Jasper Common Council meeting
The Jasper Common Council meeting began with Councilman Kevin Manley raising an objection to the minutes of the last meeting. Manley stated his objections to considerations for department head vacation policies was omitted from the official minutes. Jasper Clerk/Treasurer Juanita Boehm stated she would review the minutes and the recording of the last meeting and add the correction. Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt recommended the council approve the minutes pending any corrections. The council approved the minutes under the auspices corrections would be made pending Boehm’s discovery.
Two boy scouts from Boy Scout Troop 182 were recognized for attending the council meeting. They introduced themselves and they are working on their communications badge.
Hauersperger gave the utility service board meeting report. (Meeting story here)
While Hauersperger had the podium the council considered the resolution to purchase the Heidorn Property near the Jasper Power Plant. The resolution to purchase the property passed after lengthy discussion covered here.
Resolution no 2012-1, reduction of work hours for the power plant employees, reduced to 32 hour work week. Hauersperger stated pending the lease payments from Jasper Clean Energy they can’t bring the employees up on hours. The resolution was approved unanimously.
The Council was presented with a conflict of interest disclosure statement submitted by councilman Thomas Schmitt for Schmidt Contracting Inc. that does business with the city. It was approved unanimously.
The council approved Indiana Furniture’s compliance in the parameters as far as the abatement is considered. Shaneyfelt stated he reviewed progress on the improvements dictated in the abatement award and found that it was within the parameters assigned. The council approved the continuance of the abatement program based on Indiana Furniture’s notated progress.
Additional appropriation for the 2012 budget was necessary for projects that were approved for 2011. The council approved unanimously.
The council approved an ordinance amendment to change the Board of Appeals members from 6 to 5. Approved unanimously.
Personnel/Safety/Loss Control Director Charlie Schneider will retire April 30, the council approved an assistant personnel/safety/loss control director position to allow his replacement time to learn the job before Schneider retires. Once Schneider retires and the new hire moves into the position, the assistant position will remain vacant. The council inquired as to whether the time available between now and his retirement was adequate to train the replacement. Schneider simply stated, “Need to get ‘er done by April 30th.” The position was approved unanimously.
The council discussed the amendment to the employee handbook for the vacation schedule of department heads. Newly hired employees receive Five vacation days per year for the first 24 months of employment. The city would like to increase this to ten days per year for the first two years, but the council felt rather than only considering the change for department heads, the amendment should include all city employees.
Manley stated he didn’t want to set a double standard within the city between employees and department heads.
Schmidt stated he would like to see it done all at one time. The mayor asked that the council consider it for the next meeting.
The change will only effect people that have been with the city for 24 months or less, Schneider stated this would only add 40 additional days of employee vacation for the city overall.
Also in the meeting last night, the council followed suit with the Utility Service Board and adopted another 90-day contract with Shaneyfelt and Bohnenkemper for legal services to avoid having to address the issue on a month-by-month basis. Mayor Terry Seitz reported to the council that he felt that the decision to hire a full-time attorney inside or enter a long-term contract with Shaneyfelt and Bohnenkemper could be resolved by the end of the 90 days. Even so, as the Mayor pointed out in Monday night’s USB meeting, the contract includes a provision that allows either party to opt out of the contract with a 30-day notification.
