Remington Town Council Meeting

Date:   March 1, 2010

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Place: Remington Town Hall, 24 S. Indiana, Remington, IN

Members Present:      Charlie Illingworth, Susan Sigo, Pat Berger, Brian Melchi, James Stewart

Others Present:           Mark Jones, John Schuetzenhofer, Bruce Messersmith, John Flinn, Kay Brown, Barb Lawson, Ryan Byrd, Jon Schwab, Dan Nave, Chris Allen, John and Rochelle Ward, Bobbi (H-Four), Barb Lawson, Maureen Foster, Cindy Guy, Arnie Gilbert, Ed Hupp, Brad Idlewine

Brian Melchi opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Brian Melchi stated that the Council needed to officially appoint the new Town Manager, John Ward. Susie Sigo moved to officially hire Ward. Jim Stewart seconded the motion. Motion carried.

John Ward thanked the council and stated he appreciated the opportunity to serve the Remington community. He then presented the council with quotes for equipment he would need that consisted of a new computer, printer and accessories in the amount of $886.97, and a cell phone and data plan in the amount of $122.97. Susie Sigo moved to allow the purchases with a second to her motion given by Pat Berger. Motion carried.

Citizen Comments

Maureen Foster and Cindy Guy were present to speak to the Town Council about additional services that Lafayette Bank and Trust could offer the Town. Included in the services are direct deposit, on-line banking and credit/debit card availability for customers to pay their utility bills. After discussion, Brian Melchi stated that ultimately it would be up to Clerk-Treasurer to look into these services but it would be nice to start with the on-line banking. Maureen Foster stated she would be back in touch with Kay Brown the next day.

Jon Schwab was present to let the Council know that he was very happy they had hired a new Town Manager and stated it was a very positive move on the Council's part.

Ed Hupp, co-owner of H-Four (mobile home park) was present to ask for relief on the sewage portion of their utility bill for the mobile home park stating that there are several leaks in the lines that have been leaking for the last couple of months. They have not been able to repair the leaks because of the frozen ground. Brian Melchi stated the council would take this under advisement until they were able to speak with water superintendent, Mark Jones.

Mr. Hupp also wanted to address the issue with the sewage flow meter the Town has stated he needs to install. He asked if a flow meter needed to be installed if the new line is put in to prevent infiltration. Mark Jones stated that yes it would because the problem is in the collection system itself. Bruce Messersmith stated that if there is a known problem, the town may require a flow meter be installed. Brian Melchi stated that correspondence has been going on with H-Four for over two years now and the Town has not had any response back from H-Four. Mr. Hupp stated that he has called the town attorney's office but not response was given back. More discussion followed and Mr. Hupp thanked the council for their time.

Heritage Bible Church pastor Dan Nave was present to introduce his assistant minister Chris Allen. Both wished to express their appreciation on the quick response and all that was done for Mr. Allen's family when an accident occurred in front of his home. Mr. Allen asked who was responsible for cleaning up the debris from the accident and any oil or gas that was spilled. Bruce Messersmith stated that the insurance company of the person who had the accident should be notified. John Flinn is to check out the alley to see if it can be scraped and gravel added where the gas and oil spilled. Mr. Allen also asked if there was anything additional that could be done as far as the speed vehicles travel on the highway. Council stated that the Marshal patrols and at the current time we are without a deputy but when a deputy is hired the issue could be addressed more. Mr. Allen also asked about putting up a fence on his property. Council directed him to Dan Bowman, the town's building commissioner.

Department Reports

Wastewater- - Bruce Messersmith reported the NPDES application needed to be signed and presented it to Brian Melchi for his signature. Messersmith asked if it would be okay to send out notices to all residents asking them to check to make sure their sump pumps are disconnected from the town's sanitary sewers. The council stated they had no problem with this. Messersmith asked permission to purchase 30 feet of 3-inch suction hose for the digester at the plant. Susie Sigo moved to allow the purchase, seconded by Charlie Illingworth. Motion carried. Messersmith reported that Ryan Byrd would be attending a class in Greenwood on lab techniques.

Water- -Mark Jones reported wells are doing fine. Mike Coty has installed the window in the old fire department. The door has not been installed yet. Jones will start meter testing when the weather warms up. It has been several years since he has done this. Jones reported he had no problems with any of the towers freezing up this winter.

Streets- -John Flinn reported that the new leaf vac and wood chipper has been ordered. The leasing company has sent Kay Brown a copy of the contract and she is to get that to John Casey for his review. Flinn stated he would be getting cold patch soon to start repairing the potholes in the roads. His new office is just about finished.

Police- - Marshal Schuetzenhofer gave the police report for the month of February. A copy of this report is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's office. Schutzenhofer stated the ex-Marshal Westmoreland would like to receive a retired police office ID. In order for him to get this, according to the health department who issues the Ids, a letter from the Town would have to be issued to the health department. The council stated they would consider this after talking with Westmoreland on other issues. Schuetzenhofer stated he has cleaned out the office but needs to get with the prosecuting attorney to see if Westmoreland has any open cases before he can clean out the evidence room and destroy anything not needed. Schuetzenhofer state that we have about twelve applications for deputy marshal. He stated he could arrange for testing and physicals for the applicants. The county stated they could assist him with this. This would be a way of eliminating candidates that would not qualify for the position. The council stated this would be good and gave Schuetzenhofer permission to move forward with setting up the testing. It was decided that the Executive Session set for Monday, March 8^th would be cancelled and re-set for Monday, March 22^nd at 6:30 p.m. Kay Brown is to send notice to the Rensselaer Republican.

Fire Department- -Brad Idlewine gave the fire department report for the month of February. A copy of this report is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's office.

Old Business: 

Pat Berger gave a report from K-IRPC on dates for publications and bid meetings for the new fire department. First publication for bids will be April 1^st. K-IRPC is responsible for putting this in the paper. Pre-bid meeting will be April 6^th at the Tobias Center at 6:30 p.m. Second publication will be April 15^th again with K-IRPC putting this in the paper. Bids will be opened on April 26^th at a council meeting at 6:30 p.m. The bid will be awarded to the lowest, most responsible bidder and will be reviewed by the town attorney.

Pat also announced that the town has received the housing grant that we had applied for through the Indiana Housing Commission Development Authority in the amount of $201,000.  Eleven families could receive up to $20,000 each as needed for repairs to their homes.

John Casey had an amendment to the Sewer Use/Rate Ordinance ready for the Council's approval. This ordinance pertained to language being changed from connection fees to tap fees and also establishing a commercial tap fee for commercial users. Jim Stewart moved to approve Ordinance NO.10-03-01 amending the Town of Remington's Sewer Use and Sewer Rate Ordinance of July 2000. Charlie Illingworth seconded the motion. Motion carried.

New Business

Charlie Illingworth gave a report on activity of the RWCDC stating that a 3-year strategic plan has been developed and four specific committees have now been formed from the former five committees. All the objectives of the five committees have been included but regrouped to help prioritize actions for each new committee. The four committees include Economic Vitality, Functional Infrastructure, Quality of Life and Operational Goals. 

Clerk-Treasurer

Kay Brown presented the Council with leak credit requests as follows: Joe and Betty Vaughn had someone turn on an outside spigot and discovered it later on. Motion was given by Susie Sigo to allow the credit given. Jim Stewart seconded the motion. Motion carried. Greg and Amber Allison had a water line break in their yard. Pat Berger motioned to allow this credit. Charlie Illingworth seconded the motion. Motion carried. Kay Brown stated that Lowell Stockment and disconnected the sump pump in his rental home basement. The council had stated they would revisit his request for a leak credit once this had been done. The council felt that since some of the water was going into the wastewater system to be treated that Mr. Stockment should still pay a portion of the bill. It was decided on a motion by Susie Sigo, seconded by Pat Berger that Mr. Stockment must still pay for all of the water usage and 50% of the sewage. Motion carried.

Brown presented an amendment to the 2010 Salary Ordinance adding the Town Manager salary, changing the salary of the Town Marshal and the fund where the Street Superintendent salary is paid. Motion to approve the amendment was given my Susie Sigo, seconded by Jim Stewart. Motion carried.

Brown presented Ordinance NO. 10-03-01-1 amending the Town of Remington Policy and Procedure Manual adding residency requirements for employees of the Town of Remington. Motion to approve the amendment was given by Jim Stewart, seconded by Susie Sigo. Motion carried.

Brown asked permission to transfer within the Clerk-Treasurer's budget from 2-230 Repair and Maintenance Supplies to 3-330 Advertising the amount of $600.00 Brown stated that the ad in the Lafayette Journal & Courier was more than she had budgeted in the appropriation so the transfer was needed.  Susie Sigo moved to allow the transfer with Jim Stewart seconding the motion. Motion carried.

Brown stated there were three funds left at the end of the year that had balances that could be transferred to the Rainy Day Fund. She asked permission to transfer $6,237.78 from the Cumulative Building Fund, $300.00 from the Sign Fund and $335.69 from the Fire Debt Service Fund into the Rainy Day Fund. Jim Stewart moved to allow the transfers with Pat Berger seconding the motion. Motion carried.

Brown stated that the council needed to approve the expenditure last month of $1000.00 paid to Donald Davidson for speaking at the Fundraising Benefit for the New Remington Fire Department. Susie Sigo moved to approve the expenditure from last month with Charlie Illingworth seconding the motion. Motion carried.

Brown stated that IACT Municipal Government week would be May 10-14^th if the Council wanted to make any plans to do anything within the community.

Brown also stated that she had provided each of the council members with the annual financial report and the indebtedness report ending 2009 for their review.

Claims were reviewed and approved for payment on a motion by Pat Berger, seconded by Jim Stewart. Motion carried.

Additional Business

Discussion was held as to whether to send out another letter to H-Four and put notices on all of the mobile homes about disconnecting service if H-Four did not comply with the town's request to install the flow meter. A new letter will now need to go out. Brian Melchi and John Casey will get together and discuss this.

John Flinn asked the council to consider letting the Street Department having one of the bays at the Fire Department once they move out to the new building once it's built.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.