Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCM-12-06-76MINUTES 0~ THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 6, 1976 The regular meeting of the Common Council was called to order at 7:32 PM by Mayor Pickett, who presided. All members were present. City Attorney and Clerk-Treasurer were present also. Carmel High School students Steve Pfoser, Dick Davis and Bob Brosey presented the colors, including the new Carmel City flag. Councilman Reimau gave the invocation. Mayor Pickett led the pledge of allegiance. Councilman Dean moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve them as received, Councilman Swift seconded it and it passed unanimously. Councilman Garretson moved that the Council take note of the passi~ of Dick Spencer, member of the Plan Commission and active in community affairs, and authorized the Clerk-Treasurer prepare a formal resolution recognizing his services and send to his family, Councilman Coots seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. RAILROAD STATIO____~N: Mr. John Holmes, representative of the Carmel Historical Society, appeared before the Council to discuss the Historical Society's role regarding the purchase of the old Monon Railroad Station. Mr. Holmes stated he would like to have some direction from the Council as to whether or not they wanted the Historical Society to accept donations for renovating the station and if the Council is firm about donating the $1,000. He stated it was the Historical Society's desire to renovate the station as a general historical museam. Mr. Holmes stated he had bee~ con~ac~b~ a.~r of residents wanting to donate towards the restoratzon. ~ Swlf red that the Council gratefully sknowledge the offer of the Carmel Historical Society to serve as the coordinating organization for movi~ and restoring the old Monon Railroad Depot and that we do designate them to do that task so long as they feel they wish to continue it and to encourage them to work with the Mayor's office on the project. After the option is exercised, the City is to retain ownership until the Historical Society wants to own it. Councilman C-arretson seconded the motion. Conncilman Reiman stated ghe would like to volunteer her services for helping with the project, Motion passed unanimously. Councilman Swift suggested Councilman Meacham prevail upon L & N to give the City an extension of 60 days on our option to purchase the depot. Councilman Meacham stated he would contact them as soon as possible. CITY FLAG: Mr. Chuck Mills, representative of Advertising Specialties, appeare~"'before the Council. The City flag was made by Advertising Specialties. Mr. Mills staied that reproductions could be made for people who might desire them; however, the initial cost of screen printing would cost $~0.00. Individual flags would cost $h7.~0. OPTION ON WATER WELL SITES: Councilman Reiman inquired of the status of water well site options. Mayor Pickett stated before we get too far along on this subject, we must decide what the future expansion for the water company is, and that we are presently waiting on the report from the Developers Association due January 1. Mayor Pickett stated we have had negoglations with American Aggregates and we are about ready to start proceeding on building a storage tank on their ground. They have offered water sites on their ground. Negogiations are in process with Lynwood Farms for well sites. Mayor Pickett Page 2 stated we had an agreement with AmericanAggregates and would probably take title to that land very shortly. M~yor Pickett stated the property would cost $7,500. No cash would exchange hands but would be based on water availability when they decide to develop. Negogiations are not complete with Purdue. Mayor Pickett stated he hoped both projects well site and storage tank, could be started together. PROPERTYFOR CITY BUILDINC: Co~mcilman Reiman stated She had talked to Phil Conklin, consulting firm working with the City, in Septmeber about his firm looking into property in the downtow~n area to be used for a City building and had been informed he would get back with her on it but had failed to do so. Mayor Pickett stated Mr. Conklin was working on a central purchasing and personnel system and would not get to property site studies until after the first of the year. LAW SUITIR~PORTS: Councilman Reiman stated she would like to know how many suits there are against the City, how much money has been expended or have we won any suits. Mayor Pickett stated a status report dated December I had been put into the Councils mailboxes at the City Building. Councilman Garretson asked Mr. Kern to review the report. Mr. Eerm stated he did not like to discuss pendi~ cases in public. Mr. Eern stated the Wilfong litigation had been solved last July and a follow up agreement was made today. Councilman Garretson asked if there was any money involved. Mr. Kern stated yes. Councilman Dean asked how much the check was written for. Mayor Pickett stated it was for slightly more than$~0,000. UTILITIES BUDGET: Mayor Pickett stated the City E~ineer and the Utilities Manager have attempted to put some figures together on this but it appears there needs to be more and then the Mayor read a memo regarding his conversation with Don McCullough, Fiscal Consultant, who stated a profit and loss statement would take at least six months. G0uncilman Dean stated he believed it was required by law for the U~iI~ties ~e have a budget. Mayor Pickett stated he believed he was misinformed. It was not required by law. Councilman Garretson asked the Clerk-Treasurer if the Council would be receivi~ an annual report listing receipts and expenditures. Clerk-Treasurer stated by law she had to publish an annual report by January 31, 1977. Utility receipts and disbursements are not required to be itemized, but she would itemize them for the Council. Clerk-Treasurer stated she had been trying to get the Utilities set up on a more detailed book- keeping system, with a monthly balance sheet with assets and liabilities itemized, all year and had not been suceessful yet. McCullough and Associates are busy working on other projects for the City, and will not work with her until they finish the other projects. Clerk-Treasurer stated Public Service Commission has stated a more detail bookkeepio~ system needs to be in effect. Councilman C~rretson stated he felt they should add another accountant to their staff to take care of our needs. Councilman Swift stated he did not understaud the profit and loss statement since a mmuicipal utility can not, by law, make a profit, and McCullo~gh,s "opinion" that we need a profit and loss statement before we have a budget does not mean to him that we have to have one. Mayor Pickett stated you have to have somethi~ realistic to base a budget on. Councilman Swift stated we had about forty years of experience to base it on, and the City Engineer and Utilities Manager had many years of service with the Utilities to base projections on and the Clerk-Treasurer could be very helpful. Councilman Swift stated there was no reason in this world why those Utilities can't be subject to an annual operating budget. Mayor Pickett stated he would inquire as to what other Utilities do. Councilman Coots asked if She Mayor was personally opposed to having a Utilities budget. Mayor Pickett stated he opposed a budget tying the Utilities down so that in case of a crisis we would not be able to get the funds to take immediate action on it. Councilman Coots stated he did not feel Page 12/6/76 it was the Council's intention to t~e up operation, but his interest was he felt the Council, as persons responsible to the community on expenditures of funds, should know how the money is being spent. Mayor Pickett stated that under the Town Board operation there was probably a lot of water funds used for things they shouldn't have been used for. Councilman Swift stated, "Oh, Al, that is an outrageous statement to suggest that!' Councilman Swift then left at 8:~5 PM. Councilman Reiman stated she felt the Mayor should get off the old Town Board. He had been blaming them all night for thi~s. Councilman Reiman stated we should take care of today's problems. CITY COURT: First item on the agenda for new business was pendi~ legislation for City Court requested by Judge Correll, however, he did not appea~ so the item was not discussed. PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE: A written report from the Mayor's Parks Advisory Committee was given to each Councilman. AM~W~IT TO SALARY ORDINANCE: Mayor Pickett presented Ordinance ~D-101, amendment to Ordinance #D-9~ entitled, "Salary Ordinance for 1977 Salaries" promoting Clerk-Treasurer's secretary to an assistant and increasi~her salary to $8,~00.00 effective January l, 1977. Councilman Garretson moved to suspend the rules and to act on the ordinance tonight, Councilman Relman seconded it and it passed unanimously. Councilman Garretson moved to adopt 0rdinauce #D-101, Councilman Reiman seconded it and it passed unanimously. ORDINANCE APPROVING ASSOCIATION DUES: Mayor Pickett presented Ordinance #D-lO2, authorizing expenditures for individual association dues. Councilman Garretson stated the Police Chief Association was a special interest group and should not be paid for by the City. Councilman Coots stated he felt the capacities were gained not the person. Councilman Doane stated she felt every department should be informed and the low cost was well worth it. Counoilman Garretson moved to amend Ordinance ~D-102 by striking the National Association of Chiefs of Police, the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, The National Council of Juvenile Court,Judges:,~and the Indiana Street Commissioners Association. Ceuncitm~u Reiman seconded the motion. Mayor Pickett stated he was opposed to deleting any. Fire Chief Swails stated he personally paid for his member- ship in three organizations, the Indiana Fire Chief's Association, the Inter- national Fire Chief's Association and the IndiauaFirefighters Association. Council voted on the motion to amend the ordinance. Vote was 3 ayes 3 nays, Councilmen Coots, Doaue and Meacham voting nay. Mayor then voted nay and amendment failed. Councilman Reiman then moved to amend proposed Ordinance #D-t02 by including the Indiana Fire Chief's Association, the International Fire Chief's Association and the Indiana Firefighters Association. Councilman Meacham seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 ayes i abstain. Councilman Garretson abstaining. Councilman Garretson moved to suspend the rules, Councilman Coots seconded it. Motion failed 5-1. Councilman Dean voting nay. Ordinance was shown as being introduced. 0RDINAN~: Proposed Ordinance #B-107 transferring funds within the Plan Commission and Building Commissioner budgets was read by Mayor Pickett. CounciLman Coots moved to adopt proposed Ordinance #B-107, Councilman Doane seconded it. Councilman Garretson moved to suspend rules and act on the ordinance tonight, Councilman Coots seconded it and it passed unanimously, motion to adopt passed unanimously. Page 4 CR/~STMAS DECORATIONS: Councilman Meacham suggested the Council consider budgeti~ some money for outdoor Christmas decorations in Downtown Carmel in 1977. He stated Noblesville, Zionsville and Lapel pays for theirs. Councilman Garretson.suggested the Mayor's office initiate discussions with downtown merchants associations and other communities, regarding this topic and be prepared to discuss it at budget time 1977. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 PM. ATTEST: Clerk-Treasurer Approved: