Plans for interim city council presented

If the reorganization plan combining White River Township and Greenwood into a new entity were to pass the voters in May 2010 the plan, in its current form, would go into effect July 1, 2010. The plan is most likely to add four positions to the city council. At Monday’s meeting of the reorganization committee, Governance Subcommittee chair Eric Kapke announced how those seats will be filled starting July 1 until elected officials would fill those seats in January 2012, a period of 18 months. Kapke stated that the plan calls for the current members of the White River Township board to fill three of the positions with the fourth position filled in some yet to be determined manner. The only other White River Township elected official, Trustee Jay Marks, was not mentioned as a possible council member.

The plan calls for two at large members of the council. For the first eight years after the merger, one at large member would have to be a resident of the former unincorporated White River Township and one a resident of the current Greenwood. He said they are considering a council of 9, 11, 13, or 15 members with 2 members being at-large. There primary focus is on a council of 9 or 11 members.

As for the form of the new government, the plan is to retain the council/mayor format with the new Greenwood being a second-class city. Kapke said they had considered a council with a hired city manager but found two problems. One would be an alleged lack of accountability a professional manager would have to the voters. The second would be that although the reorganization law presents broad authority to the committee to create whatever form of government it deems best the sub-committee fears a lawsuit, which could result in the form of the new city government being determined by a judge. When questioned on the financial implications of a mayor or professional manager Kapke said sub-committee chair Don Hanlin would have the answer to that question.

Another proposed change will allow the mayor to appoint a city comptroller to handle the current treasurers duties (read a commentary on that suggestion here). The elected position would be just the city clerk, all financial matters would be handled by the mayor’s appointee.

In other reports, the Land Use sub-committee reported they expect to have a draft plan available by the end of June. Chair Dale Tumey said it would be difficult to create a rural district balanced in population with other districts. To balance the population they would need to include certain sub-divisions that could lead to a “rural district” with a diluted farm vote.

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