September 3 city council notes, part two : "I can’t in good conscious support this."

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

R-09-19 Revitalization Area/Statement of Benefits for Chalfant Industries … Messer

Resolution. Has to do with Servicemaster locating somewhere. Diane Benedetti asks if they’ve been stormboarding, or waterboarding, or something; I haven;t been able to hear her tonight.

Matt Chalfant says yes. Dan Coffey asks: Acreage? Reason: Greater than an acre requires some measure of detention (stormwater, I guess).

Chalfant says no paving on additional site. Scott Woods is now asked by Jeff Gahan to explain something about the second house on the property. There is a discussion about the mechanism in the context of a distressed area. Coffey tries to have a show of hands, but it collapses, so he changes his mind and asks for roll call.

Vote: Bob Caesar, Jeff Gahan, Coffey against (why?), remainder for. Resolution passes.

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A-09-11 One Time Cost of Living notion thingy … introduced by the ever elusive Caesar.

Non-bargaining city employees haven’t had a raise for about three years. With mayor’s help, Caesar broke down lengths of service to help figure out a bit of a “morale boost” in terms of a one-time award! Those under union contracts already boosted. Fairness. Morale. Questions?

Caesar: Less cost for the city to do it this way.

Price: We already lost an ambulance … firehouse .. layoffs … union employees remunerated and non-bargaining not, BUT I’ve seen it all over the country where there are furlough days … uncomfortable … personally “the whole thing would need to be looked at” and salaries, insurance, everything out of proportion. Gloom, despair and agony on me … deep dark depression, excessive misery (does he ever twang that song?)

Vote, 1st reading: 8-1 in favor. Only one against: Price. All else for.

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G-09-18 Ordinance to Impose and Enforce a Moratorium

Gonder wants to discuss, but will bow to consensus for tabling his pet ordinance. Grudgingly admits that there may be a problem. When will the work session be scheduled? Coffey feels that it will take time and wants a committee, but Benedetti wants it to be a group grope. Coffey warns of legalities. Carl Malysz says that the city is available to take part in whatever group grope is determined.

Coffey: Caesar, Kevin Zurschmiede, Gonder, Tim Marinaro (stormwater engineer), developer Scott Adams and another developer (Scott Thomas of Lynn Homes) and both city attorney and city council attorney should get together and hear all sides of the story.

Gonder gets to be chair … wheee.

Stan Robison advises that such a meeting should be after hours. Coffey now also wants a group grope, but a smaller group. Apparently he’s not into watching anything except the burbling of barbecued bologna. Yum.

Yes, it is being put into committee. Coffey now ignores a member of the public who thought she’d get to speak but signed the wrong sheet. Last time Coffey changed the speaking order to suit his purposes, this time not. I hope the succinct minutes being taken accurately reflect his legerdemain.

Gonder doesn’t want the developer bias on the committee. Coffey says that this is the way the county got their plan – cutting bait, being inclusive (guffaw) and getting something done by having reps from all parties on board.

Gonder wants to know if people outside the council get to vote on the final shape. Coffey says nope, I want a fact-finding committee. “We gotta do something,” although Coffey doesn't say what. Might something include impeachment? Gonder wants a citizen presence. Coffey says, well, do the fact finding and then have a public hearing.

It sounds as though Coffey was saying that he did not want the public taking part. Interesting, and in effect, not a direct quote: “We’ll only get this done behind closed doors.”

Caesar tries to contribute by saying the public is aware, but city government is not. Purpose of the ordinance is to push people into getting something done. But as always ... not just yet.

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G-09-19 Ordinance to Get All Technical with Georgetown

McLaughlin: First reading.

Coffey: Come hither, Stan: Wording?

City attorney Shane Gibson steps forward to comment. There is no rate increase in this wording format. It is about applying Indiana code in the ordinance’s reference to Georgetown. That explains the wording. All other language mirrors previous rate language. Nothing hidden here.

Price: How much less will Gtown pay?

Gibson: None. Yearly increase over five years until Gtown is off the system. If an increase is approved by the city council, then Gtown pays more. Fine against Gtown is still there.

Stan Robison notes that he has advised to keep the council out of this, so why must the council be involved at all? Why is the council considering this? Why must the council give an explicit authorization to the sewer board to get technical with Gtown?

Gibson: Ordinance expresses council authorization to proceed, and a technical change in cleansed language. No contract approval necessary. This authorizes the sewer board to get technical.

Gonder: How many houses on the system in Gtown?

Gibson: 1,200

Gonder: Originally 750? And numbers of houses above that to pay?

Gibson: Doesn’t know. Agreement dealt with metered volume of flow from Gtown, not numbers of houses on line. Original agreement was the result of mediation.

Pat McLaughlin: Does Gtown citizens pay 50% less than NA citizens?

Gibson: Not sure, but can guess.

PM: What impetus for this huge price break? Quality of sewage?

Gibson: Speculation, but they have their own collection facility. The system is Gtown’s, and they “pre-treat.” Cost difference: NA not responsible for the collection system, therefore costs for processing pre-treated sewage much lower.
Vote, 1st reading:

Abstain: Price (maybe it was a no)
No: Gonder, Price, Gahan, KZ, Coffey, PM
Does not pass. Up in flames.

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G-09-17 Economic development Revenue Bonds (Christian Academy) – Price, 2 & 3

New twist: Robison asked again about 2nd and 3rd reading rules. Has been researching. It has been done a certain way since 1962, but here’s the upshot: Council can vote to do all three readings in one night, and they can do 1st and 2nd in one night, but not 2nd and 3rd in one night. Law says that after the 2nd reading, an ordinance must automatically go back to a committee for something approximating buffing and polishing.

Meanwhile, this ordinance is a cheaper interest rate refinancing measure.

Vote: 2nd only. All of them (9-0) for it – 3rd comes next time.

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Z-09-10 Vacation of an Existing Easement (Holiday/Goodman)

KZ, 2nd reading only. Vote: Unanimous in favor.

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G-09-16 Refuse, Garbage and Yards Waste Fees

Messer, 3rd reading. Already rejected twice. Messer offers motion to amend the ordinance to a $2.00 increase, and Benedetti seconds.

Gonder: What does the $2.00 cover?

Messer: By terms of the EcoTech contract awarded during the garner years, EcoTech is allowed increases in the city's cost. $2 would meet the extra expense and “bring us up to where we should be.”

Gonder asks what the original $5 was about?

It was about EcoTech not being responsible for yard waste pickup, and if $2 brings us even, the extra $3 pays for junk and yard waste pickup, not currently in the contract.

Benedetti: That's where the Consumer Price Index (CPI) comes in.

Price: I thought when we got stormwater back, we’d have people and money for this? No time for limbs now?

Gibson: The state of Indiana cut the street department fund, necessitating layoffs or a solution, so these people were transferred to stormwater to keep their jobs, leaving inadequate numbers in the Street Dept. It's no one’s fault (except the state).

Why don’t the Pricers direct their ire toward the state’s cutting of funds for things like this? Because it would make them, Democrats, and though they register that way, they are not Democratic – that’s why)

Gibson requests a committee to address a solution on a long-term basis beyond the $2 increase this time around.

Benedetti agrees with Mayor England that the solution to junk collection needs to be put out to bid.

Gibson: CPI index now requested to tie cost of living increases to future fee increases. Allows the utility to stay in the black, and when the contract expires, council and administration can address modifications, new bids, etc.

Caesar: CPI should be put in on almost every contractor fee we have. Took care of his own street, by golly. Had my son do it. What about falling leaves?

They're dilatory but eventually hit the ground. Rather like Bob's council career.

Gibson: Leaves not part of this contract. Street department used to do it, not now, like just explained.

Coffey now comences to pick nits (and his teeth) between different federal and state CPI’s. Might have found it on the Internet. Brings up Social Security for some arcane reason. Presumably someone aged is in the room.

Gibson forced now to explain CPI factors.

Messer duly amends the amendments. Must include "CPI: Miami" … or wait, just plain CPI in the amended ordinance. $2 increase plus CPI yearly adjustment. Specific, says Shane. Not a fudge-able thing. Messer rereads to reflect this.

Vote on the amendment: For it except for Price, McLaughlin and Gahan, but then Coffey has to ask for the vote total before agreeing to cast his vote for the amendment, only.

That's right. He wouldn't vote for an amendment to an ordinance he publicly opposes until he has confirmation of the vote total. Do you see what we in the gallery have to put up with?

Amendment masses 6-3 with requisite Coffeyite subterfuge.

Messer now asks to table the whole thing until next time so the council might understand what it means.

Fat chance, Jack. You'd have better luck asking them to read poetry in Basque.

The obviously sandbagging Gahan finally speaks: Before we talk about raising rates, should head toward completely new contract negotiations. Bids, bids, bids.

Messer: But this council can’t do that.

Price: I hear people say “we can do it cheaper” … so “why should we continue to pay for other people’s mistakes?”

The way the 3rd district must pay for yours?

Benedetti points out that we take money from sewers to balance this.

Gahan pounces: They need to take the time and make the effort to take bids.

Gahan naturally doesn’t mention the council's EDIT fund robbery to subsidize sewer rates. He never does. Presumably, that’s okay. Hypocrisy anywhere? Or everywhere?

Coffey does an unctuous grandstand: I only voted for the amendment! Not the ordinance! "I can’t in good conscious support this."

Gonder: Two different issues.

It is tabled.

PUBLIC SPEAKING ITEMS

1. Mellwood Drive resident. References the building permit issued for the vacant lot two weeks after she complained about it. Permit temporarily rescinded. Man wants to build there, and she is thankful that the builder will wait a bit. Supports the moratorium. Wait and see if the fix works before we let people build again anywhere in the city.

2. David Ayres – by the 4H Fairgrounds. The crick needs to be cleaned out – the willow tree’s still there. Coffey excuses the council from culpability. They can’t make these orders to stormwater. Caesar wants to talk to Ayres afterward.

3. Vicky W. – Lot of water. House runied. 1512 E Spring Street. Vacant lot next door, not sure where her business is located (hair salon). Talking about a sink hole … putting pressure against her building? Fairly disjointed testimony. It would be on the south side of the street. Says there is raw sewage on 15th by the railroad. Coffey begins blaming city engineers for not coming to see her … smelling like the fix is in somewhere here.

Coffey and Vicky are doing the shimmy. No doubt that she’s telling the truth about her despair and pain, but it’s so rambling that it isn’t easy to tell.

Carl comes into it. Vicky stands pat as Carl also tries to talk sense. Not sure what the sinkhole is doing to her lot. Chaos erupting. What can the city do about another private lot? Vicky interrupts. Carl doesn’t know. Price butchers the city engineer’s name. Tim Marinaro will come and look.

Price: “He’s more expertise at it.”

Vicky continues to yell.

Benedetti yells at Carl, Carl tries to speak, Coffey speaks the obvious, Coffey grandstands … does she get 10 minutes, 20 minutes? Do we have a time limit? Is order enforced? It is when I try something like this. It looks like back stage at a Brooks & Dunn concert. Vicky makes it clear: She doesn’t want to be in any historical area. Bartender, just give me a pint of what she's having.

A the very last minute, with all of us about to bolt, Robison reports that the Messer garbage ordinance was tabled improperly. Benedetti now withdraws her seconding, and the ordinance is referred to finance committee.

Benedetti now takes up something with Coffey while Vicky carries on behind us.

And another exercise in futility draws to a fumbling conclusion. Studio's up next. I hope Trish has Sierra.