City Council

Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JULY 11, 2016 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on July 11, 2016 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 by Councilwoman Venecz. MOMENT OF SILENCE for the fallen officers of Dallas. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker ABSENT: Kalwinski, Torres TOTAL: 7 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of June 27, 2016 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to accept the claims from June 22, 2016 through July 6, 2016. Claim #4013 through claim #4277, inclusive. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to amend in claim: #4278 Lakeshore Communications Controller $3,960.00 Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to pull claim: #4259 Mullins, Ronald Human Relations $ 601.69 Council President Opinker - On the motion to pull claim #4259. All in favor? All opposed? AYES: ALL ROLL CALL VOTE (amend in claim #4278) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski, Torres Motion carried 7/0/2 AMENDMENT ADOPTED MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JULY 11, 2016 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk APPROVAL OF CLAIMS ROLL CALL VOTE (pull claim #4259) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Kalwinski, Torres Motion carried 7/0/2 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) PUBLIC HEARINGS None COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs read communications which was not picked up due to a recorder malfunction. Councilman Higgs read correspondence from Joan Crist requesting information on the property on the southwest corner of Hohman Avenue and Detroit Street. It was abandoned and demolished and is now being used as informal parking. What is the status of this property? Who owns it? What are they planning to do with this property? Who is cutting the grass? Are taxes or loans owed on it? Once the information is obtained I will talk to the residents and neighbors to see what we can do to better care for this property to enhance it and protect out neighbors. Councilman Higgs read correspondence from the Board of Works regarding the tree located at 6431 Monroe Avenue. The tree is more than the city could handle to cut down, if you would like to look into hiring a contractor to have the city tree removed............recorder malfunctioned. Councilman Higgs sent his condolences to the McPipe and Franks families. COMMITTEE REPORTS Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Upcoming meetings: Tues., July 19; East Ham’d Pullman Crime Watch; 6:30 p.m.; Ophelia Steen Center Thur., July 21; South Ham’d Crime Watch; Ham’d Housing Authority; 7 p.m. Thur., July 14; Whiting-Robertsdale Crime Watch; Calumet College; 6:30 p.m. Community and Crime Watch groups are hosting the National Night Out 2016. It’s a drug and crime prevention event at the Wolf Lake Splash Pad. That will be Tues., Aug. 2nd from 5 to 8 p.m. We have a whole host of events for children and adults and it should prove to be not only a fun time but also very informative for all of our residents. You will receive a free hot dog, chips and pop with a donation for Hammond Animal Control. They’re looking for dry dog or cat food, non-clumping cat litter, blankets, bleach, laundry soap, flea treatments or pet treats. Also, back in January of 2015 the Community and Crime Watch groups began an effort to post blue ribbons around the city in support of our Hammond Police Department. Well, we used plastic table cloths COMMITTEE REPORTS cont. Councilwoman Venecz cont. - to put the ribbons up and really they lasted quite a long time and it’s just now that they are beginning to wear out and so we’ve begun an effort throughout the city to post blue ribbons around the city to say thank you to our Hammond Police Department and let them know that we support them. Anne Herbert form the East Hammond Pullman Crime Watch posted ribbons all around Memorial Park and put it on Facebook and that was quite nice. Yesterday Edison Community Watch went down Calumet Avenue, the fence by Edison School and put blue ribbons in addition to spatterings throughout the city. So, please, post a blue ribbon, say thank you to our Hammond Police Department and let them know that we appreciate the job that they do. Councilman Kalwinski is now present. Council as a Whole Committee - Councilman Markovich - Brought out 16-17. ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE 16-17 An Ordinance to Appropriate New Funds to the Operating Balance for the Hammond Sanitary District’s Rainy Day Fund (7315) Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved for passage. Councilman Markovich - As discussed in the caucus this is free money that is available for the Sanitary District so they’re applying for it. Councilman Higgs asked to be added as a sponsor. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Higgs, Emerson, Rakos, Opinker NAYS: None ABSENT: Torres Motion carried 8/0/1 ORDINANCE NO. 9348 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 16-21 Amending Ord. 9328 Authorizing and Approving a Pilot Agreement for the Sohl Avenue Residential Care Project for the purpose of Correcting a Date contained therein Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Dean Button, City Engineer - As part of an ordinance that was recently passed by this council, we do have voluntary public involvement survey. It is available for every public meeting that the city has. This is a result of a Title VI Non-Discrimination requirement by the Federal government as it relates to Federal funding that the city of Hammond would receive. So, as you are aware we passed an ordinance regarding and adopting this and these forms are available for public completion in the Council Chambers and we’ve provided a basket and a slot to leave your forms. Phil Venecz - Once again Hammond is hosting Hammers for Hearts. This is a program where young people, teenagers, and adults come from all over the United States at their own expense to work on and revitalize neighborhoods in our cities. It’s always beyond my belief that this works so smoothly. We’ve done it for ten years. I can’t even give you the number of how many houses that benefitted from this. I would also like to thank, last year (recorder malfunction) wife, Dan Spitale, and Janet, my wife, for coming and cleaning off the tables and helping the kids get ready to go home Saturday morning. The Council would be welcomed again this year. Just contact Gloria Mayberry. So many homes need the help. To get on this program you have to be disabled, low income or senior citizen (recorder malfunction) I hope you encourage everybody from your district to take advantage of it. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Anne Herbert - I just wanted to express my appreciation for the Hammond Police Department. About eight officers showed up at my house today and thanked me for being one of the leaders for the Crime Watch to distribute ribbons in the 3rd District and I just wanted to give them another thank you. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ________________________ Michael Opinker, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: ________________________ Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:20 pm cb Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting on July 25, 2016.