City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MARCH 9, 2015 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on March 9, 2015 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 by Councilwoman Venecz. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker ABSENT: Markovich TOTAL: 8 PRESENTATION Councilwoman Venecz commended and introduced Whitley Buck, the Northwest Indiana Youth of the Year winner. READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of February 23, 2015 and Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to place the minutes on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved to approve claims from February 18, 2015 through March 4, 2015. Claim #1254 through #1590, inclusive. Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to amend in claims: #1591 Hammond Soccer Common Council $ 250.00 1592 IN Dept. of Transportation Mayor’s Gaming/Engineer $6,556.48 1593 IN Dept. of transportation Mayor’s Gaming/Engineer $7,720.80 1594 GEMS College Tour Common Council $ 200.00 ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 9, 2015 ABSENT: Markovich Motion carried 8/1/0 CLAIMS AMENDED APPROVAL OF CLAIMS cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich Motion carried 8/1/0 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) PUBLIC HEARINGS 15-03 An Ordinance to Appropriate Monies into the 2015 Gaming Fund 15-04 An Ordinance to Appropriate Funds in the Hotel/Motel Innkeepers Tax Fund for the Planning and Development Department ($47,046.71) No one spoke. COMMUNICATIONS None COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole - Councilman Hinojosa - Brought out 15-03 and 15-04. Community and Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Announced meetings: Wed., March 11th ; 5:30 p.m.; Columbia Crime Watch; Columbia School th Tues., March 17 ; E. Ham’d Pullman Crime Watch; Ophelia Steen Center; 6:30 p.m. Thur., March 19th ; Hessville Crime Watch; Jean Shepherd Center; 7:00 p.m. Wed., March 18th ; Lafayette Neighborhood Watch; Lafayette School; 6:30 p.m. Thur., March 19th ; South Ham’d Crime Watch; Ham’d Housing Authority; 7:00 p.m. Thur., March 12th , Whiting-Robertsdale; Calumet College; 6:30 p.m. ORDINANCE 3rd READING - FINAL PASSAGE 15-03 An Ordinance to Appropriate Monies into the 2015 Gaming Fund Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 9, 2015 Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. Councilman Higgs read the amounts appropriated. Councilwoman Venecz - It is my understanding that these dollars are left over from 2014 and they’re being transferred over to 2015, correct? Council President Opinker - That is correct. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich Motion carried 8/1/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9286 PASSED 15-04 An Ordinance to Appropriate Funds in the Hotel/Motel Innkeepers Tax Fund for the Planning and Development Department ($47,046.71) Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for passage. Councilman Spitale - This is tax money receive from the hotels and motels. The funds are made available for economic development purposes for the city of Hammond through county innkeepers taxes. This year they’re using the appropriation funds for training and advertising materials available in sites throughout the city of Hammond. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Hinojosa, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich Motion carried 8/1/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9287 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 15-08 Amending Section 93.047 of the Municipal Code as it pertains to Reimbursement Charges for Hammond Fire Department Hazardous Material Spills Councilman Hinojosa, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved the proposed ordinance 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 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 9, 2015 Councilman Higgs asked to be added as a sponsor. Councilwoman Venecz - Shouldn’t this be placed in Police & Fire Committee? Councilman Higgs - It’s the discretion of the council, it can be placed in Council as a Whole. We’re all gonna have a committee meeting on it anyway. 15-09 Designating the First Block of Highland Street as “Honorary John J. Latko Street” Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Hinojosa, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Council as a whole Committee. AYES: ALL INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES cont. Councilman Higgs - I’d like Clerk Golec to read the accolades from this gentleman who served our country very well. Council President Opinker - I object to that, Robert’s Rules of Order, Number 33, Request and Inquiry, Sec. D, No. 10. RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs - Seeing that you didn’t read it in its entirety I will disclose some of the accolades for the gentleman who I’m designating the 100 block of Highland Street. He served in pearl Harbor, very active in his community as well as to his family and he is now deceased. So those are some of the accolades and at some point I will send this to the press as well as to my constituents identifying him as a great gentleman who served our country well. PUBLIC EXPRESSION William J. O’Connor - Last November this council passed a $36 million bond issue to pay outstanding debt. That went up in flames two weeks ago when the issuer withdrew it because the city of Hammond’s financial condition is so poor. On the radio the Mayor said, “Remember, don’t hire Joe O’Connor for your attorney.” I’m Councilman Higgs attorney, I’m Councilman Hinojosa’s attorney, I’m Councilman Markovich’s attorney and Mr. Opinker I am not your attorney, I’m your mother and father’s attorney just like my father. The mayor shut the button off when I called in to respond but he’s gonna hear from me on Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. MARCH 9, 2015 May 5th. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Michael Opinker, President ATTEST: Hammond Common Council Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting on March 23, 2015. Time: 6:20 pm cb Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5