City Council

MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 2021 The regular meeting of the Hammond Common Council of the City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on January 11, 2021 in the Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Dave Woerpel presided. City Clerk Robert J. Golec facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. Invocation by Councilwoman Alexander ROLL CALL PRESENT: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel ABSENT: None TOTAL: 9 NOMINATIONS PRESIDENT Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Rakos, nominated Councilman Woerpel as President. AYES: ALL VICE PRESIDENT Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, nominated Councilman Rakos as Vice President. AYES: ALL READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept the minutes of December 28, 2020 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Rakos, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to approve the claims from December 21, 2020 through January 6, 2021. Claim #1 through #100, inclusive. ROLL CALL VOTE (claims) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 CLAIMS APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS None Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 11, 2021 COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Tyler - I just want to take a second and send condolences and prayers to several families in the 3rd District who have lost loved ones over the past month or so. It seems like we were all excited for 2020 to end and 2021 to start, but of course, as Councilwoman Alexander shared, there's still been a tremendous loss for our city. So I just wanted to continue to keep these families in our prayers and in our thoughts. The Harris family, the Hackett family of both Hammond and East Chicago, and of course the Whitelow and Smith family. So, like I said, they've all had loved ones pass away over the past month or so. So really just trying to send some positive energy to those families as they start the mourning process and try to push on. Councilwoman Venecz - To expand on Councilman Tyler, there are several families throughout the City of Hammond who have suffered loss over the past couple of weeks and our condolences to all of them. Our hearts ache for each and every one of you. COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Brought out 20-37. Community and Crime Watch Committee - Councilwoman Venecz - Upcoming meetings: Thursday, Jan. 21; Hessville C.W.; Jean Shepherd Center; 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26; 6 p.m.; Citywide C.W.; Virtual meeting on H.P.D. facebook page New permanent policing officer assignments led by Captain Alcox: Sgt. Scott Holbrook- Hessville, Woodmar and South Hammond Sgt. Kelly Mickey - Downtown and East Hammond Lt. Tom Strabavy - Robertsdale and North Hammond Lt. Pete Moore - Central Hammond Capital Improvement Board - Councilwoman Venecz - Next meeting will be on February 1st due to the Martin Luther King holiday. Study session at 4 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 5 p.m. The Board approved the Chicago Street Phase 2 construction local match for $905,115.60. That is a 20% match. Also approved was the Chicago Street Phase 2 construction engineering that was $616,583.26. We also received a request form Councilman Emerson to consider the 75 and half of the 7600 blocks ofVanBuren. The total cost of that project is to be determined. Covid Task Force Committee - Councilwoman Alexander - The Covid numbers for our city; 46320 has an additional 34 cases; 46327 has an additional 31 cases; 46323 has an additional 65 cases; 46324 has an additional 68 cases; 46394 has an additional 29 cases. That's 227 new cases from last meeting to this meeting. I really hope that is a sign that we are starting to get better or that people did not ... we don't know what holiday numbers look like, if people gathered, but of course, according to all the last ones, this is the lowest it's been in weeks. Which is good but at the same time it's kind of still scary because we don't know how many people gathered during the holidays. What people were doing for those last two weeks. So if these numbers are going to Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 2 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 11, 2021 COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilwoman Alexander cont. - go up at our next meeting that will only tell. But I really want tp continue to encourage our residents to stay safe, continue to mask up, continue to social distance as much as possible, and continue to wash your hands and sanitize as much as you can. Because together we can continue to stop the spread in our City and hopefully we can continue to stop the spread in our nation as vaccines roll out. ORDINANCE 3RDREADING - FINAL PASSAGE 20-37 An Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 9481, being an Ordinance fixing the salaries wages of all Policemen and Firemen of the City of Hammond, Indiana, other than those fixed by Statute or by Ordinance heretofore enacted, and fixing the effective date thereof Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for passage. Councilwoman Venecz - This is seeking approval for the salaries of our Police and Fire. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) AYES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS:None ABSENT: Torres Motion carried 8/1/0 ORDINANCE NO. 9492 PASSED INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES 21-01 An Ordinance to Repeal Ordinances 7337, 8036, 8489, 8906, 8907, 8908, 8909, 8910, 8911 also Known as Chapter 119 of Title XI of the Hammond Municipal Code and Adopt and Enact Chapter 109 of Title XI of the Hammond Municipal Code Relating to Business Licensing in the City Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved the proposed ordinance to 1st and 2nd reading by title and referred it to the Council as a Whole Committee with a Committee meeting on January 25, 2021 at 5:15 p.m. AYES: ALL Councilman Spitale- This Ordinance is a revised update to the general business license ordinance of the Hammond Municipal Code. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 3 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 1L 2021 RESOLUTIONS 20R-Ol Resolution to Reappoint Rosemary Wojdyla to the Hammond Port Authority Councilman Kalwinski, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved for adoption. Councilman Kalwinski- I just want to make you aware you said the resolution was 20R-01, but it is 21R-01. Also, I just wanted to say that Rosemary has served 3 years on the Port Authority and is seeking a reappoint for the next 4 years. She also served on the Hammond Redevelopment Commission for a number of years and did so honorably as she is doing as well at the Port Authority. And I have spoken to Port Authority ... Milan Kruszynski, overseeing the Hammond Mariana and he also said good things about her participation at the Port and he's looking forward to having her serve again. Thank you. ROLL CALL (adoption) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 RESOLUTION NO. ROI ADOPTED NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Councilman Tyler- I just want to let everyone know that given Covid-19 and everything going on with the pandemic, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. annual program will be shifted a little bit this year. So it will be a virtual online event. It will be streamed from the gohammond website, as well as from the Facebook page. That will take place on Monday, January 18, at 10am, so I just wanted to make everybody aware. It is, of course, hosted by the City of Hammond Community Development Office and Ministerial Alliance of Hammond and Vicinity, so just wanna encourage everybody to tune in and watch that virtual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and everything he stood for and represented for our entire society. Thank you. Councilman Torres- The reason I stepped off the floor for the vote on 20-37 is because I've gotten two conflicting stories on whether it affects me or not as a retired policeman. And now I'm not sure whether it does or not and it is a good Ordinance. I'm real happy for the officers. It's about time they got an ordinance like this for retirement and I just didn't wanna take the chance of voting for something that I wasn't supposed to and mess it up for them. So I congratulate the officers and I truly hope it does affect me in a positive way. But I've heard two stories so that's why I walked off the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Councilman Kalwinski- I wanna say thank you to outgoing Hammond Police Chief John Doughty and congratulations on his next moves. And also a welcome and congratulations to new Police Chief William Short. Council President Woerpel- I would just like to add, not only do we wanna congratulate our new Chief Andy Short, but I'd also like to congratulate the new Assistant Chief Jeff Long and the Captain of Patrol Rob Bunner who has been our police officer here tonight. He's sitting in the back. But congratulations to all three. Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 4 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL cont. JANUARY 11. 2021 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont Councilwoman Venecz- I would like to say hear, hear, on those promotions and congratulations gentleman. Councilwoman Venecz, supported by Councilman Rakos, moved to reappoint Amy Radolak to the Hammond Community Corporation for another 3 year term, beginning on February 12th, 2021. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) A YES: Alexander, Spitale, Venecz, Kalwinski, Torres, Tyler, Emerson, Rakos, Woerpel NAYS:None ABSENT: None Motion carried 9/0/0 APPOINTMENT APPROVED Councilman Emerson- I would like to comment on the recent going on in Washington, DC on January 61\ 2021 as it developed. I'm personally appalled, as a citizen, as a veteran, that this happened and I hope that all those that were responsible are brought to the fullest extent of the law. And I hope that moment is behind us forever. Just very saddened and a little angry that we had to watch that, so that's all. Councilman Spitale- I'm with you also, on being a veteran too, it was a disgrace that went on and hopefully that's the end of it also. Councilwoman Venecz- I would just like to encourage everyone to approach each other with kindness and understanding and put the hatred behind us. Thank you. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Lorena Cortes- I am here today because a while back the Streets Department hit my garage, in November. I'm here today to figure out what I can do. What are my next steps to take? Councilwoman Alexander, supported by Councilwoman Venecz, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL ATTEST: Dave Woe I, resident Hammond Common Council &1:~~ Time: 6:30 p.m. cb/dw Prepared by Robert J. Golec Hammond City Clerk 5