Lowell Town Council
January 11, 2010
LOWELL TOWN COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 11, 2010
The regular meeting of the Lowell Town Council was called to order on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. by President Phillip Kuiper. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a moment of silence was observed. Clerk-Treasurer Judith Walters called the roll. Members present were Donald Huseman, Shane Tucker, John Alessia, Phillip Kuiper and David Gard. Also present were Town Attorney Greg Sobkowski, Director of Public Works Greg Shook, Town Administrator Susan Peterson, Community Development Director Wilbur Cox, Chief of Police John Shelhart, three member of the media, and ten interested citizens.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Councilman Gard made a motion to retain Councilman Phillip Kuiper as President, seconded by Councilman Alessia. The motion carried by voice vote.
Councilman Gard made a motion to retain Councilman John Alessia as Vice President, seconded by Councilman Tucker. The motion carried by voice vote.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilman Huseman made a motion to approve the minutes from the December 28th regular meeting and the January 7th executive session, seconded by Councilman Gard. The motion carried by voice vote.
APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS
President Kuiper stated that he had reviewed White Vouchers #1000-1057 and #2726-2743 from 2009, Water Vouchers #2000-2022 and #2813-2816 from 2009 and Waste Water Vouchers #3000-3017 and #3664-3667 from 2009 and recommended them for approval. Councilman Alessia made a motion to approve the vouchers as listed, seconded by Councilman Gard. The motion carried by voice vote.
PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, REMONSTRANCES, PROCLAMATIONS
Letter of resignation - President Kuiper read a letter of resignation from Paul Kristina from the Storm Drainage Board, effective immediately. Councilman Alessia made a motion to accept the letter of resignation, seconded by Councilman Tucker. The motion carried by voice vote.
MONTHLY REPORTS
Councilman Huseman made a motion to accept the monthly reports from December, 2009 as presented, seconded by Councilman Tucker. Councilman Huseman asked again if a thank you letter had been sent to Jack Kovich for his help in the soccer fields at Freedom Park. Public Works Director Greg Shook stated he had spoken to Park Superintendent Tom Sullivan who thought a letter had been done at the time but he would check his files. Mr. Shook will follow-up on that, if one had not been sent the Freedom Park Committee will send one. Councilman Huseman stated it would be a good thing if the fence caps at Freedom Park be pounded back in after the spring thaw. The motion to approve the monthly reports carried by voice vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Public Works Update – Burr/RT 2 Project - Approve Pay Request #11 to DLZ - $13,207.18 and forward to INDOT for 80% payment - $10,565.74. Councilman Alessia made a motion to approve Pay Request #10, seconded by Councilman Guard. The motion carried by voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Appointment of Department Heads - Council appointment - Councilman Gard made a motion to appoint Greg Shook - Director of Public Works, Susan Peterson - Town Administrator, Dan Myers - Water Superintendent, Terry Wright - WWTP Superintendent, Frank Lovely - Street Superintendent, and Tom Sullivan - Park Superintendent. seconded by Councilman Alessia. The motion carried by voice vote.
Board Representatives (all Presidential appointments) -
Councilman Alessia moved to approve the following appointments, seconded by Councilman Gard and carried by voice vote:
Lake County Economic Opportunity Council - Dorothy Gwyn-Maas,
Board of Finance - President Phillip Kuiper and Clerk-Treasurer Judy Walters
Lake County Solid Waste District - Phillip Kuiper
N.W. Indiana Cities & Towns - David Gard
Cable T.V. Consortium - Susan Peterson
Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission - Judy Walters
Freedom Park Committee - Shane Tucker
Annexation Committee - Don Huseman, Al Bachman, Mike Walters, Marcia Carlson, the Plan Commission President and the BZA Chairman
Appointment of Emergency Management Director (Council appointment) - Police Chief John Shelhart
Appointment to Boards & Commissions:
Plan Commission - Town Council Members - Town Council appointment (3) - 1-year term - Councilman Alessia made a motion to appoint Don Huseman, Frank Lovely and Greg Shook, seconded by Councilman Tucker. The motion carried by voice vote.
Plan Commission - Presidential appointment (1) - 4-year term - Councilman Alessia made a motion to reappoint Elias Carras, seconded by Councilman Tucker. The motion carried by voice vote.
BZA - Presidential appointment (1) - 4-year term - Councilman Alessia made a motion to appoint David Schilling, seconded by Councilman Tucker. The motion carried by voice vote.
Police Commission - Town Council appointment (2) - 3-year term (1) –2-year term - Councilman Alessia moved to reappoint Keith Kilmer and Sharon Patterson to a three year term and John Piper to a two year term, seconded by Councilman Tucker and carried by voice vote.
Economic Development - There is still one opening on this board to be filled, applications will still be accepted.
Storm Drainage - Councilman Tucker moved to appoint Gerald Hoffman to a one-year term on the Storm Drainage Board, seconded by Councilman Alessia and carried by voice vote.
Traffic Commission - Presidential appointment (5) - 1-year term - Councilman Alessia made a motion to reappoint John Shelhart, Chairman, Jim Konradi, Dennis Rosengard, John Ammons and Eric Barnhill to the Traffic Commission, seconded by Councilman Gard. The motion carried by voice vote.
Historic Preservation Board - Town Council appointment (1) - 3-year term (1) 1-year term - Councilman Gard made a motion to appoint Connie Schrormbeck to a 3-year term, and Charles Brown to a one year term, seconded by Councilman Tucker. The motion carried by voice vote.
Ambulance Board - Councilman Alessia made a motion to appoint David Gard, seconded by Councilman Tucker. The motion carried by voice vote.
Permission to invest excess funds during 2010 and bid out banking - Councilman Gard made a motion to grant permission to the Clerk-Treasurer to invest excess funds during 2010, seconded by Councilman Alessia. The motion carried by voice vote.
Set Lowell Tribune/Pilcher Publishing - publication requirement - Councilman Alessia made a motion to set the Lowell Tribune/Pilcher Publishing as a publication requirement, seconded by Councilman Tucker. The motion carried by voice vote.
Appoint committee to disburse 2010 hotel/motel tax funds and set deadline for requests - President Kuiper stated that in past years, the committee has been made up of himself, Councilman Alessia, Clerk-Treasurer Walters and Town Administrator Peterson. A deadline of March 31st was set for requests to be received.
Enter into agreement with SEH for 2010 for Economic & Community Development Projects - Councilman Gard moved to renew our agreement with SEH for 2010 for the same as 2009, seconded by Councilman Tucker and carried by voice vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Kuiper announced the next regular Town Council meeting will be held on Monday, January 25th at 7:00 P.M.
MEDIA QUESTIONS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
A member of the media asked for a list of the appointments for boards and commissions.
The Post reported asked about the agreement with SEH. She was informed that they are assisting the Town with the Redevelopment Commission and help in attracting businesses to town.
There being no further business or discussion, Councilman Alessia made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Tucker at 7:20 P.M.
Phillip Kuiper, President
Judith Walters, Clerk-Treas