HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCM-01-17-77 MINUTES OF THE
CITY coUNCIL MEETING
January 17, 1977
The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order at 7:30 PM by
Mayor Pickett, who presided. All members were present. City Attorney and
Clerk-Treasurer were present also.
Councilman Reiman gave the invocation. Mayor Pickett led the pledge of
allegiance. Councilman Doane moved to dispense with the reading of the
minutes and approve them as received, Councilman Meacham seconded it and
it passed unanimously.
STREET CUT ORDINANCE ~D-107: Mayor Pickett read proposed Ordinance #D-~07
by title as follows: "An Ordinance Requiring a ~ermit and Bond Prior to
Cutting Into Any Street, Sidewalk, Curb or Public Place in the City of Carmel
and Repealing Ordinances Numbered D-17 aud D-22," which was introduced at
last meeting. Councilman Garretson moved to approve Ordinance #D-107,
Councilman Meacham seconded it and it passed unanimously.
PUBLIC OFFICIALS LIABILITY: Councilman Coots stated he had contacted three
different companies for quotes on public officials liability insurance on
which the Council had authorized an expenditure of $3,000.00 at budget time
last year. 0nly one company replied with a quote, which is $3,200.00. He
stated he would try to obtain at least one more. Mayor Pickett requested him
to go ahead aud pursue quotes and perhaps have an informal meeting to discuss
it with representatives of the companies present, then bring it up for action
at the next Council meeting.
POLICY SKEET: Mayor Pickett stated the Board of Public Works did temporarily
extend the ~olicy sheet for 1976 due to the fact the consulting firm, Phil
Conklin, is Working on a policy sheet that would hopefully fit all the
requirements of all of the City. He stated he would personally prefer to work
the situation out this way. It isn't mandatory that we pass a policy sheet
every year. One can be established and this can carry through until such time
that ~ change is desired. Councilman Garretson asked what kind of timetable he
would forsee in submitting to the Council, formally, for adoption of personnel
policies being prepared by Mr. Conklin. Mayor Pickett stated he would hope by
next month. Councilman Garretson moved this item be tabled, Councilman Doane
seconded it and it passed unanimously.
0W~TNANCE D-10S: AUTHORIZING UTILITIES BUDGET: Mayor Pickett stated he had
excersised his right to veto proposed Ordinance #D-105 authorizing a Utilities
Budget aud then read his reasons, which had been sent to the Council and
Clerk-Treasurer - copy attached to minutes. Councilman Dean stated he had
talked with Don McCullough earlier in the day ~nd he did say he would appreciate
it if the Council would delay th'e timetable for thebudget. Mayor Pickett
stated a contract would have to be worked out with McCullough and Associates for
preparing a budget, as one Was not in effect now. Councilman Coots moved to
override the Mayor's veto of Ordinance #D-105, Councilman Reiman seconded it.
Councilman Swift asked why some Council members got calls from the Mayor and
invitations to call the fiscal consultant and others didn't. Mayor Pickett
stated he had a right to call any Council member he wants and to discuss
anything he wanted to discuss with them. Councilman Reiman stated she received
her letter at 12:45 PM today and understood others received theirs Sunday.
Mayor Pickett stated no-one received theirs on Sunday, some did on Saturday
evening. Councilman Coots stated that to him the issue was whether or not the
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Mayor is goin~ to put the Utilities on a budget, which was of interest tO
everyone and according to the Mayor's statement he intended to do that, but
just needed more time to do it effectively and he would consider proposing
a resolution to adopt what the Mayor has stated he would voluntarily do which
is prior consultation before any major expenditures of a capital nature by
the Utilities and further, upon the adoption of the new double entry accounting
method which McCullough states will be ready in April and with some modifications
in the personnel structure which Mr. Conklin has suggested, that. the Clerk-
Treasurer make available on reques~ ship monthly to each Council member a copy
of that months activity in the Utilities, so we have an on going piece of
information that conforms to the new bookkeeping system which the Clerk-
Treasurer is going to be responsible for administering with adequate personnel
to do it. Councilman Swift stated information on total expefidittures is already
available and seeing past history would serve no purpose. Councilman Swift stated
the Board of Public Works was about to embark upon a $600,000.00 project and the
only input the Council would have on that would be a bond ordinance and the Board
of Public Works could authorize various expenditures such as attorney fees and
engineers fees. Mayor Pickett stated additional attorneys fees for bond issue
work would not be legal. Councilman Carretson stated that there were two over-
riding issues (1) A budget is a financial plan~without a budget there is no plan.
It is just bad business for $1,000,000.00 business not to be on a plan, and the
Council has already let 25% of their time go by without a plan and the Mayor was
asking them to let ~0%go y, (2) The papers havei!devoted quite a bit of space to
b ·
the problems or "squabbles" in the City and he thought that over that we cannot
lose sight of the fact that this form of government is predicated on'a.checks and
balances system that the legislative intent il~ every level of government has
been to provide a check though the purse string-s upon the adminstrative application
of funds and puttin& this off one more year is abdicating legislative responsibility.
Councilman Garretson stated those are the r~asons he will vote to override the Veto.
Mayor Pickett stated the Water Company goes back to the 30's and some time ago
the sewer system came into being so according to this line of reasoning the City
officials .in the past haven't been doing their duty. Mayor Pickett stated he was
not against~ a budget but in the last twelve months he has been extremely busy
and he didn't feel anything would be solved by just throwing something together.
Councilman Reiman stated she thought we all have to remember that what went before
wasn't perfect and the old town boards served our community well on a part-time
basis but because they didn't adopt a budget doesn't take us off the hook for not
doing it and that is why we have a full time Mayor, so the City can be run more
efficiently. Vote was called for and motion failed: 2 ayes, ~ nays, Councilmen
Coots, Dean, Doane and Meacham voting nay. Councilman Swift abstaining. Councilman
Swift asked the Mayor to ask the City Attorney if an ordinance requesting a budget
was necessary at all. City Attorney stated the Mayor would have ~ right to veto
everything the Council did. Councilman Swift asked Mr. Kern if the Board of Works
could authorize payment of a City Attorney for work on a bond issue. City Attorney
stated it would have to be by ordinance. The Mayor, City Council and Attorney
could get 'more money from the water utility but only through ord.inance.
RE-ZONE BRIAR LANE ADDITION FROM S-1 TO S-2: Mayor Pickett read resolution from the
Plan Commission recommending change of zonim~ from S-1 to S-2 for Safco Development
Co., located south of Briar Creek. Mayor Pickett also read Plan Commission minutes.
Mr. Dick Fisher was present to answer any questions on his project. Mayor Pickett
asked if there were any remonstrators present. There were none; however
Mrs. Josephine McCormik inquired of the location and Mr. Fisher pointed it out on
the map. Councilman Coots moved to adopt the Plan Commission Resolution and
proposed Ordinance ~gZ-l~l, rezoning the area, Councilman Reiman ~econded it and
it passed unanimously.
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1/17/77
WATER SERVICE BOUNDARIES: Councilman C-arretson inquired of the timetable for
Submission of the report of Henry B. Steeg redefining our water service area.
Mayor Pickett stated he thought action could be taken by next Council
meeting. Councilman Garretson suggested the City Attorney prepare a resolu-
tion for the Council's action outlining the water service area in conforming
with the Steeg report.
SEATING ARRANGEMENT: Councilman Garretson stated he would like to see a
different seating arrangement for Council meetiD~s inasmuch as some of the
members have difficulty hearing and seeing everyone. It was agreed to start
sitting down in front at the next Council meeting.
There beiD~ no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 PM.
ATTEST:
Approved:
CITY OF CARMEL
ALBERT B. PICKETT, MAYOR
January 14, 1977
844-3909
40 East Main Street
Carmel, Indiana 46032
TO: Members of the Common Council and Clerk Treasurer, City of
Carmel.
FROM: Albert B. Pickett, Mayor, City of Carmel
SUBJECT: Ordinance # D-105, Concerning establishment of a budget
for Water and Sewer utilities.
After due consideration I have exercised my authority as Mayor of
the City of Carmel, and have vetoed Ordinance # D-105. This action
was not taken in an attempt to refrain from establishing a budget
for Utilities, but was due to a number of circumstances which are
set forth as follows:
Inadequate time schedule. Due to a number of critical projects
that require the t~e of the Mayor, City Engineer, and the utilities
Manager, we s~mply do not have the time required to establish a
well prepared~ adequate budget for Water and Sewer utilities by
March 31~ 1977, Critical projects which we are involved with at
this time include the Million Gallon Storage, Lynnwood Well,
Establishment of an OSHA Program, which it is mandatory to put
~nt~ effect in the immediate future, Industrial Cost Recovery and
p~etreatment Program, disposal of effluent from the Downtown Water
Plant, and Southern Hamilton County Regional Sewer Program,
e
Difficult problems encountered in preparing a budget due to an
inadequate Bookkeeping System for both Utilities and the City.
The Ordinance as enacted states, "Both water and sewer utilities
through the Board of Public Works shall submit separate budgets
in accordance with the bookkeeping system. Until such time as the
bookkeeping system is revised, which is scheduled for around April,
the budget would have to be prepared in compliance with the existing
system. Preparations are presently underway by McCullough and
Associates to revise these systems. The Fiscal Consultant has
stated that until such time as an adequate bookkeeping system is
put into effect, it will be difficult to establish an adequate,
workable budget. Another problem relating to Utilities concerns
problems with the Computer Billing System on which corrective
action is underway.
Member of the Common Council and Clerk Treasurer
January 14, 1977
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If the veto is sustaine~ by the Council, I will voluntarily prepare
a budget for both Water and Sewer Utilities and present them for review
by the C~c~l on or before September 3Oth, 1977, During the interim
period a~'~a]or proposed expenditures by the Utilities would be ~
discussed with the Council Members.
In summarizing this matter, I wish to establish a budget that is
proper and will not necessitate frequent transfer of funds. I would
again like to emphasize that I do not oppose establishment of a
utilities Budget, only the time table for it.
Albert B. Pickett
Mayor, City of Carmel