Reorg Live: 9-10-09

In a continuation, but hopefully shorter, of last week’s meeting the committee continues to review subcommittee reports.

6:38 meeting called to order, all members are present. Committee approves payment of $4,000+ for legal fees to Bose, McKinney & Evans.

Presentation to joint Council & Board meeting on Sept. 21st in Greenwood Council chambers. Findings will begin to be moved to the recommendation stage for presentation at that meeting. Would like to present plan to council and board in November, ahead of the December 7th date originally set.

Pat Sherman says plan will first have executive summary with bullet points, later details and finally add an appendix with required ordinances to put plan into action. Final plan will have effect of law in the new city.

Finish health safety and welfare report from Forrest Chambers.

Committee findings, just the highlights, I am not including everything mentioned or all items in the subcommittees proposal:

Law enforcement: Greenwood police serves entire new city. No sheriff enforcement of city ordinances. Council could reduce the sheriff’s budget because the sheriff is serving fewer road miles. Additional funds from state and county could help make up the rest of the cost. No details provided. Transition would take place January 1, 2011.

Pat Sherman: reason for change is not due to any current problems just makes sense to have police serve the entire committee. Estimated $2 million for cars and people.

21 deputies, and four investigators, working in White River. Spending about $2.6 million in White River. Sheriff says he will use the deputies elsewhere and won’t cut back on staff according to Chambers.

Joe Pitcher, Chief says 51% of crime in the county in Greenwood. 31% in Franklin. Sheriff currently has 56 persons under pension plan. Greenwood currently has 54. Will had 17 officers and four dispatchers, chief says they have room in current facility for the additional officers and dispatchers.

Don Hanlin asked how reducing sheriff’s budget would reduce Greenwood’s expense. Chambers believes it would lower county taxes for all county residents. Pat Sherman stated that the budget reduction of the sheriff would not shift funding, just may lower county tax rate. 70% of county taxes come from Pleasant and White River townships.

David Payne wondered why the sheriff’s department will not be used to patrol the rural area as had been discussed. Chambers said they felt it was easiest to say Greenwood police serve all of Greenwood. No cost analysis was conducted, or if it was it was not reported.

Fire: Discussion is on-going between Greenwood Fire and WRTFD about merger but the fire departments are not part of any governmental unit and do not fall under the jurisdiction of the committee, the city, or the township. Committee however still made a recommendation that they merge. Chambers says there would be costs involved in the merger but in the long run there could be savings. He did not explain how this could be part of the reorganization plan since the fire departments are independent entities. Bargersville is not interesting in discussing merger. Subcommittee recommends keeping the contract with Metro ambulance but again this not part of this action.

Pat Sherman commented that this action is out of the “perview” of this effort and is entirely between the two fire chiefs and the reorganization plan will take no position on fire departments.

Ordinances: Recommend that rural area stays under current county ordinances. Urban areas would adopt all Greenwood ordinances “right down the line”. As areas become urban they would fall under urban ordinances. One additional ordinance, use of firearms would be prohibited within 500 feet of urban areas. Dale Tumey reported they have removed references to ordinances in land use and only left in zoning. David Payne expressed concern that 500 feet may not be enough of a buffer for discharge of firearms. Forest Melot stated that there are county ordinances that don’t apply to rural area such as subdivision rules and such. So another look at list of county ordinances to see which ones should be enforced. Pat Sherman stated it is important to make sure that the final recommendation does not change the way of life of rural residents. Find rules such as subdivision ordinances and make sure they are not adopted if not needed or in conflict with Greenwood ordinances.

County ordinance are not on computer, they are filed in chronological order and not codified just “stacks of paper”. Copies cost a dollar a page subcommittee member did not make copies since they didn’t want to pay. Made it very difficult to find ordinances and know what ordinances there are.

Nuisance: Handled by John Myers, city of Greenwood. Mostly look at abandoned homes, weeds and trash are the major part of his job. Abandoned vehicles that are not plated are also dealt with. He is an employee of “code enforcement department”. Deals with signs, signs posted on utilities poles and builder directional signs. Some differences between city and county. Grass height and who deals with illegal burning. Tries to solve problem without taking issue to board of works or issuing a fine. Subcommittee feels they need at least one other person to extend code enforcement to the new area. Spray weeds when requested. Do so in the evening which requires overtime pay.  Subcommittee member says that in unincorporated area no one handles these issues. In a conversation with Jay Marks last week he stated he handles complaints in cooperation with the county if an issue is brought to his attention.

Nuisance complaints come before the Board of Works and city attorney issues certified letter to violator and requires it to be corrected in ten days. If violator does not comply city takes action and charges the fees to the violators property taxes. Charges are also assessed for removing an abandoned vehicle.

Don Hanlin stated that part of his reason to support the merger is the need for this kind of enforcement in aging subdivisions. The city needs to work to keep its value and this type of action helps maintain value.

Pat Sherman “when we talk about the necessity to add personnel” those are budgetary items that finance will review. It will not be the reorg committees job to hire people. If positions need to be filled the appropriate agency will have to seek the required staff just as is the case now.  Even if a line exists in the budget it does not mean the position will be filled. It will be the council’s decision.

Township Government: Trustee’s primary duty is to provide poor relief. Also takes care of abandoned cemeteries. Mow, fix fences and repair headstones. Sometimes involved in drainage disputes and weed control. Subcommittee recommends elimination of township government in accordance the reorganization law. Parks takes over cemetery work, clerk takes over poor relief. Same as was done in Zionsville.

Pat Sherman wants to add to the finding what elected person would be responsible for poor relief in all of White River Township, the city clerk is fine and then have the mayor take over all other duties and assign them to the appropriate agency or department.

Dann Veldkamp questioned why taxpayers of Greenwood would be responsible for poor relief and abandoned cemeteries within Bargersville? Sherman responded that the WRT board resolution requested that all duties be moved to the new entity. The tax levy for those duties would be charged to all residents of the township including Bargersville residents. Could seek an inter-local agreement with Bargersville so they would take care of their own poor and cemetaries. In other words even if Greenwood is responsible money would come from all WRT residents no matter in what community they live.

Wow, looks like this could be wrapping up. There is another meetig next week Thursday permitting more details to be put together before the presentation to the joint meeting on the 21st.

Pat says finance is doing great work and beginning to pull together detailed numbers, and soon be able to provide detailed receipts soon.

Meeting ajourned at 7:55.

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