Cloverdale Town Council adds part-time police officers

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

CLOVERDALE--The Cloverdale Town Council approved a resolution to increase the police force to two full-time members, three part-time members and four reserve officers at its board meeting Tuesday night.

Before the agenda item relating to police officers came up, local businessman Dan Moon asked why some officers in recent years had been let go.

"I would love to get into that," said council vice president Dennis Padgett. "But it's in a personnel file, so we can't."

Cloverdale clerk-treasurer Cathleen Monaco presented a motion to allow her to write checks for invoices that are payment-on-demand. She would then present the council with an invoice for the check.

This means Monaco wouldn't have to wait for council approval to pay time-sensitive bills.

"We have penalties and late fees on a lot of the invoices we receive, as well as threats of cancellation," Monaco said.

Padgett said he knew of one finance charge for a sewer plant that was $700 or $800 extra because the bill was two or three months late.

"That's $700 or $800 dollars of your taxpayers' money," he said.

The council approved the motion.

A presentation from Banning Engineering focused on writing a new subdivision control ordinance. This ordinance would provide guidelines for sanitary sewer standards, water flow standards and other requirements for any new construction in the town.

"We can give you a draft of the ordinance," said Tabatha Briones, one of the engineers on the project. "Once you mark it up, we can get a better idea of what you're looking for and we can go from there."

Padgett said an engineer is required for the last part of writing the ordinance.

The council tabled an agreement from the Putnam County Humane Society for a third time. It would provide funding to the Humane Society for the remainder of this year and all of next year.

The agreement would cost $775 for the remainder of this year and $1,860 for next year. The council and members of the audience discussed raising the dog licensing fees to pay the cost.

Council members Terry Puffer and Don Sublett were not at the meeting.

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  • this is to UMad. If I were working for you, and you found me sleeping on the job, what would you do?

    -- Posted by razor man on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 8:54 AM
  • CORRUPTION in capital letters.

    -- Posted by MORTY3 on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 9:58 AM
  • I am glad I am not the only one that KNOWS how CORRUPT this Town Council is. I love how our "Police Chief" was only supposed to be on pay roll for a "few" months. How long has it been now?!? Oh wait I guess the cops do not need any new cars now do they. Is that why we can have more cops.

    -- Posted by jakesims on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 1:12 PM
  • You left out the part about how Town Council member Dennis Padgett treated Dan Moon like trash. He pretty much said that he had no say because he doesn't live in Cloverdale, even though he owns a business in Cloverdale.

    -- Posted by clovertrueviews on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 2:54 PM
  • I'd LOVE to see these files...

    My husband was a part time reserve. He gave up MANY personal

    hours over 2 years and a lot of person money ( gun, uniforms, vest, etc). He dutifully showed up 2 days sometimes 3 or 4 days a week. He also had a FULL time job. He was never reprimanded, he was promoted 2 times and also asked to be on the "board of reserves". Over the 4th of July week while we were on vacation he was told by a fellow officer he was no longer needed. He has NEVER been givin one reason as to why. NO ONE from the board or Mr Chadd would ever meet with him. The only thing we have heard from a former reserve officer was that he did not "greet" the town council president in passing & she WILL be treated with respect. My husband had no clue what she even looked like! Then Mr Padgett told a family member he was let go due to the town being short on finances Okay let's all go look up the word ' volunteer '.

    There is so much crap going on down there behind "closed " doors it is sickening!. I think it all depends on who you are friends with ( more like watch out who you are friends with) and who comes to your family outings! And let me add who can lie the most! I've heard so many lies it is unreal.

    People who actually want to come and make a difference get ran off by the ones who are some ego trip.

    -- Posted by guess who! on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 3:30 PM
  • To Clovertrueviews;

    How does a council memember who does not live in Cloverdale but in Al and only comes home every few weeks stay on the board?

    -- Posted by guess who! on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 3:41 PM
  • To guess who!

    I have heard of another officer that got in trouble because he didn't wave at a town council member. That is just crazy. I didn't know about the town council member not living in Cloverdale anymore. I think I am going to try to look into that. Thanks.

    -- Posted by clovertrueviews on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 5:52 PM
  • guess who.....you hit the nail on the head...c'dale has a way to get rid of good officers for friends. insofar as chiefs they had a chance years back to put a good one in to set the department up with professionalism but, the current chief at that time lied to get that officer fired, that's just one of hundred stories that could be told. corruption is alive and well as per usual!!!!!

    -- Posted by justus on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 6:37 PM
  • When the Queen B gets upset, there's no telling what she will do. She can't be disrespected? But she can surely disrespect. Corruption and lies will continue to happen until the town of Cloverdale stops allowing the Council to continue in this same manner. They lie to get people fired, they lie to give people positions and create new Boards, they lie to shift money around, and they lie to get their current Town Clerk bonded (since 3 major insurance companies wouldn't touch her with a ten foot pole due to her bankruptcy, but you don't have to tell them that fact when you fill out the form online--manipulation at it's finest). The lies are bleeding the town dry of fiances and what little respect it's citizens might have had left to those outside of the city limits. The lies are now jeopardizing the safety of its citizens and businesses. How well is your police force prepared when there is a disaster at one of the schools? Part-time help brings part-time mentality and lack of training (any monkey can be trained on a computer). Good luck, you'll need it!!!

    -- Posted by YouCantBSerious on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 7:33 PM
  • guess who/dawn,

    get your facts straight., and why would someone who lives in greencastle care about cloverdale. Can't your husband get a job with greencastle police? Or does he not have a friend in that department?

    -- Posted by drpeppr on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 11:39 PM
  • Finally some people are waking up and concerned about our Town. The town board has not cared for the safety of it's citizens for a long time. Just look at the facts of employment history (tenure). Just when the town gets very decent employees and mgr's that show a good attitude and pride w/their work, a sudden illness creeps into the pack. The problem I see is that politic's nearly always roots in and feelings are hurt, et. al. Guess what, as board members, you were voted in by your constituents of whom you serve. I believe ALL of your AGENDA's are for personal gain and nature and have a hint of retaliation mixed in. My main issue now is, What if I (a town constituent who votes and PAYS TAXES...hmmm, board president) have a dire emergency and go through 911 and get the answer of, "I'm sorry, I don't have a Cloverdale Officer on right now, but, I can dispatch another officer in the county when he's not busy." Trust me it's happened before here (as discussed in prior topics). Here's another thought, just maybe one of the board mbr's that votes on this has an emergency and they get that answer.....whew, hope it doesn't happen, but seriously ponder this....it's reality right NOW! We were paying and approved with 4 full time officers who at one time, were ALL very Professional and proud of their duties/service to this town. Now we have gone from 4 to 1 full time, w/one more approved. 3 part time w/part time interim chief....do the math, yeah same money maybe, but why not bring back total 4 full time and bring back the pride and tenure we started to get before the illness. People of Cloverdale who have yet to see that the town board is corrupt must be living under a rock! All this stuff coming out should open their eyes and make them think maybe these board members aren't that great after all!

    -- Posted by Karmarox on Wed, Sep 15, 2010, at 11:43 PM
  • I have got the answer to ALL of these POST's...When that certain council person comes home every other weekend from Alabama, he can also work his "Volunteer" position at the Putnam County Sheriff's Dept. and maintain coverage here in Cloverdale that he helped dismantle. ;)

    -- Posted by sadlymissingreagan on Thu, Sep 16, 2010, at 1:09 AM
  • CLOVERDALE, ALSO KNOWN AS CLOVERTUCK, WHY? BECAUSE IT IS DIRTY, CORRUPT, & NEEDS SOMEONE TO COME IN & CLEAN IT UP. SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL LA TE DA BOARDMEMBER TO BUT OUT, FIND HER SOMETHING TO DO OR GET HER OUT OF TOWN. WHO OWNS ALL THE MOTELS & GAS STATIONS NOW??? WHERE WAS SHE WHEN THIS HAPPENED?

    -- Posted by MORTY3 on Thu, Sep 16, 2010, at 10:50 AM
  • Maybe, just maybe, the police officers that have been dismissed were not doing their job. The town council has been doing a wonderful job. Progress is being made on cleaning up the town, ordinances being updated and employees being held accountable for their actions. I think these comments are very hurtful and counterproductive for Cloverdale. Stop the personal attacks. As far as safety goes, the Indiana State Police has our backs..... or haven't you noticed?

    -- Posted by drpeppr on Thu, Sep 16, 2010, at 12:17 PM
  • Umm drpeppr I think I know who you are and go figure you think they are doing a good job. What ordinances are being kept. You sent one guy out twice to support and enforce the car ordinance. This did what? Noting! The same car set on Grant on the road covered up with flat tires for how long after said ordinance took in to effect? A year, a year when everyone else had two weeks! The town will not do anything about the dump houses that are stinking up the town, and the town council will not approve side walks because not every one will know to clean them off. COME ON get real! You have had a grant in your hands for TWO YEARS to pay for the sub station that you have raised our water bills to pay for but or now going for one that requires you to put money down that the town does not have. A group of women had to come together to raise money to get the park together and you will not allow the Park Board any funds or man power to keep it up and going! drpeppr you know who you are and what is wrong!

    -- Posted by jakesims on Thu, Sep 16, 2010, at 12:38 PM
  • Oh what ever drpeppr! What has any of the cops done wron. Oh MY Buddy Don's funeral home is not doing well lets get rid of the good cops and give him a job. But why did he have to leave Cloverdale in the first place. Wasn't he in trouble in the first place with the law! So is the town going to advertise for a cop position or did they already have a buddy lined up. Oh I know they are gonna get another from the county to sit and do nothing.

    -- Posted by feedupincdale on Thu, Sep 16, 2010, at 1:05 PM
  • Why should the State Police have our backs? They are supposed to be back up for Cloverdale and take care of the interstate but since they got rid of Putnamville post most of them are not even close enought to "have our backs"

    -- Posted by jakesims on Thu, Sep 16, 2010, at 1:10 PM
  • Dr Pepper re-read your prior post to me- stop the personal attacks??

    Yes I know who you are and will not put your name out there like you did mine. I will let you "think" you are anonymous.

    If the police that were let go were not doing their jobs why were they not reprimanded before hand? I know my husband was not. Or at least even givin one single reason why he was let go. Get YOUR facts straight. I have plenty , plenty of "facts". I can share if you like?

    And yes we live in Greencastle, but as you know I have family in Cloverdale & grew up there. My husband was asked by a board memeber to come work as a reserve. Once he got out there and started seeing how it was really, he is dimissed. He WAS doing his job , 2 to 4 days a week for free, putting HIS life on the line while you were probably at home baking cookies.

    And yes he has friends- a lot of friends! Going by these comments you might rethink yours....

    -- Posted by guess who! on Thu, Sep 16, 2010, at 2:32 PM
  • I thought the reserves in cloverdale were volunteers.....

    Sounds like someone needs a new hobby. The town council took their toys away from them.

    Oh and guess who... ignorance is bliss!

    -- Posted by captain crunch on Thu, Sep 16, 2010, at 5:38 PM
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