NO FIREWORKS THIS TIME

The City Council meeting of April 6th was mostly calm with the exception of Attorney Stan Robison's announcements.

1. He has filed a suit against the Administration for hiring Ron Carroll without consulting with the council.
2. As to the two tie votes on Gary McCartin's Wendy's project. A tie vote amounts to no action taken. It must be brought up within 90 days of the plan commission's approval (Feb. 20) or it passes automatically. This item will be on the agenda for the next meeting for a second and third vote.
   

There were seven items on the agenda, two were tabled and five were passed unanimously. Here is a breakdown:

• R-09-08 Resolution to Fund a Feasibility Study for the New Albany City Council with Riverboat Funds. Tabled by Mr. Price
• A-09-02 Additional Appropriation Ordinance for the EDIT Fund. Tabled by Mr. Gahan
• A-09-03 Additional Appropriation Ordinance for the Non-Reverting Veterinary Fund. This is just for the use of the already accumulated $40,000 to hire an adoption coordinator. Passed 9-0
• A-09-04 Additional Appropriation Ordinance for the Non-Reverting Animal Control Runs Fund. This is to use the continuing grant of $5,000 from Pet Smart to purchase supplies for the animal shelter. Passed 9-0
• A-09-05 Additional Appropriation Ordinance for the Non-Reverting Parking Fund. I am not sure of the amount for this but City Clerk Marcy Wisman collected $127,000 in unpaid parking tickets last year so this was more than covered. This year she has collected over $17,000 in the first three months and she and Attorney Shane Gibson plan to take some people to court.
  
• A-09-06 Additional Appropriation Ordinance for the Non-Reverting Riverfront Fund. This is just moving funds already collected. Passed 9-0
• Z-09-06 Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of New Albany, Indiana, Providing for the Zoning of Sexually Oriented Businesses, Including Adult Cabarets, Specifying Districts Where Adult Cabaret Uses are Permitted, and Further Specifying Development Standards for Adult Cabarets (Title XV Chapter 156) Passed 9-0

The only discussion was during the Communications from City Officials. Carl Malyz said the Mayor wanted a Resolution for appropriating funds to compete the amphitheater before July 4th. The authorization of $250,000 out of Riverboat funds was appropiated back when James Garner was mayor. Carl could not find a resolution for this but since the council is concerned about communication the mayor humbly asked for consideration. Carl also read Roberts Rules of Order which said a Resolution can be added to the agenda. Dan Coffey said there must be a 100% agreement from the council to add an item to the agenda. He added that he had given the mayor two opportunites to add any item to the agenda and he declined. After that he asked for a motion to add this resolution to the agenda. A motion was made by Bob Caesar and seconded by Jack Messer. Steve Price was the first to vote no, so the motion failed. There will be a special meeting Wednesday April 8 at 7:00 to discuss this appropriation.

Shane Gibson was asked about his contract and how he was paid. He said he is paid out of several funds, over 50% from the sewer utility and stormwater since he spends that percentage of his time on these issues. He added that he does not have a retirement plan, vacation days, or Social Security, and no PERF. He is paid with a 1099 and handles his own taxes. There was also discussion about re-establishing a city court. This cannot take place until 2012 because a judge would have to be elected for this court in 2011. All in all it was pretty quick and painless. The meeting adjourned around 8:30 or so.

OTHER PEOPLES' IDEAS

After I got my computer fixed (again) I started reading the various blogs around town yesterday and today. I know it's obvious but we have several intelligent and thoughtful people in our little town. These are some of the great ideas that I "lifted" from other blogs.

GONDER FOR NEW ALBANY AT-LARGE

John has a good idea for using our EDIT funds. He wants the city to purchase some of those abandoned buildings along Charlestown Rd. including the Colonial Manor shopping center and offering the properties to developers for REdevelopment. With the guidance of the Plan Commission they would be required to REdevelope in a way most beneficial to the entire community in order to make a profit. The EDIT funds would then be returned to the city. This seems like a win-win to me. The EDIT funds will be used by developers anyway, they might as well re-use the empty buildings rather than just build new ones.

NA CONFIDENTIAL

Lloyd Wimp has a collection of pictures of trash just sitting by the curb waiting for the city to pick up. Our street department employees said that if we bag up the yard waste they will take care of it, many of us are still waiting. He suggested that the city provide dumpsters for people to take their trash so it won't be left on the streets. The city has not even picked up the yard waste from their own tree trimming in certain areas. What are we paying for?

OUR HISTORY IN NEW ALBANY

Ted Fulmore has a great quote from Mark Twain describing a river town which could have been New Albany. He also has pictures of the old wharf complete with places to tie up the old steamwheeler. He also has a list of future "happenings" in the next few months, including walking tours of our historic district. Check them out.

JOHN'S MUSINGS ABOUT WHATEVER

Rev. Manzo has a wonderful article about personal responsibility, from individuals to our businesses. He said that corporate responsibility is equally vital as personal responsibility. He quotes Genesis with the verse about Cain after he killed Abel. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Rev. Manzo responds, yes. Everyone should remember that and as he said "It is often fashionable to blame the poor on being poor but most often this was not a personal choice". How true.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

The author of this article asked Hoosiers to attend a revolt at the State House in Indianapolis. They are protesting the idea of removing the caps from property tax. It promises to be a historic event. I am sure it will be. I wish them well in their endeavor. Maybe if enough people yell loud enough they will be heard.

I can't add much to these ideas. They all seem to have a theme of activism and personal responsibility though, which is what we need. As someone said the other day we need to get off of our collective butts and do something.

YES IT CAN HAPPEN HERE

I just read Roger Baylor's article in the Tribune, "It Shan't Happen Here", and was a little depressed at first. Then I thought, YES WE CAN!

He said that there is a lot of negativity in New Albany, I can't argue with that but I don't think the majority of people are negative. The loudest voices are always the ones heard so that is why he hears them say "It just can't be done here -- and you are a fool to even try."

He says that we New Albanians hate ourselves. I respectfully disagree. I'm not wanting to start a battle but I don't believe the majority of us are self loathing naysayers. Call me "Pollyanna" if you want but I believe the majority of us DO want to improve our city. Look at the number of neighborhood associations that have been started in the last four or five years. Look at the number of people who attended the meeting at the YMCA Tuesday. Although it was disappointing that only one council member showed up.

But besides that, let's prove Mr. Baylor wrong. Let's start an "I love New Albany Campaign" and work to improve our town, starting with keeping the garbage off of the streets and sidewalks.

Summer is coming, let's have a few festivals. Mr. Yoder said they have one almost every week in Newport. We can at least have one a month, even it is small. Let's clean up, fix up, paint our fences, plant a few flowers, whatever it takes. And show everyone that we are proud to be citizens of New Albany.

IF NEWPORT CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T WE?

Ted Fulmore had a posting on his blog, "Our History in New Albany" Sunday with an interesting idea. He was hosting a forum at the YMCA, Tuesday 3/10 about Newport, KY and how they became a "rags to riches" town, in a matter of speaking.

Having never been to Newport, I was intrigued. Mr. Robert Yoder, the spokesman, gave an excellent talk about the history of Newport and how they found their niche in the community. Newport is now a model city. Their crime rate is low, and their city is clean. Interestingly enough they have FOUR Code Enforcement Officers for a city of 16,000 people.

They also had what he called a "Rehab A Rama" where the city bought old homes and sold them to developers for $1 with the condition that they would be converted from small apartments to single family dwellings and rehabilitated. Additionally they used state funding to create a plan called Hope VI. With Hope VI they were able to tear down their housing project and provide inexpensive homes for rent or purchase. These homes are now occupied by working class people, and they are very well kept.

Obviously, there is a lot of pride on the part of the residents. I asked Mr. Yoder how they manage to keep their city so clean and he replied that if you clean up your town it will stay that way. Really!?!

All in all it was a great presentation and an interesting evening. If we could just do something like that in good ole' N.A.

A BIG DAY FOR THE DEMOCRATS

I was unable to attend the reorganization meeting yesterday at the Knights of Columbus, but with a vote of 45 to 24 my one vote would not have mattered anyway. Although I am disappointed that Marcey did not continue her role as party chair, I wish only the best for John.

I would also like to congratulate Stacy Deck, Tony Toran, and Sam Locke.

Another meeting which I was sorry to miss was the "Town Hall" session with Baron Hill. With health care being a major concern, Representative Hill and President Obama need to consider HR676, health care for all. I hope Mr. Hill will take our message back to Washington and persuade the president to quit listening to the insurance companies and start listening to the people. We just have to keep pushing.

I would appreciate feedback from anyone who attended either of these meetings mentioned above. I have not yet talked with anyone with first hand information.

thanks,

Shirley

OUR SHRINKING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

I was very upset about the recent Indiana Senate vote to eliminate local township advisory boards. These three member boards are the fiscal and legislative body and adopt the township budget. These duties are to be transferred to the county council.

This is just another step Gov. Daniels is taking to eliminate or severly limit our local government. He is trying to eliminate townships all together. Per the Tribune article dated 2/25/09 the government found sloppy bookkeeping in townships and consolidation would be more efficient. Would not some counties have sloppy bookkeeping also?

What is Gov. Daniels trying to do? He wants to reduce the number of county commissioners from three to one and change several local elected positions to appointed positions. Can you say nepotism ? If a county executive appoints the county assessor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and coroner, would not this person have just a little too much power?

We need to speak with our votes in the next election. Gov. Daniels is not a king and we are not his subjects. Please vote to keep our local elected positions as they are, how else are the voters going to have their say?

UNSAFE HOUSES REVISITED

There has been a lot of talk lately about rental inspections. While this is all fine and good, what about the owner occupied homes which are in dangerously poor condition?


The "Report on Code Enforcement" dated January 11, 2009 states."Providing safe housing for themselves is a basic responsibility for every homeowner. A safe dwelling allows the family to live free from concern for unsafe mechanical systems, pest infestations, or other treats to health and well-being. In such places the cost for heat, water and sewage should be reasonable and predictable. Responsible homeowners routinely take the initiative to ensure that these basics are provided. Government's role in the regulation of owner-occupied housing is somewhat limited: inform the community of accepted standards, and ensure that the life-safety issues are in compliance with existing code provisions."


I must say that not all of the blighted homes in New Albany are not rental property, some of them are owner-occupied. No, I don't have the statistics but we all know this is true. I have nothing against the regulation of rental properties but I think homeowners should be regulated also. An unsafe house is an unsafe house.

As far as Government's role in regulation being limited, I beg to differ on that issue also. Ordinance G-04-23 lists the responsibilities of the Building Commissioner as follows:

1. Enter the premises to determine compliance. 150.101(E)


2. Determine the identity and address of landowner. 150.101(E)


3. Send written notice by certified mail. 150.101(E)


4. Have the city remove material and vehicles. 150.101(E)


5. File a lien against the property with the County Recorder for all costs incurred by the city for removal.

Procedure to file a lien on property: 150.101(G)

1. Building Commissioner to Recorder


2. Recorder to Auditor


3. Auditor to Treasurer


4. Treasurer add to next tax bill to be mailed.

Let's please change our way of thinking from substandard and unsafe rental property to substandard and unsafe property. We all want the same thing, for New Albany to be a clean, safe, and decent place for all of us to live. While home ownership is an ideal situation, this is not feasible for everyone for various reasons. But everyone should take pride in their home, rather the title be in the resident's name or someone else's name. A person's home is just that.