City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JUNE 23, 2014 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on June 23, 2014 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Michael Opinker presided. Council Coordinator Carmen I. Balboa facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Moment of Silence was observed. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Emerson, Opinker ABSENT: Higgs, Hinojosa TOTAL: 7 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to approve the minutes of June 9, 2014 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to accept the claims from June 4, 2014 through June 18, 2014. Claim #3063 through claim #3329, inclusive. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend in claims: #3330 IN Dept. of Transportation Engineer/ Gaming $41,156.12 #3331 IN Dept. of Transportation Engineer/ Gaming $26,917.35 Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to pull claims: 3171 Nies Engineering Engineer/ Gaming 16,643.36 3172 Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineer/ Gaming 18,926.36 Engineers 3173 Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineer/ Gaming 24,217.84 Engineers (Dist. 1) 3174 Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineer/ Gaming 37,731.98 Engineers (Dist. 1) 3175 Nies Engineering Engineer/ Gaming 85.00 (Dist. 1) 3176 Walsh & Kelly Engineer/ Gaming 4,220.00 (Dist. 1) 3177 Walsh & Kelly Engineer/ Gaming 9,520.15 (Dist. 1) 3178 Walsh & Kelly Engineer/ Gaming 11,123.01 (Dist. 1) 3179 Walsh & Kelly Engineer/ Gaming 12,137.97 (Dist. 1) Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 23, 2014 3180 Walsh & Kelly Engineer/ Gaming 17,393.02 (Dist. 1) 3181 Walsh & Kelly Engineer/ Gaming 210,030.75 (Dist. 1) Councilman Kalwinski - I just haven’t had time enough since I’ve been back to understand what those claims are for, so I just need clarification for next time. Thank you. ROLL CALL VOTE (Amending in #3300 & #3301) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs, Hinojosa Motion carried 7/0/2 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (Amending out #3172 thru #3181) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs, Hinojosa Motion carried 7/0/2 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (Claims as amended) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs, Hinojosa Motion carried 7/0/2 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS None COMMITTEE REPORTS None ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE None Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 23, 2014 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 14-22 An Ordinance of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana, Concerning the Refunding of Certain Bonds of the Sanitary District of Hammond through the Issuance and Sale of Refunding Bonds, and other matters connected therewith Councilman Markovich read the ordinance in its entirety. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to suspend the rules to allow the Sanitary District Superintendent and Finance Officer to explain the bonds. Council President Opinker - Rules suspended. Marty Wielgos, District Manager, Hammond Sanitary District - Pretty much as Councilman Markovich indicated in reading that ordinance, those bonds started in ‘97 and the previous years are all spelled out there. We have a chance, because of the way the market is and the interest rates being still very low to refinance those at a savings of approximately $300 thousand to the taxpayers. So that’s what we’re here to do today, to get your approval to do that. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to return to the regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title. AYES: ALL Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to suspend the rules for passage of 14-22. ROLL CALL VOTE (suspend rules for passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs, Hinojosa Motion carried 7/0/2 RULES SUSPENDED Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Emerson, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Higgs, Hinojosa Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE NO. 9256 PASSED RESOLUTIONS None Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JUNE 23, 2014 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to announce a couple of Crime Watch meetings. There are only two of them and that’s because the schools are closed during the summer so many of the Crime Watch’s do not meet. Tues., June 24 6:30 p.m. Pulaski Park Association American Legion Thur., July 10 Whiting Robertsdale C.W. 6:30 p.m. Calumet College Councilwoman Venecz - I would like to let everyone know that the Hammers for Hearts Work Camp Foundation which is in Colorado, it is a faith based organization of teenagers who travel throughout the country to areas of need to make repairs to homes of elderly, low income and disabled residents. This week 262 teenagers and their adult sponsors are here in Hammond. They will be staying at the Area Career Center affectionately remembered as the old Hammond Tech. They will be working on thirty seven homes throughout the City of Hammond. There are 3 homes in the 1st District, 3 in the 2nd District, 22 in the 3rd District, 5 in the 4th District, 1 in the 5th District, and 2 in the 6th District. Each year the city asks for volunteers to host hospitality on any given evening when they’re here, Monday thru Friday. As many of you know, I am with Edison Community Watch and once again we will be hosting the hospitality night on Wednesday, June 25th, again, at the Area Career Center from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Anyone who is interested in volunteering to make sure that the needs of all of these wonderful volunteers who come to the City of Hammond are met please give me a call. I welcome your help. So, thank you all for your consideration, and that is how change happens, one gesture, one person, one moment at a time. PUBLIC EXPRESSION None Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Michael Opinker, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Approved at the Common Council Meeting of July 14, 2014. Time: 6:15 pm cb Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4