City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MAY 13, 2013 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on May 13, 2013 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Michael Opinker presided. Council Coordinator Carmen I. Balboa 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: None TOTAL: 8 Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to suspend the rules to bring out Res. 13R-18. AYES: ALL 13R-18 A Resolution Recognizing and Honoring Veteran’s Views Radio Program for its Service to the Community Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved for final adoption. Councilman Emerson - As co-sponsor of Res. 13R-18 and with some experience with the show, I want to say that all members of the show are volunteer. They do it for the good of the veterans and the good of the community they serve. Veterans in Hammond, but they also serve veterans around the world and without reading the whole resolution, Veteran’s Views is followed by over 100,000 people worldwide with the internet. They’ve been on in their fourth year, as I said, completely volunteer. Very proud to sponsor this resolution. It was a brain child of Dennis Schultz, Don Schultz, Ernie Dillon, Dan Archer, Patrick O’Donnell and many other sponsors that sponsor the show. Again, they do this volunteer and a veteran service officer is always there to answer questions that veterans may have. With Memorial Day coming up, you know they do honor the fallen but their show, as we will honor the fallen this month. But they also honor the living veterans who by their very nature are very proud men and women. They don’t always seek help and so the show provides a great service and so I’m honored to co-sponsor this. Councilman Spitale - I’m a co-sponsor also to this resolution. Whether you’re a veteran or not, it’s a very educational program to listen to. I’m sure there’s probably more than 100,000 involved with it now listening to this program. To give their time up for two, three hours through the week they get together and do this. It’s a great program (unclear) exact time and the dates are Fridays at 9 to 10. It’s a great program and thanks so much for your volunteering and putting it together for everybody, thank you. Councilman Higgs - I’d like to be added as a sponsor of this particular resolution. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 SUSPENSION OF RULES cont. Council President Opinker - Put us all on as sponsors, Carmen. ROLL CALL VOTE (adopted) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 8/0/0 RESOLUTION R18 ADOPTED Mayor McDermott - I know that there’s a lot of people here today. I sort of wanted to explain the process regarding Ordinance 13-23 and 13-24 which is an additional appropriation request by the Hammond Public Library. There was about a month, I guess, probably even a little bit longer ago, an issue brought up in Executive Committee about the additional appropriation from the library board. It was suggested that last year instead of combining two separate requests like the Hammond Library did they had a request for an additional budget appropriation along with an appropriation from Rainy Day Fund and when it was denied by the Council and the Mayor it shot both of their requests down. So, four or six weeks ago it was suggested that why don’t we separate these two issues and bring the request from the Rainy Day Fund separately so it doesn’t mix itself with the tax cap ramifications. So, this is 13-23 and 13-24. In the Executive Session I heard the Council mention that June 10th was gonna be a date for the public hearing. Council President Opinker - That is correct. Mayor McDermott - And then after that public hearing, I imagine that night it will be ready for final reading. It seems to me that a lot of people believe that this is a contentious issue and I don’t believe this particular issue about the appropriation from the Rainy Day Fund is a contentious issue. So I wanted to let everybody know that tonight I don’t think anything else is gonna happen in regards to this issue because we have to have a public hearing and I don’t anticipate, unless something flares up, I don’t anticipate problems that night. So hopefully we’ll have an answer for a lot of people in the crowd June 10th about what’s gonna happen with this request. But it seems like it’s moving along as we anticipated at this point. Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Higgs - Addressing the particular issue as it relates to the library, certainly there are a number of my constituents and members of the community as a whole here tonight in regards to this particular issue. There are procedures that have to be followed in respect to these particular ordinance, 13-23 and 13-24, which I happen to be the sponsor of. What has to happen is it’s gonna go through 1st and 2nd Reading tonight, and a public hearing, because it’s a re-appropriation, has to happen and that’s gonna take place on June 10th. However, if we would have had the meeting two weeks ago we would be much further in this particular issue but because the meeting was cancelled for a number of reasons and Councilman Opinker cancelled the meeting, we’re addressing the issue tonight. So what’s gonna happen is it’s gonna go to 1st ans 2nd Reading, Council as a Whole, and then from that point on there’s a public hearing which allows the public to come before this body, the Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 ROLL CALL cont. Councilman Higgs cont. - legislative of the City of Hammond and address any concerns or issues that they may have in respect to these particular ordinances. Then we can go into 3rd and Final Reading and finally the money will be relinquished. So that’s the procedure and it has to be followed by law. Mayor McDermott - Is 13R-15 coming out tonight, Mr. President? Council President Opinker - Well, Councilman Markovich wasn’t in the caucus and we weren’t going to bring it out. Mayor McDermott - Is that coming out tonight Councilman Markovich? Regarding the County Income Tax. Councilman Markovich - They said that they would bring it out tonight since we didn’t have a meeting last month. Council President Opinker - Does that mean you’re bringing it out? Councilman Markovich - Yes. Mayor McDermott - No problem, thanks. DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Opening remarks were made by Barry Tyler of the Legacy Foundation. Mrs. Theresa A. Mayerik of the School City of Hammond, IN introduced each schools representative. BISHOP NOLL INSTITUTE - Michelle Arnold Jessica Smith CLARK HIGH SCHOOL - Lydia Gil Lauren Salley Manuel Palacios Edward Piaseczny GAVIT HIGH SCHOOL - Michelle Ondas Austin Franco Helen Shelton Jacob Jimenez Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS cont. HAMMOND HIGH SCHOOL - Leslie Anders Diana Vargas Deanna Scott Bianca Santana Areli Rodriguez MORTON HIGH SCHOOL - Greg Easton Samantha Couch Genesis Tarver Jasmine Knowles Michael Hernandez READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of April 8, 2013 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the claims from April 3, 2013 through May 8, 2013. Claim #1816 through claim #2410, inclusive. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to amend in claim: Claim #2411 Ballet Folklorico Common Council $120.00 Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to amend claim #2176 for the Boys and Girls Club from $2,500.00 to $3,000.00. Council President Opinker - Roll call vote on the amendments. ROLL CALL VOTE (amendmenst) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 8/0/0 AMENDMENTS APPROVED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 8/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Council President Opinker reads a letter of resignation as 2nd District Councilman from Councilman Salinas. Councilman Higgs - I’d just like to say that it’s been a pleasure working with Councilman Salinas. I will definitely be in prayer for him as well as his family. Councilman Higgs announces “Who got game?” the 9th annual 3 on 3 basketball tournament at Martin Luther King Park on Saturday, June 22nd, all day beginning at 8:00 a.m. Councilman Higgs discusses the flooding issues in the 3rd District. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole - Councilman Emerson - Brought out 13-20, 13-21 and 13-22. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 13-20 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance Numbers 3947, 4307 and Ordinance 8383, also known as Section 156.20 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining to Plumbing Permit Fees in the City of Hammond Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for final passage. Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to amend on page 2, section F, second sentence, starting with the word “If”, “If the work is included in permit of general contractor than no additional permit fee will be charged.” That should be moved to page 3, near the bottom where it says all other ($50 minimum). That sentence should be put right below that. ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 8/0/0 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 8/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9208 PASSED (as amended) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. 13-21 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance Number 3947 also known as Section 156.11 of the Hammond Municipal Code, pertaining Plumbing Registration Procedures and Fees in the City of Hammond Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 8/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9209 PASSED 13-22 An Ordinance Creating a New Chapter of Title XV: Land Usage of the Hammond Municipal Code as it pertains to Limited Criminal Background Checks for Contractor Licenses Issued in the City of Hammond Councilman Emerson, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 8/0/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9210 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 13-23 Appropriation - $524,041 - Hammond Public Library Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved that the proposed ordinance go to 1st and 2nd reading by title, referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee, with a public hearing on June 10, 2013. AYES: ALL 13-24 Appropriation - $2,000 - Hammond Public Library Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved that the proposed ordinance go to 1st and 2nd reading by title, referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee, with a public hearing on June 10, 2013. AYES: ALL 13-25 Concerning Operation of Golf Carts Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved that the proposed ordinance go to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 6 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 RESOLUTIONS 13R-15 A Resolution Opposing Imposition of County Income Tax Councilman Markovich moved for final adoption. Motion died for lack of a second. 13R-17 A Resolution Authorizing the Hammond Fire Dept. to Apply for a 2013 Indiana Department of Homeland Security Grant Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for final adoption. Councilman Hinojosa - This to apply for some grant money which is $4 thousand that has to be approved by the council and it’s for new harnesses for the Fire Department. Councilman Higgs asked to be added as a co-sponsor. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: None Motion carried 8/0/0 RESOLUTION NO. R17 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to suspend the rules to bring out an ordinance that didn’t get on the agenda. AYES: ALL 13-26 Ordinance Authorizing the City of Hammond, Indiana, to Issue its Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2013 (Marina District Project) and Approving Other Actions in respect thereto Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved that the proposed ordinance go to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to return to the regular order of business. Councilman Higgs read correspondence from the Hammond Police Department inviting everyone to join them in “A Police Officer’s Prayer”, remembering their brothers and sisters who have taken the ultimate steps in helping in protecting others at the Hammond Police Department, 509 Douglas Street, on Wednesday, May 22nd at 2 p.m. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 7 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to send a letter to Engineering and Code Enforcement that 1047 Moss Street needs to be demolished and it’s been sitting vacant and its really a nuisance to the community. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: MAY 14, 2013 and revised on MAY 16, 2013 Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to send a letter to Code Enforcement regarding the money that’s allocated throughout the city for demolition. I’d like to see an analysis of all the properties that have been demo’d thus far and which ones are on the list to be demo’d. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: MAY 14, 2013 Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to send a letter to the Park Dept. that currently I see there’s a number of projects in terms of parks throughout the city. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing some renovation done at MLK and certainly would like to see what’s the plan besides the current plan at Harrison Park with the Tennis Courts. I want to see some more rides for the kids as well. So if I can get a feasability study done on that and I guess we would have to send it to Economic Development to find out where we’re at and what needs to be done to get that completed. It would be greatly appreciated. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: MAY 14, 2013 Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to send a letter to the Hammond Police Dept. for extra patrols to watch Nebraska Drive south of 173rd due to home break ins. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: MAY 14, 2013 Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to send a letter to the Engineer. We’re kinda waiting for the design to be completed on Kenwood. It’s due for one of my projects to be completed for Kenwood from Calumet to Columbia and for whatever reason it’s taking a long time for them to get this off the ground. I’d like to know where we’re at and the particulars of that particular project. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: MAY 14, 2013 Councilman Higgs - Last, but not least, I want to re-emphasize on what the procedure was in regards to the library issue. It went to 1st and 2nd Reading by title and then it went to Council as a Whole, so that means the entire body is going to look at those particular ordinances. Then there will be a committee meeting and a public hearing scheduled on the same day and hopefully on June 10th it will be all completed. That’s the target date. Councilman Emerson - With the recent rain event a few weeks ago, I guess, constituent had a real problem in his basement. The pipe that goes down into your basement floor, there’s another pipe that comes out of that and I don’t know the correct term used for rodding out when that’s plugged up. Well the force of whatever went on Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 8 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Emerson cont. - with the rain event popped his... that part off and it hit the wall. That’s how strong of a force. Anyway long story short, he had leaves and whirly birds and we won’t mention other things that were coming up in the basement. Well, since that time he has told me no less than five times the big truck with the vacuum and it has a technical name and I don’t know what it is that Sanitary Department uses. Vactor did someone say? Vacuum truck, well yes, that’s what I call it. Anyway they have been relentless in trying to get his manhole drained, cleaned out. So, I mean just to let people know they do that all over the city. I’m not aware how many trucks we have. I know we have more than one. We have three did somebody say? I just want to get that in that they did a great job. I hope the next rain event his sewer flows freely. Councilwoman Venecz - For those who wish to be informed about what is going on in their neighborhood and do good in your neighborhood. I have a list of crime watch meetings that are coming up being that we will not meet until the 10th of June the list is a little bit long so please bear with me. May 14 Citywide Crime Watch Police Department 6:00 p.m. May 15 Lafayette Crime Watch Lafayette School 6:30 p.m. May 16 Hessville Crime Watch Jean Shepherd Center 7:00 p.m. May 16 South Hammond Crime Watch Hammond Housing Authority 7:00 p.m. May 22 East Hammond Pullman Ophelia Steen Center 6:30 p.m. May 29 Columbia Crime Watch Columbia School 6:30 p.m. May 29 Jefferson Crime Watch Jefferson School 6:30 p.m. May 31 Irving Community Watch Irving School 8:30 a.m. June 4 Edison Community Watch Edison School 6:30 p.m. June 5 Harrison Park Crime Watch VFW on Hohman 5:00 p.m. With the weather getting warmer and things happening in our neighborhoods, we all need to look out our window. We all need to call the police. We all need to know what is going on in our neighborhood. So we’ve been called do gooders, but these are the people who keep our neighborhoods safe and keep our police department informed as to some of the activity in our neighborhoods. I urge you all to go to your local crime watch meeting or any other crime watch meeting and you will find a wealth of information about our city. So I look forward to seeing you all there. That is how change happens, one gesture, one person, one moment at a time. Councilman Markovich - Two weeks ago our City Council meeting was cancelled. Statements were being made to the news media that things would happen tonight and I’m just going by quotes what’s in the newspaper. My resolution failed to get a second and if we’re gonna have discussion tonight at this time I would request Mr. Opinker that you step down as president and get in our debate because the Council President is not allowed to debate issues from the chair. So anyway, it was brought up where I had this resolution against the County Income Tax. Several statements were mentioned in the news media from Monday, April 22nd’s paper which was supposed to have been the night of our council meeting. It says, Councilman Opinker, there’s really not anything on there, on the agenda, that needs attention at this moment. There’s nothing that can’t wait, I should say. Mr. Opinker said council members will bring up Markovich’s resolution the next time they meet. That’s tonight. I brought it up and I couldn’t get a second for whatever reason. Council members are also to discuss combined $526 thousand in appropriations for the library. The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 9 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Markovich cont. - slated for May 13th, that’s tonight. I quote Councilman Opinker, “To be honest with you I don’t even know why Markovich is bringing that resolution out due to the fact that it has nothing to do with the Hammond City Council. It’s County.” Well, I beg to differ. That is our responsibility here too. As councilmen. Nine members of this city council. We’re represented by 80 thousand people and we’re supposed to act on their behalf. Councilman Higgs brought up about flooding in basements. I had water in my basement. To this day I don’t know why that meeting was cancelled and nobody can give a reason. There’s only certain ways you can cancel a meeting, the same way that you can schedule a meeting. So anyway, I go on to say here in this article, Markovich said he’s proposing the resolution because he has questions on how the tax may impact social security and other payments county residents receive such as child support. Well when I had discussion with Bill Dolan for about twenty minutes, nobody could give an answer whether your social security is gonna be taxed. Since that time we found out that only a partial of your social security is gonna be taxed on the county income tax. Railroad pensions are going to be excused and I believe there was one other item. But anybody that has a 401K and has a pension you take that money off to live off and you’re gonna be taxed on it. People that are familiar with traditional IRA’s and you move that money from a traditional to a ROTH where you pay the taxes on it and you put it in your ROTH account so it can grow you still can not touch that money for five years. But yet with this county income tax you’re gonna be taxed on your money that you’re using to save to put in your ROTH IRA, which you’re being double taxed. You’re taxed by the traditional and you’re being taxed again by the county council. Child support, alimony, your savings, your dividends. You know the comment was made like Pelosi, go ahead and pass it and we’ll figure it out later on. You know, for somebody to say it’s county, it has nothing to do with us. There were several cities and towns that passed resolutions saying that they are in favor of it. They want it, okay. When they had the meeting Friday at 8:30 there was the headlines in Schererville, the Schererville town council said they are against it. You know, I took people by their word. We were supposed to act on it. They could hide behind the thing that I couldn’t get a second. That’s why I’m asking Councilman Opinker to step down and get into the debate and give me that second so we can vote on it. That’s all I’m asking. There’s no other reasons to cancel the meetings for that night. I have two parts to this discussion here. Because I want to know who are the five people that said that they couldn’t meet. When we call a special meeting we you have to have signatures of five people to have a special meeting. You also need five signatures to cancel a meeting. I did not even get the courtesy from a council member why the meeting was cancelled, I got it from a secretary and the secretary couldn’t even tell me why it was cancelled. I had water in my basement. Supposedly a lot of councilmen used that excuse that they had water in their basement. I sure as hell, when I get water in my basement Thursday I’m not gonna wait til Monday night, the night of the council meeting to start cleaning it out. I just want to know because all the calls I got about water in the basement and so forth, Councilman Higgs brought it up, Councilman Emerson brought it up, you know what, I showed up to that meeting. But you know what, people believe the newspaper, sometimes. They said the meeting was cancelled and nobody showed up. But was it cancelled legally? No. Proper notice wasn’t given. Proper procedures weren’t done. What’s the big deal about it? Was it the resolution? I didn’t want to go on record and say that. You be the judge on that. Was it the resolution? Why was there special meetings called by the county council? They didn’t even give their 48 hours notice and then they are meeting on that Friday night had to be cancelled because the proper notice wasn’t given to the newspaper. So they did it the following week and then they did it and they rushed it. They were supposed to meet tonight or today, May 13, the County Council. What did they do? They had another special meeting. Was it all because of my resolution? You be the judge. But we were hired to Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 10 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Markovich cont. - represent the people. People gave their word. Your word has to be good. If you don’t have your word or your good name you have nothing and the people have nothing also. So all I’m asking is for Councilman Opinker to step down and second my resolution so we can take action on it under New and Unfinished Business. Councilman Higgs - Well I certainly want to speak and address that issue so that everybody is clear where I am. I was kind of ... Councilman Markovich - Point of Order. If we’re gonna have discussion on my resolution then it has to be brought up first motioned and seconded then we can have discussion. If somebody wants to give how they’re gonna vote or what they’re gonna do or how they feel then bring the resolution on the floor and let’s discuss it like Robert’s Rules and Order says it’s supposed to be done and we’ll discuss it. Other than that if nobody wants to bring it out, you the people out there can take for whatever way you want to believe it. If they don’t want to bring it out, then they don’t want to act on it and you know what, probably they are in favor of the county income tax. Because you know it and I know it when somebody doesn’t want to vote on something they walk out the door or they hide it or they try to destroy it. All I’m asking for is a fair issue, a fair hearing, and a fair representation of the people who called me and told me to bring it up and do it. Other council’s have voted in favor of it, others have rejected it and nobody knew and you know what, we’re taking a big hit. We’re taking a big hit on this county income tax because it’s not being done right. My definition of wages is when you go to work and you get a paycheck you pay the county income tax on it. But you leave my savings alone where I paid the taxes on it already. You leave my dividends alone where I paid the taxes on it. You leave my IRA alone. You leave my pension alone. But its bringing everything in and it’s hitting everyone where it hurts the most. In their pocket. The senior citizens. The people that have saved. Saved for their kids college education. It’s gonna kill us. I did some figuring and I talked about it to Bill Dolan about it for twenty minutes and nobody can give an answer about social security. But we talked about the big economic boom at BP Amoco where they had 12 thousand outside contractors working there. They didn’t even live in Lake County, the majority of them. So yet they came there and if they make $40 an hour, eight hours a day, that’s $320 a day. Now I may be wrong on the percentage but I took the .025 which is $8 a day that each one of these workers would make. That’s 5 thousand workers a day. I base dit on 5 thousand but then I was told there was 12 thousand. So I did 8 thousand workers times $32 a day. That’s $2.5 million a day that those contractors would have paid into Lake County. We got a $15 million deficit that they were supposed to try and fix. We were gonna get $2.5 million a day. I’m sorry, $64 thousand a day. Five days a week. That’s $320 thousand a week times 50 weeks was $16 million. That was our deficit. That would have wiped it out. Now I’m not professing to be a math wizard. My figures may be wrong because I’m using the wrong percentage. But that was just the outside contractors that didn’t even live in Lake County coming here to work getting their $320-400 a day and gong someplace else and spending it. Plus the fact that everybody keeps crying for jobs. How many jobs did they take away from the local people that live here in Lake County, couldn’t get in there and work because you had these outsiders coming and taking their jobs away. But what does everybody say, the people of Lake County are not qualified to work. That’s what they say they’re not qualified to work. I mean I want to say I’m sorry but I’m not. But this needs to be addressed. Step up to the place and I want to say show your true colors and represent your people and that’s where it’s at. It’s not a county issue. This is our issue. It’s our issue. Everyone of you out there, all 80 thousand people. But yet we still don’t Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 11 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Markovich cont. - know why this meeting was cancelled. Was it because of the resolution? I guess I’ve given you enough information that you be the judge and that’s where it’s at. All I’m asking is for the people of Hammond all 80 thousand to get a fair hearing on this resolution and take action on it. Whether you like it or not step up to the plate and be a man or a woman and represent the people like you were elected to do. But don’t say it’s a county issue. The other cities and towns councils addressed it. Some voted for it, some voted against it. That’s all I’m asking. That’s what we were elected to do. Councilman Higgs - What’s the motion? Council President Opinker - There is no motion. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to bring back out 13R-15, Resolution Opposing the Imposition of a County Income Tax. Councilman Hinojosa - Point of Order, before you bring out a resolution you have to suspend the rules to bring that resolution out. Council President Opinker - That is correct. Councilwoman Venecz - First of all, this tax has passed. It will serve no useful purpose for us to bring this up and discuss it. Second, back in 2007 Councilman Markovich already had a resolution that was sent to the county, the state, and everybody else opposing the imposition of this county option tax and the council voted in favor of that, 9-0. In favor of the opposition to that. So how many times are we going to bring this up granted it was a while ago but how many times to we have to state our opinion on this. As for as the implication that something fishy went on with the last meeting. I communicated to my president and I did not need to communicate to you why I was not able to make that meeting. I have made every single meeting. Back in 2007 when you brought out this resolution in opposition to the county option tax you said we needed to get the state involved, the county involved, I didn’t see any busses going to Indianapolis. I didn’t see any busses out of Hammond organized by any of the council people going to Indianapolis in opposition of this tax or to Crown Point for that matter. So I don’t see any useful purpose for rehashing something that’s over and done with. We’re not going to change the vote. Councilman Higgs - As I was trying to state earlier in regards to this particular situation. I question as to why the meeting was cancelled. When I spoke to the president of the council he spoke to me and said that actually there was a flooding issue. So, give or take, that’s what was told to me. Whether it had been last meeting or this meeting, I’m prepared to vote on whatever comes before me. That’s just how I was raised. In regards to this, do I think it’s good. On one end it is. On the other hand, it’s gonna hurt some people. I’m gonna be honest. A lot of people are not gonna be happy when they get their tax bill. Regardless. But the reality of it is that what’s gon happen is that every surrounding city is gon need to bring some businesses here quickly or you’re gonna see some people walking away from their property. Because people are struggling just to keep a roof and food on their table and I can give you conversation after conversation of individuals that have approached me and Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 12 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Higgs cont. - personally said I’m having a hard time just trying to maintain. With an additional tax it’s gon hurt. No ifs ands and buts about it. But is this fiscal body is prepared and ready to vote on it, I’m okay with it. I know where I stand on the issue and I know how it went down and who voted for what. But the bottom line the voters have to make a decision and when you go to the polls you vote for the person who has your best interest. That’s the bottom line. That’s how I roll. I can’t speak for everybody else. There you have it. Councilman Markovich - Point of order, this resolution was listed on the agenda and because it didn’t get a second it’s still on the agenda it can be brought back out under New and Unfinished Business and that’s what I plan to do. Councilman Markovich moved to bring resolution 13R-15 out for action. Council President Opinker - Excuse me, Councilman Markovich. Atty. Berger, could we have an anser on that question? Council Atty. Berger - I don’t think this question is directly covered by Robert’s Rules of Order but it seems to me that when a motion fails for lack of a second it’s the same as it’s defeated by and 8 to 1 vote. I think the only way you could get it up is to reconsider and you’d have to be on the winning side in order to make a motion to reconsider. Councilman Markovich - I want to thank Council Atty. Berger for his thing and I would request that the clerk put this on the agenda for next council meeting. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Ann Herbert - Volunteer for American Red Cross. Red Cross came to Hammond to assist us after the area flooding with clean up kits. They were distributed April 29th and 30th. Councilman Higgs called the Red Cross and complained that nothing was being done for Hammond. The kits were already being delivered. Carlotta Blake-King - Asked that a 24 hour hotline be developed to call for information when rain events happen. Was told there is a service in the city that will reimburse up to $500 for plumbers fees. Everyone should know this information. Happy library issue is moving forward. Charlene Kirschsieper - Has a problem with the abuse of the company owned wooded area by her home. Are there any laws pertaining to this? Lt. Colonel Antonio Daggett - It’s important to remember the sacrifices that are being made by our military. We need to keep our men and women in our prayers. We need to have a support structure for transition back into civilian life. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 13 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MAY 13, 2013 PUBLIC EXPRESSION cont. Kitten Gray - Flooding issues and information. Thanked Councilman Higgs for donation to daughter for college tour. George Stoya - Found it offensive to request a vote on something that’s for all intents and purposes moot. Alvin Cheeks - He and Councilman Higgs used his equipment to help the people with the biggest emergencies. People need to install a check valve to stop the flooding. We need a condition orange plan. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to return to New and Unfinished Business. AYES: ALL Councilman Higgs - I just want to bring it back just a notch in regards to the particular issues that effect my community the most, which I represent the 3rd District. My line is always open no matter what. It doesn’t make a difference who you are, where you live. You can live in Hessville, you call me I’m gonna respond. As far as for me reaching out to Red Cross, I never made a phone call to Red Cross. Red Cross called me. So I just wanted to make that clear so the perception is not out there. The reality of it is Red Cross reached out to me. I never made a phone call to them. I realize that no matter what you do some people are not gonna be happy with who you are as a person. But one thing I do know, what God has for me it is for me. That’s all I have to see. Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Kalwinski, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ______________________________ Michael Opinker, President ATTEST: Hammond Common Council ______________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Minutes approved at the Council Meeting of June 10, 2013. Time: 7:50 pm cb Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 14