City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL FEBRUARY 25, 2013 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on February 25, 2013 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Michael Opinker presided. City Clerk Robert J. Golec facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Invocation was given by Anthony Higgs. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker ABSENT: Salinas TOTAL: 8 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved to accept the minutes of February 11, 2013 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to accept the claims from February 6, 2013 through February 20, 1013. Claim #905 through claim #1107, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS 13-02 An Ordinance to Appropriate Monies into the 2013 Gaming Fund 13-03 Appropriation - $878,519.00 - Redevelopment Dept. 13-04 Appropriation - $22,700.00 - Hotel/Motel Innkeepers Tax for Park Dept. No one spoke. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs spoke regarding a correspondence about an incident that happened at DoDo’s Bar & Grill at 521 Conkey. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Hinojosa - Brought out 13-02, 13-03, 13-04 and 13-05. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 13-02 An Ordinance to Appropriate Monies into the 2013 Gaming Fund Councilman Kalwinski, supported Spitale, moved for final passage. City Clerk Golec read the proposed ordinance in its entirety. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE PASSED ORDINANCE NO. 9191 AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE MONIES INTO THE 2013 GAMING FUND 13-03 An Ordinance to Appropriate Monies in the Hammond Redevelopment Account Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved for final passage. Councilwoman Venecz - There was $878,519 that was left when the Marina and North Hammond TIF’s were closed. The dollars automatically go to the General Fund and need to be appropriated to the Cash Outlay to meet the obligations of Munster Steel, $353,000; Unilever, $400,000; $75,000 for Tax Sale Properties; and $50,000 to the South Shore Plan. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE PASSED ORDINANCE NO. 9192 AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE MONIES IN THE HAMMOND REDEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. 13-04 An Ordinance to Appropriate Funds in the Hotel/Motel Fund for the Hammond Park Department Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. City Clerk Golec read the proposed ordinance in its entirety. Councilman Kalwinski - This appropriation happens on an annual basis for the Park Department. Councilman Higgs - During discussion in our committee meeting I think what was said is that the money is utilized for advertisement in the Park Department. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE PASSED ORDINANCE NO. 9193 AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS IN THE HOTEL/MOTEL FUND FOR THE HAMMOND PARK DEPARTMENT 13-05 An Ordinance Amending Ord. 7685, 8200, 8564, 8630, 8645, 8718, 8754, 8755, 8854, 8930, 9017, and 9061 also known as Section 36.005 (B) (1) of the Hammond Municipal Code, as it pertains to Approved Uses of the Sixty Percent to be used for Infrastructure and Public Safety in the City of Hammond Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved for final passage. Councilwoman Venecz - This ordinance would prohibit the use of gaming dollars for dumpsters in the districts. As we discussed in caucus, we have problems with contractors dumping their debris in the dumpsters that are placed in the neighborhood. I had a conversation with Gary Gleason, the Street Commissioner, and when contractors find out that there’s going to be a clean up in the neighborhood they call and want to get their name on a list. When the Street Department calls them back they discover that they are contractors. So, they’re trying to use what is intended for neighborhood clean ups to dump their debris. As many of you also know, in the city of Hammond we have problems with illegal rehabs. The contractors, whether they are licensed or not are rehabbing some properties, they hang on to their debris, again, and when there is a dumpster in the neighborhood they go and dump all of their debris in the dumpsters. So that is the purpose for this. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Councilman Higgs - Certainly, as I discussed previously in discussion in the committee meeting, as it relates to dumpsters, when the program was implemented the purpose was to be utilized throughout the entire city and to make our community and our neighborhoods cleaner, and certainly never in my aspect of utilizing the dumpsters have I ever abused it, put signs there. As I stated previously, I don’t need to put signs on dumpsters to get elected. I know what’s necessary to run a campaign effectively. For those individuals that may be utilizing them and doing such things, it’s uncalled for. My solution to that particular issue was to possibly cut it down and not spend as much money as we had in the previous years, and certainly I think it’s an asset to the citizens of the City of Hammond and especially to my constituents in which I represent the 3rd District of the City of Hammond. Councilwoman Venecz - Again, continuing with my conversation with Gary Gleason, after the scavenger ordinance was put into place that became effective the beginning of this year, I had a conversation with Gary Gleason about how he goes up and down the alleys in the city. They go down each alley once a week. At least once a week. If they get a call from a resident they will write up a ticket and they will send one of their men out there to pick up the debris. That being said, you know, if we are cleaning out our garage or our basement, as I said in caucus, I don’t know, call me lazy or call me smart, I don’t want to make more than one trip. If I’m cleaning out my basement I’m gonna take my trash to the alley, call the Street Department, and have them come and pick it up. I, personally, don’t want to take everything out of the basement, load up a truck, drive it over to the dumpster that’s only going to be there twice a year. If residents have trash that they want to dispose of as the result of a clean up, they can call the Street Department. I would like to point out that from 2009 to 2011 over $350 thousand was spent on dumpsters and cleanups in the City of Hammond. How many street lights could we have accomplished with that kind of money? This ordinance eliminates dumpsters only. Supplies for cleanups, if Councilman Higgs is going to have, or any other councilman is going to have a cleanup in their district they can still purchase garbage bags, gloves, just not the dumpsters. And I also wanted to point out in reference to the $350 thousand, if cleanups were that important why is it in 2012 we didn’t have a dumpster in the City of Hammond, and we all survived? We all got our trash picked up. $350 thousand is a lot of money. Councilman Higgs - First I’d like to respond in regards to as it reflects to garbage bags and gloves or whatnot. I’ve never, ever had the city pay for any garbage bags or gloves. If anything, Menards or someone from within the community may have donated them but the city has never paid for them. And I don’t see anywhere in the ordinance, as it relates, that we can legally purchase those items and if it is, please, the City Attorney is here, she can probably verify but I’ve never known that in the existence of having dumpsters in my community. Secondly, throughout the year I’m constantly calling in regards to having things picked up and there’s property right now that I can tell you if you leave right now and take a look between Conkey and Ames Street, the 900 block, there are all kinds of garbage, debris, I don’t know if it’s a mattress in the areas, you got tires and all kinds of stuff. People are losing their homes throughout my district and I think it’s gonna effect the residents of the 3rd District. My job, as a councilman, is to represent my constituents and that was the purpose of putting it in place and I think it’s an asset not just the 3rd District but the entire City of Hammond and that’s where I am not confident. Now, I do agree that the amount of money that’s being spent in regards to dumpsters is way over the limit and something should be adjusted. But to eliminate the dumpsters, I don’t think is a wise decision and I want my constituents to know that I’m not in favor of eliminating the dumpsters. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Councilman Emerson - I would just add on to what Councilwoman Venecz was saying. The number for the Street Department for you to call with anything you put in your alley is 853-6302. To me, I’ve done it either way, and that does seem a lot easier to me to take it out to the alley and we are paying taxes for that. Councilman Markovich - There was a lot said in the caucus that a lot of the people probably didn’t see but one of the recommendations that I had what they used to do in the past is that you can bring your trash and rubbish to Conkey Street and they would put it in the dumpster there and they said well it cost too much money for somebody to stand there and check their driver’s license to make sure that they were from Hammond. Well then I brought up about College Bound that, you know, we got all these kids there that we can probably still have the cleanups, put the dumpsters there on Conkey Street, we can have College Bound kids standing there. It won’t cost us anything other than the $277 an hour these kids make for doing community service because that’s what it comes out to. So these kids are making some big money there, $277 an hour and they can monitor who’s dumping the trash and making sure that they have a valid driver’s license that they live in Hammond. So I mean if that’s what they want to do, they can do that. We can still have the dumpsters. It’s not gonna be as big as it was in the past and so forth. But you know there’s still possibilities and I don’t know that if by changing this ordinance, eliminating dumpsters altogether if we’re still gonna be able to put dumpsters at Conkey Street and then use it in that respect. So I don’t know. So maybe down the road if they want to go ahead and do that and still have the dumpsters they’re gonna have to come back and change the ordinance again. It was also brought up in caucus that Councilwoman Venecz says that Gary Gleason with the scrap things, you know because we eliminated the scrap that we received $5 thousand in scrap. Well, that’s a good thing but, you know, you have to analyze it and give both sides of the story too but let’s just say that a guy makes $20 an hour driving the truck and that includes the benefits. I think their hourly scale about $15.70 an hour and then with the benefits that $20 an hour. So if you take $5 thousand what we collected in the scrap and divide that by $20 an hour, it comes to 250 man hours. So now we’ve got a guy spending $250 man hours, you divide that by eight, that’s 32 days. So now we spent 32 days just to pick up scrap and I’m sure that 32 days that is costing us a lot more. Because the other thing that you have to worry about, since they said that they’re driving up and down the alleys once a week, we have 26 square miles here in the City of Hammond, I don’t know how many miles of alleys and streets, but if you figure we’re getting anywhere from 6 to 8 miles per gallon for diesel and let’s just say it’s $4 a gallon, it’s still costing us a lot of money just to save for scrap. But, I guess everybody’s intentions are well and good but you still have to look at the economics and the financial aspect of it to see if it really is doing any good and if it’s helping it out. But people (unclear) don’t want to have services and I think that’s what it’s all, these district councilmen are concerned about with the dumpster as far as services but I’m sure that something will be worked out. We have different options, Mr. Dabertin even mentioned something in there that maybe something could be worked out, so, you know, we’ll just go and go from there. Chief of Staff Dabertin - I just want o clarify for everyone that as far as the scrap, in the first month it took in $5,000, which is about $60 thousand a year. Mr. Markovich is right, about $20 an hour for the employee, which means about $40 thousand for manpower, which means that it’s, you know, $40 thousand versus $60 thousand, so it’s taking in about 1.5 times the cost. So, I just wanted to clarify that. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to point out that the Street Department going up and down the alleys is nothing new. That’s part of their job. They have been doing that for a long time. So to imply that because the scrappers are now illegal that the Street Department has to go down the alley or if the elimination of dumpsters is approved tonight that the Street Department is going to have to go down the alleys and that’s gonna be extra work, it’s not extra. That is their job that they do daily. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: Higgs, Hinojosa ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 6/2/1 ORDINANCE PASSED ORDINANCE NO. 9194 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORD. 7685, 8200, 8564, 8630, 8645, 8718, 8754, 8755, 8854, 8930, 9017, AND 9061 ALSO KNOWN AS SECTION 36.005 (B) (1) OF THE HAMMOND MUNICIPAL CODE, AS IT PERTAINS TO APPROVED USES OF THE SIXTY PERCENT TO BE USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY OF HAMMOND INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES None RESOLUTIONS 13R-05 Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Brandon Dorsey as a Commissioner of the Human Relations Commission Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved for final adoption. Councilwoman Venecz - I have spoken with Mr. Dorsey, and just to give you a little bit of information about him. He was born and raised in Hammond. He graduated from Hammond High. He is a teachers assistant. He is a wrestling coach. He is also a camp councilor at a special needs summer camp and he’s raising his two children here in Hammond and he is a fine gentleman. So, I ask for approval of Mr. Dorsey. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION ADOPTED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 RESOLUTIONS cont. RESOLUTION NO. R05 A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF BRANDON DORSEY AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE HAMMOND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HAMMOND, INDIANA 13R-06 Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Anne Herbert as a Commissioner of the Human Relations Commission Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final adoption. Councilman Higgs - First and foremost, I wouldn’t want anyone representing me that goes around at election time or not in representing the Human Relations or any capacity of this city patting their butt in front of my parents, you parents, or any other parents. Totally disrespectful and I could never, ever, support someone in that fashion. You’re not gonna disrespect me, I’m not gonna disrespect you, and you’re certainly are not gonna disrespect my mother. Councilwoman Venecz - I thank you, Councilman Higgs, for your opinion, however I would like to tell the remainder of the council and the viewing and listening audience about Anne Herbert. Anne Herbert is vice president of the Citywide Crime Watch. She is a member of the East Hammond Pullman Crime Watch. She is a Red Cross volunteer. Most recently, she returned from New Jersey after helping victims of Hurricane Sandy. She volunteers at the soup kitchen at St. Monica and Luke Catholic Church in Gary. She is a board member of Pat Bradley Center, which is a transitional home. I personally know Anne Herbert. She is very involved in the city. I understand that not all of us can like everyone. However, I do believe that because of Ms. Herbert’s involvement in the community that she would be an asset to the Human Relations Commission. Councilman Higgs - I beg to differ. Anyone that goes around disrespecting elders. It’s the way that you’re raised. The reality of it is you’re not gonna disrespect me and my mother and I wouldn’t do it to you or your mother. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: Higgs ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 7/1/1 RESOLUTION ADOPTED RESOLUTION R06 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF ANNE HERBERT AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 RESOLUTIONS cont. 13R-07 Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Leanne Munoz as a Commissioner of the Human Relations Commission Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final adoption. Councilman Emerson - I met Ms. Munoz recently and I talked to her at her place of employment, which is the Hammond Heart District. She is a graduate of Gavit High School. A graduate of Purdue University Calumet, where her and her family benefitted from the College Bound Program. She’s had five years working in public relations. Marketing Environment skilled in developing strategies for government, newspaper and non-profit organizations. She’s has the ability to thrive in a demanding environment requiring a high degree of deadline driven productivity, communications, and what I was impressed with is was adaptability. She has worked her way up in the position she has now and she by all means, I think that this is a very good appointment. Councilman Markovich - Again, we’ve had discussions in the caucus that sometimes doesn’t come out her on the council floor. I opposed this person. I don’t know who she is or anything but on January 2012 she was hired by the City of Hammond as Recreation Director. Then twelve months later she got promoted to Building Manager at the Jean Shepherd Center. With the Kernin Report, Shepherd Report, you know, they brought up several things here in the City of Hammond about conflict of interest, of course some people can say it’s not a conflict of interest and it’s not, but there’s always that perception out there. When you have a city employee sitting on a board, and I’ve been on several boards with city employees that you can tell you that the sky is blue and it’s black and they’re gonna vote that it’s black and that’s just the way it happens. When you have a boss that oversees you and determines whether your still gonna have a job or not, you’re gonna end up voting a certain way and I’ve seen it time and time again on several of these boards. So, again, I don’t know the lady. If she would have had a degree in social work, being that human relations. This lady is only 22 years old. A lot of us out there have been married, we have kids, we have life conflicts, difficulties, and we know how to handle things that come before the Human Relations Board. Somebody brought up about rental, how come they’re not getting their security deposit back. I’m surprised Human relations even gets involved with something like that. That’s why you have the courts. If a landlord doesn’t want to give you your security deposit back, that’s a civil action. That has nothing to do with the Human Relations or anything. So why that was even brought up, I mean, I don’t even know. I mean, if the lady had a degree in social work, that’d be okay, but she has a degree in journalism. What we have before us is her resume to apply for a job in journalism. It’s not to be Recreation Director, or Building Manager. Somebody that’s a Building Manager ought to have a background in engineering or maintenance or so forth so that when there’s a problem at the building that they can handle it. Not write a letter or anything. But that’s just me, and that’s the way I feel about it. But, again, the basic thing is with the Shepherd- Kernin report is, that city employees, and we have a new law that became effective July 1st, that if you’re elected official that if you’re an elected official you can not be a city employee. If you’re a county official you can not be an elected official if you’re a county employee. There’s nothing different here that you should be sitting on a board being a city employee. We have 80 thousand people here. I’m sure that we can find other people that want to sit on boards and volunteer. The other thing is that we have several city employees that sit on more than one board, and that’s not right either. So you be the judge when they’re putting a city employee on a board there’s got to be ulterior motives. If the person is qualified and educated an experienced, I have no Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 8 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 RESOLUTIONS cont. Councilman Markovich cont. - problem with it,. But when it comes down to when you have conflicts and resolution where it comes before this Human Relations Board, there’s gonna be other factors that are gonna come into play and the real outcome is not gonna be fair to both sides, whether it’s the city or that employee. Councilman Higgs - Councilman Markovich can sit here and say that but in reality you have to put an ordinance before your colleagues and go forward with it if that’s how you feel about the employees and if you feel there’s a conflict. That’s reality. Let’s not play games here. Councilman Markovich - Councilman Higgs is absolutely correct. We used to have an ordinance here. It was in our salary ordinance. If you were a city employee you could not sit on any board. You could not draw another salary. But low and behold, that ordinance in the salary ordinance disappeared. It was stricken out of there. So, I can concur with Councilman Higgs that we’ll go ahead and have Mr. Berger go ahead and draw up the ordinance and we’ll see where it goes. Then we’ll know what’s going on here, but we did have that ordinance and it was in our salary ordinance and it was taken out. Why? You be the judge. Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to point out that Leanne, according to her resume, was hired by the City of Hammond in March 2011, not 2012. So she has been with us for almost two years. She does have a bachelor of arts degree in Public Relations. I think that is the perfect background to be on the Human Relations Commission, her minor is in journalism and marketing. Because I have attended a couple of the meetings of the Human Relations Commission, I know that they just got a grant that they have to spend and what better way to spend that grant than to have somebody on this commission who has a journalism and marketing background. I’ve had a conversation with a doctor who lives in the Harrison Park are who is concerned about Hammond marketing to the LBGT community. I think Leanne would be the perfect candidate to be on this commission. Thank you. Councilman Emerson - I just wanted to say one thing. Leanne is not an elected official, so I’d just like to add that. Councilman Markovich - It says here March 2011 Special Events intern. I don’t recall seeing in our budget where we have a position being paid for Special Events Intern. It’s my understanding when these people are working as interns they’re doing it as an education to get experience but I wasn’t aware we were paying interns now and if we go back and look at the budget, I don’t think there’s a line item there or a specific position that says Special Events Intern for the Parks Department. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: Markovich, Higgs ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 6/2/1 RESOLUTION ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS cont. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 9 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 RESOLUTION R07 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF LEANNE MUNOZ AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to suspend the rules to consider 13R-08. AYES: ALL 13R-08 Resolution Confirming the Appointment of Gabriela Gallegos as a Commissioner of Hammond Human Relations Commission of the City of Hammond, Indiana Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved for final adoption. Councilman Hinojosa - Gabriela Gallegos lives in the 6th District on the 6800 block of Montana. Attended Purdue University Calumet. Obtained a bachelor’s degree from the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Foreign Languages with a GPA of 3.68 and also A-B honor roll and the Dean’s List at Morton High School. Her skills are speak, read and write fluently in English and Spanish. Strong communication skills. Loyal and dedicated employee. Responsible, organized, respectful and reliable. Employment history, she’s been a substitute teacher from 2011-2012 in the School City of East Chicago. She’s been a Paraprofessional at the School City of East Chicago from 2009 to 2011. Also, in the School City of Hammond she’s been a tutor from November 2008- 2009. Councilman Kalwinski - Who would Ms. Gallegos be replacing? Councilman Hinojosa - I don’t know. This is a first time for her so I don’t know. Councilman Spitale - Was there two available spots on this? Councilwoman Venecz - I’m aware of several vacancies on this commission. Councilman Hinojosa - This one here, I guess I had to pick somebody from the 6th District and Gabriela Gallegos has the qualifications for it. Councilman Spitale - Councilwoman, do you know how many spots are available on this? Councilwoman Venecz - Oh, I just looked at the list today. I want to say ..... I know they didn’t have enough for a quorum even. Councilman Spitale - How many are on this? NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 10 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 Councilwoman Venecz - I want to say ..... Commissioner Cheeks, how many commissioners are on? Human Relations Commissioner Alvin Cheeks - How many are on now? Councilwoman Venecz - No, no, how many should there be? Commissioner Cheeks - There should be a total of nine. Councilwoman Venecz - And I know that they were missing at least five. ROLL CALL VOTE AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: Higgs ABSENT: Salinas Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. R08 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF GABRIELA GALLEGOS AS A COMMISSIONER OF HAMMOND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HAMMOND, INDIANA Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Higgs read a correspondence from Greater Hammond Community Services thanking him for his contribution. Councilman Higgs - On tomorrow in the exemplifying and acknowledging Black History Month, at 10 am in the City Hall Chambers, Mayor McDermott as well as the Community Development Corporation will be having a tribute to the oldest African American females in the City of Hammond. So those of you who can attend, please attend and thank you so much. Councilwoman Venecz - I would also like to announce another Black History Program sponsored by the East Side Community Council. It will be Thursday, February 28th at the Ophelia Steen Center at 6 p.m. Councilwoman Venecz - I would also like to announce some crime watch meetings for those who are interested in doing good in their community. On Wed., Feb. 27th, Columbia Crime Watch is meeting at Columbia School at 6:30 p.m. Also, on Wed., Feb. 27th , Jefferson Crime Watch is meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson School. Fri., March 1st , Irving Community Watch is meeting at Irving School at 1:30 p.m. Wed., March 6th, Edison Community Watch will be meeting at Edison School, that is at 6:30 p.m. and the Mayor is the guest speaker for that evening. Also, Edison Community Watch is going on the road. They will be at the Golden Manor Senior NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 11 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 Councilwoman Venecz cont. - Apartments on Thur., March 7th at 1:30 p.m. And that is how change happens, one gesture, on person, one moment at a time. Councilman Higgs - I would like to personally thank my mother, and my aunt, as well as Talea, and some of my other family members, and Ms. Cobb from the NAACP for attending the meeting tonight. Thank you so much. Councilman Emerson - Just for F.Y.I. Saturday I attended a meeting in Merrillville and State Representative Reardon was there, a number of ... Senator Lonnie Randolph, a number of veterans, and a number of concerned citizens and the issue that I went there for was Lake County is attempting and working to get a Veteran’s Court and I just wanted to bring it out here in New and Unfinished if people would like to call me with information on it. It does have some resistance, not from the County but from other people, Sheriff Buncich was there. It was an informational meeting, not so much for the court but a lot of bills that affect us in Hammond that are going on in Indianapolis right now, and I won’t get into a lot of them. I’m sure you’re gonna hear about them, affect the whole State. Like everything down there, from what I remember, is from reading the paper and studying a little bit, things happen in sessions and what we’re hearing now may not be what the final votes are, But anyway, if anyone has any questions about the Veteran’s Court Proposal in lake County give me a call and I can tell you our side of it. Thank you. Councilman Higgs - I certainly want to emphasize on that. There is gonna be some legislation acting in terms of State Rep.’s this coming month in March at the State House and so I don’t know if you received it in your package but if you’re interested in attending I would assume that you possibly sign up and try to be there as well. I plan to attend and find out some of the important issues like the library and some other issues. I’m certainly gonna come up as the Governor will address some of the issues that’s gonna effect the city as a whole. Councilman Markovich - Last Council when I talked about the Little City by the Lake, Whiting, when the girls won the sectionals and they beat Bishop Noll and I’m unhappy to report that they didn’t win the regionals, they got beat in their first game by Boone Grove and so I’m not a happy camper when we lost. But they represented Northwest Indiana, they did a good job and like I said in the minutes here, I said I’ll have to have a follow up. Well, I’m giving the follow up from two weeks ago and it’s not a good follow up but just lettin everybody know. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Carolyn Jackson - United Nations declared March 20 be observed as the International Day of Happiness. Use the Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 12 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. FEBRUARY 25, 2013 money saved by cutting the dumpsters towards the library. When you make cuts always look at having a solution to improve the well being of others. Alvin Cheeks - We’re still gonna have our dumpsters and clean-up. Don’t forget the golf hole for the kids. I do support the library. Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ______________________________ Michael Opinker, President ATTEST: Hammond Common Council ________________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Minutes accepted and approved at the meeting of March 11, 2013. Time: 7:05 pm cb Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 13