NEW WHITELAND TOWN COUNCIL

December 4, 2007

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 John Perrin, Joe Noonan, Terry Spencer, Don Harris and Scott Alspach.  Also present were Clerk-Treasurer Maribeth Alspach and Department Heads Jim Lasiter, Brian Hedrick, and Office Manager Cindy Yates.  Attorney Robbins and Marshal Stephenson were absent.  Councilman Perrin offered the opening prayer. 

 

MINUTES

Councilman Spencer moves to approve the minutes of the November 20th meeting and is seconded by Councilman Harris.  Vote 5 affirmative. 

 

HARDSHIPS / ADJUSTMENTS

Jessica Hudson, 16 Rypma Row states this property is vacant and has been since August.  Their current bill was for 160,000 gallons due to a faulty toilet that was flushed when the realtor showed the house.  The toilet has been repaired.  Ms. Hudson is asking that the sewer portion be adjusted to the minimum.  Council approves.  Office Manager Yates will post the adjustment prior to running the bills.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Proctor Park Update

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach presents a status report on the project.  She advises the parking lot and pond less water feature have both been installed and paid for.  The electrical will be run this weekend.  The Pacer game is December 12th and they will be honoring Sgt. Proctor as an Indiana Hero during the game.  We are selling dog tags and a beautiful handmade quilt was donated to either be auctioned or raffled off.  The February 23rd fundraiser has been cancelled for now.

 

Leaf Pick Up

PW Supt. Lasiter states the leaf machine is out of operation and he is waiting on parts to get it repaired.  Due to its age it is hard to find parts.  It should be fixed by the end of the week.  The last day for leaf pick up will be December 12th unless the weather changes prior to that date.  An ad is running in the Journal this Thursday and Saturday and we put this information on the web site, the radio station and the December utility bills.

 

Greater Whiteland Baseball Association Facility Request

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach presents a request she received from the GWBA board asking to use the assembly hall on January 12th and 26th as well as February 2nd for sign ups.  They also would like to use the room on April 19th for pictures.  They have used the room in year’s past with no fees charged and are asking to do so again.  Council approves waiving any fees but asks that they fill out rental paperwork, agree to all rules for using the facility and agree to pay for any damages.

 

Comp Time

Councilman Spencer asks about town policy regarding comp time.  New Whiteland does not pay overtime – approved hours worked over 40 per week are converted to comp time.  When an employee leaves we are required to pay them for any accrued and unused comp time.  Department Heads must approve any hours worked over 40 and are responsible for monitoring their employees comp time and helping get it used and off the books.  Beginning in January Department Heads will submit comp time reports to the Clerk-Treasurer on a monthly basis that she will forward to the council.

 

Plan Commission Appointments

Plan Commission President Terry Spencer states Laura Hammond has asked to be re-appointed to the Plan Commission.  Steve Hickman has submitted a letter asking to be appointed to the Plan Commission as well to fill the empty seat that Tom Hause previously held.  The Plan Commission is

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recommending both of these appointments.  Councilman Spencer moves to approve both of these appointments and is seconded by Councilman Noonan.  Vote 5 affirmative.

 

T-Mobile Contract

PW Supt. Lasiter has been contacted by a T-Mobile representative asking to renegotiate their contract for the antenna rental on the water tower behind the Town Hall.  Under the existing contract the rent is $1,092.50 per month.  They are asking to resign a new contract with a nine (9) year term at $775.00 per month.  Lasiter notes that the revenue generated by the antenna rental has been paying for the water tower maintenance contract.  Our maintenance contract was recently sold to a bigger company.  They will be painting the tower in the spring and then we may renegotiate that contract to every other year maintenance rather than yearly.  Council is interested and directs Lasiter to have T-Mobile draft a contract for Lee’s review.

 

Park Department

PW Supt. Lasiter states there is a balance of $8900.00 in equipment in the Parks budget – he would like the council’s permission to use that money towards equipment for Proctor Park while we can take advantage of the discounted prices.  President Perrin asks if there is equipment within the other parks that needs to be repaired.  Lasiter states the merry-go-round at Tot Park is being replaced next spring – the new equipment is in but we won’t install it until spring.  There is a broken swing set at Country Gate that will need repair.  A piece of equipment in the East Park was repaired this summer.  Council approves using money to order equipment for Proctor Park.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Fire Department

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach notes the Fire Department will do their annual Santa event on December 22nd.

 

Council Meeting Cancellation

The January 1, 2008 meeting of the New Whiteland Town Council is canceled due to the holiday.  Election of officers for 2008 will be held on January 15th.

 

LEGISLATIVE

Ordinance 2069

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the ordinance allowing Additional Appropriations in its entirety.  Council President Perrin opens the Public Hearing at 7:50 p.m.  Clerk-Treasurer Alspach explains the ordinance and the procedure required to submit this request to the Department of Local Government Finance.  Notice was published in the newspaper and posted at the Town Hall, Key Bank and Main Source Bank.  There are no questions or comments from the council or the public.  President Perrin closes the Public Hearing at 7:53 p.m.  Member Harris moves to adopt the ordinance on first reading and is seconded by Member Alspach.  Vote 5 affirmative.  Member Alspach moves to suspend the rules and consider the ordinance on final reading.  Member Noonan seconds the motion.  Vote 5 affirmative.  Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads Ordinance 2069 in title only on second reading.  Member Spencer moves to approve on final reading and is seconded by Member Harris.  Vote 5 affirmative.  Clerk-Treasurer will submit this information to the DLGF and should hear a response within 15 days.

 

Ordinance 2070

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the 2008 salary ordinance in title only and explains.  Member Alspach

moves to adopt Ordinance 2070 on first reading and is seconded by Member Harris.  Vote 5 affirmative.  Member Alspach moves to suspend the rules and consider the ordinance on final reading.  Member Noonan seconds the motion.  Vote 5 affirmative.  Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads

 

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Ordinance 2070 in title only on second reading.  Member Harris moves to approve on final reading and is seconded by Member Spencer.  Vote 5 affirmative. 

 

Ordinance 2071

Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads the transfer ordinance in its entirety on first reading.  Motion by Councilman Noonan to approve with a second by Councilman Alspach.  Vote 5 affirmative. 

Member Spencer moves to suspend the rules and consider the ordinance on final reading.  Member Harris seconds the motion.  Vote 5 affirmative.  Clerk-Treasurer Alspach reads Ordinance 2071 in title only on second reading.  Member Harris moves to approve on final reading and is seconded by Member Noonan.  Vote 5 affirmative. 

 

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

None.

 

Being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

____________________________

Maribeth Alspach, Clerk- Treasurer

 

 

 

Approved: _____________________________  

                 John Perrin, President