City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL AUGUST 27, 2018 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on August 27, 2018 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Janet Venecz presided. Council Coordinator Carmen I. Balboa facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Invocation by Council President Venecz ROLL CALL PRESENT: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz ABSENT: Markovich TOTAL: 8 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to approve the minutes of August 13, 2018 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve the claims from August 8, 2018 through August 22, 2018. Claim #4804 through #5171, inclusive. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to amend in claims: #5172 One Region Common Council $60.00 #5173 One Region Common Council $60.00 ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich Motion carried 8/0/1 AMENDMENT ADOPTED ROLL CALL VOTE (as amended) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich Motion carried 8/0/1 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) PUBLIC HEARINGS None Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. AUGUST 27, 2018 COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Higgs announced that the unveiling of the Ms. Pearline honorary street will be on Friday at noon on the 900 block of Conkey Street. There will be a small reception held at the Ophelia Steen Health and Service Center immediately after the unveiling of the street named after Pearline Jenkins. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Torres, moved to send a letter. 5636 Maywood and 5630, in between there, there is a lot where they are dumping all kinds of debris and the residents are complaining and blowing my phone up. I’d like a letter sent to Code Enforcement in regards to this particular property and also if they could remove the tree before it falls on owners house at 5630 Maywood. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: August 28, 2018 Councilman Torres, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to send a letter. I got a letter from Aileen Ibarra, Chief of Staff Secretary, regarding the increase in copper wiring theft. It looks like my district, the 2nd District, is getting hit pretty good. So I just wonder if anybody has any answers as to if maybe preventive measures could be implemented. Different screws, maybe a hard casing around the wires, around each post, something. Send a letter to the Engineer and see if he can come up with ideas and to our Lighting Engineers, Lighting Department, see if they can come up with ideas that we could help implement. AYES: ALL Councilman Higgs read off a list of poles vandalized. Council President Venecz asked that the public watch out for anyone working on the poles and call the police. LETTER SENT: August 28, 2018 COMMITTEE REPORTS Community & Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz announced upcoming meetings: Wed., Sept. 5; Edison C.W.; Edison School; 6:630 p.m. Tues., Sept. 4; Harrison Park C.W.; VFW ; 6:30 p.m. Irving C.W.; Fri. Set. 7; 9:15 a.m.; Irving School Pulaski Park N. A.; Tues., Aug. 28; American Legion; ORDINANCE 3RD READING - FINAL PASSAGE None INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES None Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. AUGUST 27, 2018 RESOLUTIONS 18R-36 A Resolution Confirming the Reappointment of Kevin Clutter as a Commissioner of the Hammond Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Hammond, Indiana Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for adoption. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) AYES: Spitale, Kalwinski, Torres, Higgs, Emerson, Woerpel, Rakos, Venecz NAYS: None ABSENT: Markovich Motion carried 8/0/1 RESOLUTION NO. R36 ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to send a letter. 818 Bauer Street, the property has caught on fire a few months back and there are some windows broken and people are entering into the property so I’d like a letter sent to Code Enforcement to see if they can go over there and board it up and possibly have it demo’d as quickly as possible. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: August 28, 2018 Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved that the meeting on October 8th needs to be rescheduled due to Columbus Day, it will be rescheduled for October 9th. AYES: ALL Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved that the Finance Committee meeting that was scheduled for October 8th be rescheduled for October 9th. AYES: ALL Councilman Kalwinski - I may be on a two day workshop for my license at that time. Councilman Woerpel, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to schedule a Finance Committee hearing on September 11th at 4:00 p.m. in the Caucus Room for the Common Council Budget. AYES: ALL Councilman Torres, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to send a letter to the Park Department in reference to Columbia Park on Michigan and Columbia. The Park has recently gone through a lot of improvements and part of that is the volley ball court. In the volley ball court sand has been put down, poured, and the poles have been up. The only thing it’s lacking is a net and it’s been a month and a half. The Hammond High girls volley ball team would like to practice on that if they could. Can you ask them when they can place a net on that. If they’re in need of financing I still have a few bucks in the budget that we can help them out. AYES: ALL LETTER SENT: August 28, 2018 Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. AUGUST 27, 2018 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Kalwinski - I just want to take a moment to acknowledge all the money spent by 2nd District Councilman Torres for Columbia Park improvements. I know there was an article in the paper and ribbon cutting but there was very little mentioned of the Councilman’s efforts to improve that park so I wanted to formally and publicly acknowledge what a good job he did on that park. Councilman Torres - Thank you, Councilman Kalwinski. I’m not looking for praise. We just need the improvements. But thanks for the acknowledgment but there’s a lot that still needs to be done. Councilman Higgs - I wanted to personally send my condolences to the Richardson family in the loss of their father. I know the funeral was this weekend but I had an emergency so I couldn’t attend the funeral but I certainly want to send my condolences to their family in the loss of their father. Councilman Kalwinski - Condolences to the Hardesty family. Dennis, who was a city employee and a Port Authority Board member, lost his mother. Her wake is Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 at Behren’s Funeral Home on 119th. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Willie Jones - Here because the building next to his, 1046, and has been complaining about it for the last two or three years and it’s falling. Would like it taken care of before it falls on his garage. He has been cutting the grass for the last four or five years for free. Would love to get paid for cutting the grass for those years and the building taken care of. Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Janet Venecz, President Hammond Common Council ATTEST: Robert J. Golec, City Clerk Time: 6:25 p.m. cb Minutes approved at the Common Council meeting of September 10, 2018. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4