COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

CITY OF ATTICA

MAY 13, 2002

 

 

The Common Council for the City of Attica met on the 13th day of May 2002 at the hour of 7 p.m. at city hall.  Those present:  Mr. Larry Grant, Mr. Bill Craft, Mrs. Valarie Maus, Mrs. Kay Gustus, Mr. Curt Phelps, Mr. Tom O’Connor, and Mr. Deon Swift.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

Mr. Phelps made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2002 council meeting, seconded by Mrs. Gustus.  All ayes.

 

CITIZENS PETITIONS

Mr. Dale Brown, representing C & D Technologies, submitted three Forms CF-1, “Compliance With Statement of Benefits”.  It is necessary to submit this form when tax abatement has been granted.  Mrs. Gustus made a motion that there was a finding in that C & D Technologies had substantially complied with the Statement of Benefits it requested from the City Council of the City of Attica, Indiana, seconded by Mr. Craft.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

Mayor Swift publicly apologized to Mrs. Becky Gilmore for not acknowledging her at the April council meeting.  Mrs. Gilmore would like to organize a “Community Book Club Program”, such as those in Lafayette and Chicago.  Mayor Swift and the council thought it an excellent idea and would support such a program.

 

Mrs. Carol Carlson, sponsor of the Attica Elementary Student Council, and council members Mary Mattern, Rebecca VanDame, Brittany Brown, and Brittany Blankenship were present.  Students from the elementary school raised $1,108 toward preservation of the cannon in Riverside Cemetery and the student council members presented the check to Mayor Swift.  He assured them it would go toward the maintenance of the cannon.  Mayor Swift and the council also thanked the student council members, the students and staff of the Attica Elementary School for their interest, hard work, and perseverance in saving the cannon. 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mr. Grant reported that the Traffic Committee had met concerning the downtown parking.  Mr. Grant said the committee had received a letter from the city’s insurance provider who discouraged a change from parallel to angle parking, due to concerns of increased accidents.  Mr. Grant and Police Chief Snoeberger measured the streets and found the measurements were not to “uniform traffic code” if changed to angle parking.  The Traffic Committee recommended to not change the downtown parking.  Mrs. Miriam Fogel, downtown businessperson, asked the council to look at the size of the existing parking spaces and the amount of space marked as “no-parking” on each corner in an effort to acquire more parking downtown.  She also suggested angle parking on one side and parallel on the other, similar to the parking on Main Street.  This will be discussed at the Traffic Committee meeting on May 21.  They also recommended additional four-way stops at Mill and Perry and Perry and Ferry streets.  Chief Snoeberger recommended the addition of only one four-way stop instead of having all downtown intersections four-way stops.  When the committee meets on May 21, Mayor Swift asked them to discuss the Perry/Mill/Ferry street stop signs and bring their suggestions back to the June council meeting.  Also, Chief Snoeberger recommended the council consider lowering the speed limit on Perry Street to twenty miles per hour and post it in the required areas. 

 

DEPARTMENT HEADS

Bob Smith, Director of Public Works, reported the merry-go-round and tire swing at Ravine Park had been repaired.  He is hoping to obtain swings and teeter-totters for the smaller children soon.  Also, the city employees are making a large effort to keep up the mowing and street repairs despite the inclement weather.

 

Police Chief Gene Snoeberger reported an Attica police car had been hit by a drunk driver over the weekend and was seriously damaged.  The driver of the other vehicle did not have insurance but said he is able to pay for the repairs to the car.  Chief Snoeberger said he will be obtaining estimates on the repair and/or replacement of the car in the upcoming week but feared it might be a complete total.  He also stated he wishes to purchase a hand held radar unit for the department.  He feels this will be useful in the downtown and residential areas for increased enforcement of speed limits.  Chief Snoeberger said there would be a Bicycle Rodeo on Saturday, May 18 at the Attica Elementary School.  Helmets and door prizes will be given away; also, a new bicycle that had been donated to the rodeo was to be given away as a grand prize.  He wished to thank the community and businesses for their support.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to accept the new Personnel Policy for the city employees, seconded by Mr. Grant.  All ayes, motion carried.  Mrs. Gustus made a motion to read Ordinance #6 for the first time in full, second time by title only, and suspend the rules.  Mr. O’Connor read in full:  ORDINANCE #6, 2002 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF ATTICA AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 4 BY THE DELETION OF SECTIONS 2-32 THROUGH 2-70, INCLUSIVE.  Mr. O’Connor then read by title only:  ORDINANCE #6, 2002 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF ATTICA AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 4 BY THE DELETION OF SECTIONS 2-32 THROUGH 2-70, INCLUSIVE.  Mr. O’Connor then read in full for the final time ORDINANCE #6, 2002 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF ATTICA AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 4 BY THE DELETION OF SECTIONS 2-32 THROUGH 2-70, INCLUSIVE.  Mrs. Gustus made a motion to adopt, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  Roll was called.  All ayes, zero (0) nays.

 

Mrs. Gustus made a motion for Mr. O’Connor to read Ordinance #3 for the third time in full, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  All ayes.  Mr. O’Connor read in full: ORDINANCE #3, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, DIVISION 14, SECTION 6-400 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING OPEN DITCHES WITHIN THE CITY OF ATTICA.

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to adopt, seconded by Mr. Grant.  Roll was called.  All ayes, zero (0) nays.

 

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to read Ordinance #4 for the first time in full, table and publish, seconded by Mrs. Maus.  All ayes.  Mr. O’Connor read:  ORDINANCE #4, 2002  ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, SECTION 6-277 AN ORDINANCE FOR REMOVAL OF LEAVES, GRASS CLIPPINGS AND TREE TRIMMINGS.

 

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to bring Ordinance # 5 from the table and read for the third time in full, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  All ayes.  Mr. O’Connor read in full:  ORDINANCE #5, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9, SECTION 9-35 BY THE INCLUSION OF SUBSECTION 0, PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCHARGE OF GREASE INTO THE CITY SEWER SYSTEM.  Mrs. Gustus made a motion to adopt, seconded by Mrs. Maus.  Roll was called.  All ayes, zero (0) nays.

 

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to read Ordinance #7 for the first time in full, second time by title only, suspend the rules, and read for the third time in full, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  Mr. O’Connor read in full:  ORDINANCE #7, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 2, CHAPTER 4, SECTION 2-87 (c).  Mr. O’Connor then read by title only: ORDINANCE #7, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 2, CHAPTER 4, SECTION 2-87 (c).  Mr. O’Connor read in full for the third time: ORDINANCE #7, 2002 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 2, CHAPTER 4, SECTION 2-87 (c).

Mrs. Gustus made a motion to adopt, seconded by Mr. Phelps.  Roll was called.  All ayes, zero (0) nays.

 

NEW BUSINESS

The city will be redistricting this year and Mr. O’Connor asked the council if they wanted to keep district lines the same as the current precinct lines.  The state mandates that districts be reviewed every ten years and the current districts were set in 1992.  It was discussed that Elmdale become part of Precinct Four.  Mr. Phelps suggested to the council that the subject be tabled until Mr. O’Connor can obtain more information and bring it to the June meeting.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Mayor Swift commented on the Every 15 Minute program that occurred at the high school.  He and Mrs. Swift participated and felt they had been extremely affected by it.  He encouraged everyone to become involved in the program.  Mayor Swift thanked the council, the City of Attica, St. Vincent’s Williamsport Hospital, Maus Funeral Home and all else who helped made the program possible.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought before the council Mrs. Gustus made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Maus.  All ayes.

 

                                                                        ______________________________

                                                                        Deon H. Swift, II, Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________________

Nancy Jo Mitchell, Clerk/Treasurer