The Ellettsville, Indiana, Town Council met in regular session at 7:30 PM, Monday, August 28, 2000. Members present were Geraldine McIntyre, President; Michael Cornman, David Drake, Jerry Pittsford, and David Sorokoty. Mrs. McIntyre called the meeting to order. Jerry Pittsford gave the prayer and David Drake led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Geraldine McIntyre introduced new member David Drake.
SELECTION OF TOWN COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT
Mike Cornman nominated Jerry Pittsford for Vice President. David Sorokoty seconded the nomination. Mike Cornman made a motion that nominations be closed. Jerry Pittsford seconded the motion. Motion passed with Jerry Pittsford abstaining from voting.
APPOINTMENTS
David Drake was appointed liaison to the Fire Department and Bill Evans was appointed Secretary of the Plan Commission.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
David Sorokoty requested that Ordinance 00-22 be removed from the agenda for further discussion amongst the council members. Mike Cornman seconded the request. Request was approved.
OLD BUSINESS
AMENDMENT TO THE BYNUM FANYO UTILITIES CONTRACT:
Rick Coppock reviewed the previous two years of the wastewater operations and improvements and discussed the rationale for the proposal by Bynum Fanyo. Rick said that since Mike Farmer started managing the office and personnel of the town, revenues have increased due to meter maintenance and we have saved $70,000 - $90,000 per year in wastewater plant operations. The town’s employees have worked on the State Road 46 project and the town has been reimbursed for those hours.
Ellettsville Utilities have come from being a small reactive group with a somewhat of a dark past to a proactive group and a place where others come to view operations.
Mike Cornman inquired about Section 1.04 regarding 24-hour coverage being amended. It was pointed out that the system pages Jeff Farmer at night if there is a problem and Jeff can analyze the problem from his home. Rick Coppock said that this new contract would allow them to place a vehicle into the fleet for use by the T&D guys.
Mike Spencer said that section 1.04 would have to be put back into the agreement regarding BFU being on-call 24-hours.
Mike Farmer said he has found that for every 7 employees you have to have an eighth employee to cover benefit time. There was discussion regarding the possibility of one of the two employees maybe having an injury and the implications of covering those shifts. A question was asked whether they had to have someone physically on duty at night at the plant. Rick Coppock and Mike Farmer said no. Mike Farmer said he did not want a person at the plant by their self at night and they are running about as lean as they can. Jeff Farmer said the control system for the plant was expensive up-front but allows Jeff and the two town employees to connect from their computers at home to the plant and for example fix a pump, switch a pump, or whatever the need might be.
David Sorokoty asked about how they figured benefit time. Jeff Farmer said it was vacation, sick, and holiday days times their hourly rate; their number of days times their hourly rate less benefits. Mike Farmer discussed a recent T&D employee who was out for 10 weeks due to an injury and that they do not have the luxury of 9 other employees at the sewer plant.
Jerry Pittsford asked about what it would take to certify an employee. Jeff Farmer said experience at a plant and passing a test. BFU will have 8 employees available to work at the plant with 7 of them certified as Class 3 operators. Mike Cornman said that our utilities have seen a savings of $ 437,705 with 3 of the 4 years that BFU has been here authenticated by Umbaugh.
Jerry Pittsford said one of the things he was concerned about was our sewer rates and commented about 15-20 years of avoiding situations and that BFU has done a fantastic job of pursuing those things. David Sorokoty asked about T&D labor. Jeff Farmer said that is really for a part-time person for mowing, painting and other work. He said the town would not staff anyone else at the sewer plant unless there was an emergency. Geraldine McIntyre discussed the old sewer plant and that BFU has saved us from a poor situation regarding the sewer plant.
Darlyne Sowder asked if our rates would go up because of this change. Mike Farmer said absolutely not.
Mike Cornman made a motion to approve the amendment to the Bynum Fanyo contract with the provision for 24-hour 7 day per week on-call in section 1.04 put back in the agreement. Jerry Pittsford seconded.
Sandra Hash stated for the record, as Clerk-Treasurer and Fiscal Officer that she reviewed and analyzed the proposal, which generated discussion that may not have been presented had she not done so. At this time we are not spending extra dollars for benefit time. We are not spending dollars for T&D because that is handled in-house. With the contract increase of 3% across the board over the 7-year life of the contract there are expenses included that would not go up by 3%. For example on-call pay and unemployment would remain the same. Retirement would be a percentage of the increase. Calculations assuming a 4% annual increase in wages like we are accustomed to over the 7-year contract and without hiring any additional employees, this contract will cost the town an additional $20,000 per year. This information was given to the Council.
Mike Cornman said he did not know if our accountants feel the same way. The H-T asked what it is costing us now. Sandra Hash said for these two men and their equipment, uniforms, phones, workman’s comp, truck insurance, and all the other expenses the cost to the town is $ 92,885.37 per year. The proposal is for $112,500.00 for the first year. Over the term of the contract it would cost the town an additional $139,137.95 over what we presently pay.
Roll Call:
David Sorokoty - Nay
David Drake - Yes
Geraldine McIntyre - Yes
Mike Cornman - Yes
Jerry Pittsford - Yes
There was further discussion further discussion regarding benefit time and what is a true cost associated with it. David Sorokoty inquired about changing his vote.
TEMPORARY WORKSPACE AGREEMENT WITH INDIANA GAS:
Greg Mathias with Indiana Gas discussed moving a gas line associated with a road project by the county on McNeely Street. They need some space while they do the work. Rick Coppock said they did not have any problems with this because the utilities would be doing work there at the same time. The space is on the north side of McNeely Street east of Mt. Tabor Road. Mike Cornman said around here it is known as Matthews Drive. David Sorokoty made a motion to give permission to give temporary workspace agreement with Indiana Gas Company. David Drake seconded the motion. Motion passed.
AGREEMENT TO DECLARE SURPLUS PROPERTY:
Geraldine McIntyre said the property is the stage across the street. INDOT and the Town Council see the stage as a problem regarding sight distance for the new highway. We are going to work up an agreement with State Highway and salvage parts of the stage that we want to keep and use in the main street area. There will be a meeting at 1:30 PM tomorrow between Mike Cornman, Geraldine McIntyre, Jimmy Ragle, Leasa Farkas, and Joe Peden at the stage area to look it over. Jerry Pittsford asked whether the Maurice and Francis Endwright were okay with this. There was some discussion regarding using the stage materials for benches for Main Street, or in a monument.
Jerry Pittsford suggested that the new guy make the motion to declare the stage surplus property. David Drake made a motion to declare the stage surplus property. Mike Cornman seconded the motion. INDOT would be the ones to take down the stage. Motion passed. Jerry Pittsford abstained from voting.
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY:
Jim Davis discussed the elementary property not being appropriate for a location for a new fire station. The Government Center committee looked for other sites and narrowed it down to 2 or 3 sites for a new fire station. They found a motivated seller and then utilized the attorney to draft a 60-day option to purchase agreement between the town and Mary and Mike George for 3.16 acres next to Water Works Car Wash. This property is for just the Fire Department and not the Government Center based on the committee’s recommendation.
Responding to a question from the audience Sandra Hash said she could not locate a signed copy of the grant. Mike Cornman said all you have to do is call the State Budget Agency and ask them. There was discussion regarding proper use of the grant money and what the cost of building a new Fire Department.
David Sorokoty said the Police Department would go into the Government Center, which would be in a second part of the grant. There was further discussion regarding east-west access associated with the two-way split. Jim Davis said he had no problem locating the Police Department at the new Fire Station. David Sorokoty made a motion to approve the option to purchase and the appraisers to commit their appraisals. Jim Davis asked that the attorney or a council member check with Vi Simpson to make sure the money could be used for this purpose. Motion passed. Mike Cornman abstained from voting.
REQUEST TO USE TOWN HALL AS A POLLING SITE:
Geraldine McIntyre said we have done this in the past for the Clerk of the Circuit court in election years. David Sorokoty made a motion to use town hall as a polling site in order to fulfill their request. David drake seconded the motion. Motion passed.
MINUTES AND CLAIMS
Mike Cornman made a motion to accept minutes and claims. David Sorokoty inquired about expenses for schooling. David requested that he be informed about any costs that were to be incurred so that he can inform other members. David Sorokoty seconded the motion. Motion passed.
SUPERVISORS
Ron McGlocklin said he had been requested by the festival committee to use Town Hall on September 5th at 7:00 PM for a parade meeting. The council said no problem.
Sandra Hash indicated Banc One has approved financing. Mike Spenser has reviewed the agreement and the trucks will soon be ready to be picked up. Jerry Pittsford made a motion to approve the financing of the dump trucks and all appropriate signings, scribing, and here to for withes that are necessary to get the dump trucks to the Street Department. Mike Cornman seconded the motion. Motion passed.
David Sorokoty said there would be a meeting of the neighborhood associations at the library at 7:00 PM. David suggested that there be a meeting of all of the committees in October to make sure they are all on the same page.
Geraldine McIntyre commented on David Drake as a new council member.
Jerry Pittsford thanked the other council members for his selection as Vice President and he wished Geraldine good health for the remainder of her term.
Mike Cornman welcomed David Drake to the council.
Mike Cornman made a motion to adjourn. Jerry Pittsford seconded the motion. Motion Passed.
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D. Geraldine McIntyre,
President
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Jerry Pittsford, Vice
President
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Mike
Cornman
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David
Drake
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David
Sorokoty
Attest:
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Sandra
C. Hash, Clerk-Treasurer