan.  Alspach identifies those changes.  Council approves the documents and directs Clerk-Treasurer Alspach to place the necessary legal advertisements.

 

Food Pantry

Council approves participating in the Weekly Promise Campaign for the Food Pantry.  Clerk-Treasurer Alspach will contact the Food Pantry and commit to a week in November.  The Town Hall will be the designated collection point.

 

Polling Place

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach states that County Clerk, Jill Jackson was in the office and is recommending moving two (2) of the precincts back to the Assembly Hall for the November Election.  Alspach has checked with Parks Director Facemire and the room is available on November 7th.  Council authorizes use of the building as a polling place.

 

Meter Deposits

President Perrin asks if the new meter deposit policy needs to be clarified for people moving within town and/or transferring their service.  Perrin asks if those residents should have to pay the additional $50.00 (increased) deposit.  Perrin suggests possibly allowing those people to keep their original deposit and not require them to pay the new deposit amount.  Office Manager Yates states that would

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be difficult to track in our computer system.  Councilman Alspach states he feels this would create too much work and confusion in the office. 

 

Fire Engine Purchase

Fire Chief Hedrick states that he met with representatives of National Bank of Indianapolis today.  Hedrick has been researching used fire trucks; he has found 8 but there are only 2 still available.  Hedrick states we need to have funding in place before we find a truck as they move very quickly.  Hedrick is looking at a $350,000.00 loan to purchase the used truck, equipment and fund the station expansion.  There is currently $129,282.28 in the Cum Fire Fund.  Hedrick states that if we put $70,000.00 down the loan payments would be $21,000.00 per year which could be paid from the Cum Fire Fund revenues collected annually. This proposal would lock up the Cum Fire Fund for the next 20 years.  Hedrick adds there is a truck in New York that will be available in November.  The engine has 26,000 miles on it and less than 2,000 hours on the pump.  This is a 1994 Simon Duplex-Salsbury and lists for around $150,000.00.  There is also a truck in Texas, a 1998 Pierce listed at $160,000.00 but it has 60,000 miles on it.  Councilman Harris asks about maintenance issues on used trucks?  Hedrick states the truck has been used for heavy rescue.  It has a shorter wheel base.  He has spoken to 2 dealers/reps who can service the vehicle if needed.  Hedrick will supply council with details and pictures by the end of the week.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Skateboard Park

Robert Eddy and Corbin Combs present a request for a Skateboard Park.  They provide a conceptual sketch of the proposed park and have researched specifications and equipment with Play World, Inc.  Eddy states that while other sports are showing a decline in participation, skateboarding has increased.  Eddy and Combs are requesting that the single court basketball pad in the East Park be converted to a Skateboard Park.  They will find donors for concrete, ramps, tables and equipment.  They are asking the Town to donate the land and provide lighting, signage, and fencing and provide ongoing maintenance of the facility.  Eddy notes that lighting and fencing are not required but would be a good idea for security.  Councilman Spencer asks if Greenwood’s facility is all concrete.  Councilman Harris states it has some wooden ramps and speed bumps.  Spencer feels wooden ramps would become a maintenance issue for the Public Works Department.  Robert Eddy states they are recommending ramps made from skate lite material that doesn’t break.  Council directs Clerk-Treasurer to contact our insurance carrier to get more information.

 

Resolution

Attorney Robbins distributes copies of a prepared resolution regarding Marshal Stephenson’s recommendation to dismiss Officer Stokes.  Attorney Robbins reads the resolution in its entirety. Attorney Robbins explains to the Council that Police Chiefs/ Town Marshals, under Indiana State Statute, have the authority to dismiss a deputy and that the purpose of the resolution was to acknowledge that Marshal Stephenson, in his discretion, is authorized to dismiss Officer Stokes and  to ensure that Officer Stokes, if dismissed, be informed of his rights under the law.  Councilman Harris moves to adopt the resolution and is seconded by Councilman Spencer.  A gentleman identifying himself as Mike Auger asks to speak.  President Perrin informs him that there is a motion and a second on the floor and that he will not be taking public comment.  Vote 5 affirmative.

 

Street Name Change

Councilman Spencer states he has been approached by the Proctor family asking that a street in New Whiteland be named after their son who was killed in Iraq earlier this year.  After much discussion a

recommendation is made that naming a park after this young man might be better as it would not require address changes through the post office.  Spencer will report back to the Proctor’s.

 

 

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Police Personnel

Marshal Stephenson states that full time dispatcher; Chris Zufall has accepted a position with INDOT.  Crystal Hearne, a part time dispatcher, will be taking his full time position beginning October 18th.

 

LEGISLATIVE

Ordinance 2039

Clerk-Treasurer introduces the transfer ordinance on final reading.  Councilman Noonan moves to adopt the ordinance and is seconded by Councilman Harris.  Vote 5 affirmative.  

This item will be placed on the agenda for the October 3rd meeting.

 

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Steve Archer, 612 Melrose Drive, wants to file a complaint against the Town Marshal.  Mr. Archer makes reference to an incident on Friday, September 29th involving 3 children riding motorized bikes and quads on the sidewalk.  Archer states the Marshal was rude and frightened his children ages 13 and 5.  Archer states an officer had been called to the neighborhood on a similar complaint a month earlier and told his wife that there was nothing wrong with what the children were doing they were merely following up on a complaint made by an elderly neighbor.  Archer is upset because the motorized bike and the quad were impounded.  Archer wants an immediate termination and psychological evaluation of this officer.  Councilman Harris states that complaints need to be submitted in writing.  If Mr. Archer wants to file a formal complaint he may submit it to the office here at the Town Hall for the councilmember’s.

 

Michael Auger, Attorney representing Officer David Stokes asks about the Executive Sessions and the dismissal of his client.  President Perrin states no one has been dismissed.  Attorney Robbins advises Mr. Auger this is not a hearing and that there is nothing to discuss at this time.  Mr. Auger requests a hearing for his client. 

 

Being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

____________________________

Maribeth Alspach, Clerk- Treasurer

 

 

 

Approved: _____________________________  

                 John Perrin, President