Greenfield council considers emergency legislation on ballot issue
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Greenfield City Council met in their regular session April 20 with three members present - enough to conduct the session and accept legislation, but not enough members to pass emergency legislation.
Council heard the first reading of a resolution "declaring council's intent should the electorate voting on the question of whether to repeal the one-quarter of one percent levy on income tax, currently being collected and used for the former fire department's operating expenses, note not to repeal the levy on income and declaring an emergency."
Council member's Betty Jackman and Brenda Losey voted to accept the legislation, and council member Harvey Everhart voted against accepting it.
Jackman, council president, asked Everhart to explain his position on the matter and why he chose to vote no.
Everhart said he had issue with a line in section two of the resolution that states, "council further resolves to leave similar funds in place supported by the general fund, to allow the police department to continue operation in a manner for the safety of the citizens and the security of the city."
Section one of the resolution states, "Council for the city of Greenfield recognizes and appreciates its residents do not want to pay more income tax than necessary, but would like to keep in place safety and possibly increase services for the security of its residents. As such, if the electorate votes not to repeal the one-quarter of one percent levy on income, council for the city of Greenfield hereby resolves to continue collecting the levied income tax and use the entire one half of one percent for the operating expenses of the Greenfield Police Department."
"When we created those funds we cut one in the street department, cut one in the cemetery, and cut the recreation fund. I can't justify to the citizens of Greenfield we keep the lack of (workers) in the street department, the cemetery and the entire recreation fund, to add more police to retain what we have," Everhart said.
Everhart said he would vote to accept the legislation if that line was stricken from the resolution.
"If you do that, you wouldn't gain anything (by passing the resolution)," Jackman said. Jackman then asked that council continue with the agenda.
According to the resolution, "Since the electorate's decision to increase the income tax, half of this amount, or one quarter of one percent, has been used for operating expenses of the Greenfield Police Department and half of this amount, or one-quarter of one percent, has been collected and used for operating expenses of the Greenfield Police Department."
Since the city dissolved the Greenfield Fire Department last year after the creation of the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District, council passed a resolution reducing the income tax, according to the resolution, "and thereby placing on the May 2010 ballot the question of whether the city should continue to collect and use one-quarter of one percent tax on income for the operating expenses of the now-dissolved fire department."
The legislation was classified as an emergency resolution out of the necessity "to immediately educate its residents on income tax matters so that they can make informed decisions at the ballot on May 4, 2010," according to the resolution.
Also during the meeting, Everhart and Losey both voted against accepting an ordinance "repealing Greenfield Codified Ordinance Code ... 'Fees for dumping fill material' and amending certain sections'" of the cemetery section of the codified ordinances.
Losey stated that she had several questions on the ordinance and Everhart said council had not been given the resolution in time to properly review the legislation.
"I received (the ordinance) late this afternoon," Everhart said. "It's nine pages. There is no way I can come in to council and vote for it."
"I totally agree," Losey said.
"We need more time on the minutes, the city manager's reports, so we can review them," Everhart said.
Jackman said that an ordinance committee meeting was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 4, prior to the regularly scheduled council meeting at 7 p.m.
Losey said she didn't know why the legislation was held until that meeting, and Jackman said she didn't know either.
Jackman then asked if there was new business to come before council, and Everhart said that he wanted to discuss "the previous appointment of Mr. (Greg) Schottelkotte" in the police department.
"Not in open session," Jackman said. "That will be discussed in executive session at that time."
Council then voted, at approximately 8 p.m. to go into a scheduled executive session for the purpose of discussing "personnel issues."
Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester told The Highland County Press that Schottelkotte was given a temporary appointment to the department on Jan. 6 and "as far as I know was approved by the law director." Hester said he was not aware of any issues regarding Schottelkotte.
Following the meeting, Everhart declined to elaborate on the matter, saying it was a personnel matter.
Council returned to council chambers at approximately 8:42 p.m. and Jackman stated they had voted to come out of executive session and asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Council will hold a special meeting April 21 at 8 p.m. in council chambers for the second reading of resolutions heard April 20, according to a notice from the city, including:
• A Resolution accepting an anonymous donation of funds in the amount of $250 for the purpose of aiding community improvement in celebration of Arbor Day, April 30, 2010 and declaring an emergency.
• A Resolution declaring Council’s intent should the electorate voting on the question of whether to repeal the one-quarter of one percent levy on income tax, currently being collected and used for the former fire department’s operating expenses, vote not to repeal the levy on income and declaring an emergency.
• A Resolution authorizing the interim city manager to enter into an agreement with Woolpert Inc. for Professional Design Services for the wastewater treatment plant Phase II improvements and declaring an emergency.
The Greenfield City Council met in their regular session April 20 with three members present - enough to conduct the session and accept legislation, but not enough members to pass emergency legislation.
Council heard the first reading of a resolution "declaring council's intent should the electorate voting on the question of whether to repeal the one-quarter of one percent levy on income tax, currently being collected and used for the former fire department's operating expenses, note not to repeal the levy on income and declaring an emergency."
Council member's Betty Jackman and Brenda Losey voted to accept the legislation, and council member Harvey Everhart voted against accepting it.
Jackman, council president, asked Everhart to explain his position on the matter and why he chose to vote no.
Everhart said he had issue with a line in section two of the resolution that states, "council further resolves to leave similar funds in place supported by the general fund, to allow the police department to continue operation in a manner for the safety of the citizens and the security of the city."
Section one of the resolution states, "Council for the city of Greenfield recognizes and appreciates its residents do not want to pay more income tax than necessary, but would like to keep in place safety and possibly increase services for the security of its residents. As such, if the electorate votes not to repeal the one-quarter of one percent levy on income, council for the city of Greenfield hereby resolves to continue collecting the levied income tax and use the entire one half of one percent for the operating expenses of the Greenfield Police Department."
"When we created those funds we cut one in the street department, cut one in the cemetery, and cut the recreation fund. I can't justify to the citizens of Greenfield we keep the lack of (workers) in the street department, the cemetery and the entire recreation fund, to add more police to retain what we have," Everhart said.
Everhart said he would vote to accept the legislation if that line was stricken from the resolution.
"If you do that, you wouldn't gain anything (by passing the resolution)," Jackman said. Jackman then asked that council continue with the agenda.
According to the resolution, "Since the electorate's decision to increase the income tax, half of this amount, or one quarter of one percent, has been used for operating expenses of the Greenfield Police Department and half of this amount, or one-quarter of one percent, has been collected and used for operating expenses of the Greenfield Police Department."
Since the city dissolved the Greenfield Fire Department last year after the creation of the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District, council passed a resolution reducing the income tax, according to the resolution, "and thereby placing on the May 2010 ballot the question of whether the city should continue to collect and use one-quarter of one percent tax on income for the operating expenses of the now-dissolved fire department."
The legislation was classified as an emergency resolution out of the necessity "to immediately educate its residents on income tax matters so that they can make informed decisions at the ballot on May 4, 2010," according to the resolution.
Also during the meeting, Everhart and Losey both voted against accepting an ordinance "repealing Greenfield Codified Ordinance Code ... 'Fees for dumping fill material' and amending certain sections'" of the cemetery section of the codified ordinances.
Losey stated that she had several questions on the ordinance and Everhart said council had not been given the resolution in time to properly review the legislation.
"I received (the ordinance) late this afternoon," Everhart said. "It's nine pages. There is no way I can come in to council and vote for it."
"I totally agree," Losey said.
"We need more time on the minutes, the city manager's reports, so we can review them," Everhart said.
Jackman said that an ordinance committee meeting was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 4, prior to the regularly scheduled council meeting at 7 p.m.
Losey said she didn't know why the legislation was held until that meeting, and Jackman said she didn't know either.
Jackman then asked if there was new business to come before council, and Everhart said that he wanted to discuss "the previous appointment of Mr. (Greg) Schottelkotte" in the police department.
"Not in open session," Jackman said. "That will be discussed in executive session at that time."
Council then voted, at approximately 8 p.m. to go into a scheduled executive session for the purpose of discussing "personnel issues."
Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester told The Highland County Press that Schottelkotte was given a temporary appointment to the department on Jan. 6 and "as far as I know was approved by the law director." Hester said he was not aware of any issues regarding Schottelkotte.
Following the meeting, Everhart declined to elaborate on the matter, saying it was a personnel matter.
Council returned to council chambers at approximately 8:42 p.m. and Jackman stated they had voted to come out of executive session and asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Council will hold a special meeting April 21 at 8 p.m. in council chambers for the second reading of resolutions heard April 20, according to a notice from the city, including:
• A Resolution accepting an anonymous donation of funds in the amount of $250 for the purpose of aiding community improvement in celebration of Arbor Day, April 30, 2010 and declaring an emergency.
• A Resolution declaring Council’s intent should the electorate voting on the question of whether to repeal the one-quarter of one percent levy on income tax, currently being collected and used for the former fire department’s operating expenses, vote not to repeal the levy on income and declaring an emergency.
• A Resolution authorizing the interim city manager to enter into an agreement with Woolpert Inc. for Professional Design Services for the wastewater treatment plant Phase II improvements and declaring an emergency.
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