NEW WHITELAND TOWN COUNCIL

JULY 18, 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 Scott Alspach, Joe Noonan and Terry Spencer.   Also present were Clerk-Treasurer Maribeth Alspach along with Department Heads Mary Facemire, Ed Stephenson, Brian Hedrick, and Office Manager Cindy Yates and Assistant PW Supt. Jim Wilkerson Councilman Perrin offered the opening prayer.  Councilman Harris, PW Supt. Lasiter and Attorney Robbins were absent.

 

MINUTES

Member Spencer moves to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.  Motion seconded by Councilman Noonan.  Vote 4 affirmative.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Michael Dearing is not present to address the council.

 

Capitol Improvement Projects

Council President Perrin states that there has been discussion on many potential projects that are being considered.  During a meeting last week with our Financial Consultant, Jeff Birk, we were advised that a bond issue should only be considered as a last resort.  Funding available through the issuance of bonds should be kept in reserve for emergencies only.  Perrin recommends forming a committee to look at the proposed projects for the Fire Department.  Perrin will serve on the committee and asks Chief Hedrick to either serve on the committee or appoint someone from the Fire Department.  Chief Hedrick agrees to serve.  President Perrin will ask two residents to serve as well.  Perrin will schedule a meeting and coordinate it with Chief Hedrick.  Perrin states there is no reason for the council to meet until the results of the committee’s recommendations are available.

Councilman Spencer asks how many bonds the town currently has.  Clerk-Treasurer Alspach states we are still paying on the Tracy Road Project and will be until 2014.  We also have loans out that are being paid by both the Water and Sewer Utilities for the previous expansion projects.

 

C.P. Morgan Drainage Issues

Councilman Spencer asks if the repairs have been completed and if there have been any more flooding events?  Assistant Supt. Jim Wilkerson states things seem to be fine.  We have not had any large rain events recently though.

 

Condemnation Proceedings

Councilman Spencer states that at the last Plan Commission meeting Attorney Robbins was directed to send letters to the property owners of 461 Parkview and 125 Tracy Road advising that they had 30 days to bring the properties into compliance or the Town would take legal action.  Spencer adds the time should be up at the end of this month.  Discussion follows about Mr. McAfee being in his car at the 125 Tracy Road property.  There is concern that he may be living in his car on the property.  Marshal Stephenson will check on it and notify Adult Protective Services again if necessary.

 

Fire Department

Chief Hedrick states that Pace Engineering has a question regarding the prevailing wage language that needs to be used in their bid documents.  Hedrick states he will wait until the committee meets to respond.

Hedrick says that he sent memos to the council on June 19th and 28th with information on a new vehicle that could replace the Explorer.  Hedrick is asking permission to purchase the vehicle or for some direction from the council.  President Perrin states that he has some reservations due to the

 

Town Council

Page Two

July 18, 2006

 

increasing cost of gasoline.  Perrin recommends getting an estimate from Wood’s Auto Repair for the work needed on the Explorer.  Hedrick states it has an antifreeze leak and a front end problem, also

needs repair work on the emergency lighting.  Hedrick thinks it will cost around $2,000.00 to repair.  He will contact Wood’s for an estimate.

 

NEW BUSINESS

2007 Budget Hearings

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach states she has preliminary budget numbers from all of the Department Heads.  She will meet with DLGF on July 31st and should have some idea of what kind of cuts we need to make.  She would like to schedule the preliminary budget hearing to look at each department’s budget individually.  Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.  Sandwiches will be provided for the work session.

 

Group Employee Health Insurance

The group health insurance renews August 1st.  The current policy renewal creates a financial hardship with the prescription drug program.  Clerk-Treasurer Alspach distributes a spreadsheet with the current plan, the proposed renewal and Alternate #1.  Alternate #1 more closely mirrors the current policy benefits.  We are also getting a quote from Anthem Blue Cross.  Member Noonan moves to accept Alternate #1 while we are waiting for the quote from Anthem.  Member Alspach seconds the motion.  Vote – 4 affirmative.

 

Depository of Record

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach explains that she has been approached by 2 area banks with an interest in serving the Town of New Whiteland.  Alspach presents information on the interest earned at Fifth Third Bank in June of 2006.  Lincoln Bank has calculated the interest we could have earned at their bank and the amount is almost $400.00 more.  National Bank of Indianapolis has calculated their interest for the same period and it exceeds what we made at Fifth Third by $1,000.00.  That could potentially be an additional $12,000.00 per year.  Alspach is impressed with the courier service that National Bank of Indianapolis offers.  The office employees would no longer have to take deposits to the bank – they would be picked up daily at our office.  This is much safer for the employees and saves time by not having someone out of the office when taking the deposit to the bank.  When someone in the office is off we have to ask an employee from another department to sit at the town hall while the banking is done.  Lincoln Bank offers courier service as well but has limited liability of $100.00 for cash.  This will not work for us.  Alspach greatly appreciates the donation for the light bars that Fifth Third made last year but has been promised that National Bank of Indianapolis will partner with us in similar ways.  Alspach has discussed this with the State Board of Accounts and gotten their approval.  President Perrin asks that this be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.  Alspach has contact names and phone numbers for representatives at all 3 banks should any of the councilmen wish to talk to them.

 

Fire Department Mentoring Program

Chief Hedrick states that C-9 Vocational School offers classes and certification to high school students in Firefighter I & II as well as EMT.  C-9 would like NWFD to serve as mentors for some of these students.  NWFD would have to sponsor the students and provide turn out gear.  Hedrick states they could use our old gear and there would be no cost involved to the Town or the Fire Department.  Hedrick would limit our sponsorship to 5 students.  Hedrick states he will be teaching night classes at C-9 this fall.  All student participants have to maintain a certain GPA to be in the program.  Council approves the program and up to 5 sponsorships.

 

Firearms Disposal

Marshal Stephenson states that Sgt. Hendershot will be taking the old guns to Jeffersonville tomorrow to turn them in.

 

 

 

Town Council

Page Three

July 18, 2006

 

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Mike Dearing, Manager of the MPO apologizes for his late arrival.  He explains that his agency is funded in part with federal monies received from gasoline taxes.  Dearing states that technically, he is an employee of the City of Indianapolis.  The MPO does prerequisite planning which makes various projects eligible for federal funding. The funds also affect INDOT, State Highway, and Interstate projects.   All of the qualifying projects are an 80 / 20 match.  The federal dollars make up the 80% and the donations / contributions that the MPO solicits from other municipalities help make up the 20% match.  This money also funds salaries, modeling, resurfacing, bridge repair, expansion, reconstruction, and intersection and sidewalk projects.  Dearing states that the City of Indianapolis used to cover the entire 20% match but can no longer afford to do so.  Dearing adds that even if New Whiteland does not participate in the funding he would not turn away any project that we submitted.

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach states that PW Supt. Lasiter is on vacation but he called today to say that most municipalities that participate only pay a portion of the requested amount.  Lasiter states that if the Council chooses to participate the money can be paid from his MVH 431 (Improvements Other Than) appropriation.  It would slightly reduce the amount of money available for local street repairs this year.  President Perrin thanks Mr. Dearing for attending the meeting and advises that the Council will discuss this matter with Supt. Lasiter when he returns from vacation.

 

LEGISLATIVE

 

Ordinance 2035

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the transfer ordinance and explains on final reading.  Councilman Noonan moves to adopt Ordinance 2035 on final reading and is seconded by Member Spencer.   Vote 4 affirmative.   

 

Ordinance 2036

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the transfer ordinance in its entirety on first reading.  Councilman Spencer moves to adopt Ordinance 2036 on first reading and is seconded by Member Alspach.   Vote 4 affirmative.  

Motion by Councilman Alspach to suspend the rules and consider Ordinance 2036 on final reading.  Councilman Noonan seconds the motion.  Vote 4 affirmative.  

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the transfer ordinance in title only on final reading.  Councilman Alspach moves to adopt Ordinance 2036 on final reading and is seconded by Member Noonan.   Vote 4 affirmative.  

 

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

None.

 

Being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

____________________________

Maribeth Alspach, Clerk- Treasurer

 

 

Approved: _____________________________  

                 John Perrin, President