City Council

TOWN OF CICERO TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024 at 7:00 PM Call to Order: Mr. Lutz called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Gary gave the prayer. Mr. Lutz called for roll call. Members of the Cicero Town Council were present or absent as follows: Present: Joseph Cox Absent: Eric Hayden Dennis Johnson Christopher Lutz Emily Pearson Declare a Quorum Present: Mr. Lutz declared a quorum with all members present. Others Present: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer Jeff Rednour, Police Chief Lance Overholser, Fire Chief Frank Zawadzki, Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Director Terry Cooper, Street & Utilities Director Jim Hunter, Parks Superintendent Aaron Culp, Town Attorney Keith Bryant, Town Engineer Bruce Freeman, Storm Water Management Board President Dan Strong, Project Coordinator Approval of Agenda: Mr. Cox made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried. 1. Election of Officers: a. President of the Council – Motion to Open Nominations for Town Council President – Mr. Hayden made the motion. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried. Mr. Hayden nominated Mr. Lutz for President. Mr. Cox seconded. There were no additional nominations. Motion to Close Nominations for Town Council President – Mr. Hayden made the motion. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried. Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve Mr. Lutz as Town Council President. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried. b. Vice President of Council – Motion to Open Nominations for Town Council Vice President – Mr. Hayden made the motion. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried. Mr. Hayden nominated Mr. Cox for Vice President. There were no additional nominations. 1  Motion to Close Nominations for Town Council Vice President – Mr. Johnson made the motion. Mr. Hayden seconded, motion carried. Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve Mr. Cox as Town Council Vice President. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried. c. Appoint 2024 Department Heads – Town Council Appointments: Mr. Hayden made a motion to carry over Department Heads from 2023 to 2024. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried. Fire Chief – Chief Lance Overholser Police Chief – Chief Jeff Rednour Street/Utilities Director – Director Terry Cooper Plan Commission Director – Director Frank Zawadzki Parks Superintendent – Superintendent James Hunter Town Council President Liaison Appointments: President Lutz appointed the following liaisons: Fire Department – Mr. Hayden Police Department – Mr. Cox Street/Utilities – Ms. Pearson Plan Commission – President Lutz Parks Department – Mr. Johnson Other Appointments Appointments to The Cicero Fire Commission – Removed from the agenda. The Cicero Metropolitan Police Commission – 3-year term Town Council Appointment – Mike Orr – Mr. Cox made a motion to appoint Mr. Orr to The Cicero Metropolitan Police Commission. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried. BZA Appointment – 4-year term Harrison Massonne – Plan Commission Appointment – to be decided at plan commission meeting. Mike Berry – Council President Appointment – reappointed by President Lutz. Scott Bockoski – Council President Appointment – reappointed by President Lutz. Cicero Economic Development Committee – 2-year term Jacob Everett – 1/1/24-12/31/25 (Presidential Appointment) – President Lutz appointed Mr. Everett to the EDC thru 12/31/25. Sara O’Connor Buckner – 1/1/24-12/31/25 (Town Council Appointment) – Mr. Cox made a motion to appoint Ms. O’Connor Buckner to the EDC. Mr. Hayden seconded, motion carried. Cicero Redevelopment Commission-Yearly–3 presidential appointments/2 council nominations 2  President Lutz appointed Mr. Cox– President Appointment President Lutz appointed Mr. Johnson – President Appointment President Lutz appointed Mr. Hayden – President Appointment Mr. Hayden made a motion to appoint Ms. Pearson and President Lutz to the Cicero Redevelopment Commission. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried. Appointment to Storm Water Management Board – 3-year term President Lutz appointed Mr. Freeman to the Storm Water Management Board. Mr. Freeman accepted the appointment. Appointment to the Hamilton County Emergency Management Advisory Council. Mr. Cox made a motion to appoint Chief Overholser to the Hamilton County Emergency Management Advisory Council. Chief Overholser accepted the nomination. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried. Approval of Prior Minutes: Town Council Staff Meeting Minutes, December 14, 2023, 7:00 PM Town Council Meeting Minutes, December 19, 2023, 7:00 PM Town Council Special Meeting Minutes, December 28, 2023, 9:00 AM Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve the minutes listed above. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried. Council Committee Reports: 1. OTC Report – President Lutz asked Ms. Gary to add this to the next staff meeting agenda. 2. EDC Report – President Lutz inquired if Mr. Cox would like to continue with EDC. Mr. Cox would like to continue. 3. SWU Management Board Report – President Lutz asked Ms. Pearson if she would like to get involved with the SWU. Ms. Pearson would like to do so. Legal Counsel Report – a. Lennar – Mr. Culp informed the council that Lennar has withdrawn its petition for the residential development. The project is not moving forward at this time. Mr. Culp stated that Lennar could file a new petition in the future but that if it did so, Lennar would be required to start the entire process over including providing all required legal notices to adjoining property owners. b. Alley Vacation – Mr. Culp stated that a title search was performed and determined that the alley between 70 S. Pearl St. and 90 S. Pearl St. was vacated by Ordinance 07-13-2006-1. Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Director's Report - December 2023 • Permit Revenue: December 2023 = $4,927 YTD: $97,006 • December 2022 = $5,279 YTD: $175,329 • Difference: Month = -$352 YTD: -$78,323 • A total of 18 building permits were issued in December of 2023. • Nine permits were within the corporate limits (of which 1 was for a new home). 3  • Nine permits were issued in Jackson Township (of which, none were for a new home.) • Estimated Cost of projects permitted: $1,618,370. Town Engineer Report – 1. Tamarack – Mr. Bryant said that he is still awaiting documents from MI Homes for Sections 1-3 to finalize the maintenance bonds. 2. Water – Nothing to discuss at this time. 3. Wastewater – Nothing to discuss at this time. 4. Tollgate Road – Mr. Bryant relayed that the contractor will probably resume with asphalt in the spring as weather will not permit at this time. Mr. Cox inquired whether the markers and tape could be removed as it is unattractive. Mr. Bryant will talk to the contractor. 5. Brinton Street Storm Water Rehab Project – Mr. Bryant stated that they are still awaiting answers to the questions concerning the additional work from the contractor (Insituform). Old Business: 1. Indiana On Tap – Mr. Cox made a motion to untable this discussion. Mr. Hayden seconded, motion carried. Mr. Cox has reached out to surrounding communities who have participated. In the end, the cost of $10,000.00 annually couldn’t be justified. Council’s consensus was to move on from it. 2. Town Hall Roof Repair – President Lutz stated that the previous bid was accepted; however, the company has not complied with completing documentation. Mr. Hayden made a motion to reject all bids and rebid the project. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried. New Business: Food and Beverage Tax – Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve Resolution 01- 02-2024-01 A Resolution of the Town of Cicero, Indiana Supporting the Establishment of Town of Cicero Food and Beverage Tax. Mr. Cox seconded, motion carried. Miscellaneous: President Lutz scheduled an executive session for 1/8/24 @ 7:00 and asked Ms. Gary to advertise. Comments by Citizens: There were none. Motion to Adjourn: Mr. Cox made the motion. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried. Signatures on Official Documents! Signatures of Cicero Town Council AYE NAY Christopher J Lutz Joseph R Cox Eric C Hayden 4  Dennis D Johnson Emily K Pearson Attested: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer The Next Cicero Town Council Meeting will be on January 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM at Cicero Town Hall. 5