City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MARCH 11, 2013 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on March 13, 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, Salinas, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker ABSENT: Hinojosa TOTAL: 8 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of February 25, 2013 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from February 20, 2013 through March 6, 2013. Claim #1108 through claim #1340. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to amend in claim: #1341 The Whiting Lions Club Common Council $50.00 ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Salinas, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Hinojosa Motion carried 8/0/1 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Salinas, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Hinojosa Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 11, 2013 PUBLIC HEARINGS 13-06 Appropriation - $32,446.52 - From Operating Balance Innkeepers Tax To Hotel/Motel Account-Economic Development No one spoke. COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs read correspondence from the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce announcing their General Membership Luncheon on Wed., March 27, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. Councilman Higgs read invitation from Meals on Wheels regarding the Meals on Wheels National 2013 March on March 20, 2013. Councilman Higgs read correspondence from Purdue Calumet Weather Institute which will be celebrating on March 22, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Spitale - Brought out 13-06. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 13-06 An Ordinance to Appropriate Funds in the Hotel/Motel Innkeepers Tax Fund for Hammond Economic Development Marketing Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved for final passage. Councilman Spitale - This comes out every year. This is for Economic Development purposes. The fee on this that they have is $32,446.52. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Salinas, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Hinojosa Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9195 PASSED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 11, 2013 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 13-07 Amend Ord. No. 9182, also known as the Salary Ordinance for the Hammond City Court as it relates to Probation Officers Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved that the proposed ordinance go to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Finance Committee. Councilman Higgs - I’d like Clerk Golec to read those salaries. City Clerk Golec reads the salary portion from the proposed ordinance. Councilwoman Venecz - In reading over in preparation for this, I did speak with Judge Harkin and when Councilman Higgs requested the salaries be read, for the Chief Probation Officer, $62,305, that is two positions. The budget is being corrected from both the Judge’s and the Adult Probation portions of the budget so that was a little bit misleading. Council President Opinker - All those in favor? Opposed? AYES: ALL 13-09 Amending Ord. No.’s 4304, 8383, 8552, 8602 and Ord. 8814, also known as Sec. 150.025 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to Building Permit Fees 13-10 Amending Ord. No. 3351, also known as Sec. 151.35 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to Electrical License Transfer and Renewal 13-11 Amending Ord. No. 3351, also known as Sec. 151.36 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to the Revocation of an Electrical License 13-12 Amending Ord. No. 3351 and Ord. No. 4328, also known as Sec. 151.37 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to Electrical License Fee Schedule 13-13 Amending Ord. No. 8888, also known as Sec. 151.51 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to Electrical Permit Fees 13-14 Amending Ord. No. 4880, also known as Sec. 154.19 and Sec. 154.28 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to HVAC Examination Criteria and Fee Schedules 13-15 Amending Ord. No. 4880, also known as Sec. 154.23 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to HVAC Reciprocal Licenses 13-16 Amending Ord. No.’s 3456, 3851, 4588, 7658 and Ord. 8893, also known as Sec. 150.024 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to Contractor Fee Schedule Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 11, 2013 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES cont. 13-17 Amending Ord. No. 4880, also known as Sec. 154.25 and 154.26 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to the Revocation of an HVAC License 13-18 Amending Ord. No.’s 4880, 8383, 8779 and 8887, also known as Sec. 154.42 and 154.43 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to HVAC Permit Fees Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved that the proposed ordinances go to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred them to the Council as a Whole Committee. Councilman Emerson - Basically, what these ordinances are trying to do is to make current, and what I think they will do, is make current and uniform and bring consistency to our fee structure. Our permit fees that in some cases go back to the 1970's, the 1990's, and the 80's. So for three decades some of them are three decades old and the newest is over a decade old. In terms of what we charge or if we charge fees that other communities have been doing and we’re just trying to get some consistency and again bring us up into 2013. That’s the short version of what they do and Councilman Spitale, and that’s true for electrical and HVAC. Councilman Spitale - Yes, the fees that they charge in Gary is $150, East Chicago is $100, and Crown Point is $150. This time we hadn’t been having any fees, the problem they had they had tests lined up for people, they wouldn’t show up. So, this way they put up a fee then they’ll show up or they’ll lose the money on that. This also too does not pertain to any of the taxpayers. It won’t reflect any of those. Council President Opinker - All in favor? Opposed? AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs - While The Times is here I just wanted to make one thing perfectly clear. The incident that occurred that was rebutted or commented on, it was not just my mother present but there was the general public there and that was my concern. That was my reasoning for addressing that particular issue and so I wanted to make that perfectly clear. It wasn’t not just my mother, but the general public was there and it was very disrespectful. I said it last meeting and I still feel the same way. It was very disrespectful. Councilman Higgs - I received a letter from the Sanitary District of Hammond. It says, “Dear Mr. Higgs, this letter is going to address your letter to the Board of Works, myself, and Stan Dostatni. 1050 Drackert, the problem is actually at 1048 Drackert, who has an issue with their internal line that is causing the cave in. The homeowner has been notified to call the plumber for required since for this is a private line issue. Please review a copy of the last correspondence attached to the letter. 1007 Lions, a first inquiry referencing this address. A field investigator resulted that no sink holes located on the street or parkway over the sewer mains. We Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 11, 2013 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Higgs cont. - contacted the homeowners who stated they had no problems or even complained of having any. However, I find six located requests going back to 2002 for this address. If you have any additional information on the location or sink hole or would like to meet with our inspector on site, please feel free to call.” Councilman Higgs - I received a letter in regard to an incident that occurred by Harrison Park on the bike trail where two men jumped in front of me riding a motorcycle causing me to fall to the ground, demanded by scooter and keys at gun point. This was on February 23rd, 2013. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Salinas, moved to send a letter to the Chief in regards to patrolling that area as much as possible to deter the crime or incidents of this nature from happening in the future. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: 3-12-13 Councilman Higgs - Received a correspondence from Dayshia Robinson at 530 Waltham saying that there’s mold in her basement. She’s requesting the Inspectors from the Inspection Department to come and inspect the property and I have her phone number, I won’t call that out but certainly I’ll give it to Clerk Golec and he can forward it. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to send a letter to Code Enforcement in regards to addressing this issue. She lives in the basement apartment at 530 Waltham. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: 3-12-13 Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to suspend the rules to consider proposed resolution 13R-09. 13R-09 A Resolution Authorizing the Hammond Police Department to Apply for 2013 Indiana Criminal Justice Institution Grant to Create a Crime Mapping System in Hammond Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for final adoption. Councilwoman Venecz - This is a grant not to exceed $25 thousand that will coordinate with I.U.N. who will collect data regarding occurrences here in the City of Hammond and it will help the police department target problem areas add additional patrols. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Salinas, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Hinojosa Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION R09 ADOPTED Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 11, 2013 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Higgs - At 912 Merrill Street, the ornamental light is out. It needs to be fixed, as well as at 1150 Moss Street. It’s been out for a couple weeks. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Salinas, moved to send a letter to the Engineering Department in regards to these particular issues. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: 3-12-13 Councilwoman Venecz - For those who would like to do good in your community, I’d like to announce some upcoming Crime Watch meetings. Tues., March 12, Citywide Crime Watch will meet 6 p.m. at the police station. Wed., March 13, Woodmar Crime Watch is going to meet at 6 p.m. at the YMCA. Thur., March 14, the Whiting-Robertsdale Crime Watch will meet at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph College. Tues., March 19, East Hammond Pullman Crime Watch meets 6:30 p.m. at Ophelia Steen Center. Wed., March 20, the Lafayette Neighborhood Group will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Lafayette School. Thur., March 21, Hessville Crime Watch will meet at 7 p.m. at the Jean Shepherd Center. Also on Thur., March 21, the South Hammond Crime Watch will meet 7 p.m. at the Hammond Housing Authority Building. And that is how change happens, one gesture, one person, one moment at a time. Councilman Emerson - I’d like to wish you, your family, and everyone’s family, a very happy St. Patrick’s Day where everyone is Irish even if you’re 1/4 or 0 Irish. Councilman Higgs - Just to reemphasize on what he stated. We are all equal and so certainly I have no regrets in regards to whether your Irish, Polish or whatever, let’s celebrate and be happy and do what’s right for our great city. PUBLIC EXPRESSION None Councilman Salinas, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ______________________________ Michael Opinker, President ATTEST: Hammond Common Council ________________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:35 pm cb Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6