Mayor has a read on proposed local fair housing ordinance

As mayor of Greencastle, Sue Murray has had her versatility truly tested over the past five-plus years as the city's chief executive.

After all, she's flown into the teeth of a typhoon to represent the community's interests in the Far East while talking turkey with Chinese and Japanese industrialists.

She's read Dr. Seuss to little kids for fun and read the riot act to state officials over funds.

She's even tangoed her tail off for the sake of fundraising in the local Dancing With the Stars effort.

And now, with a yeoman effort that would have made speed-reading maven Evelyn Wood herself proud, Mayor Murray has taken a turn as City Council narrator, reading aloud a tedious 12-page ordinance for 19 straight minutes with nary a pause to catch her breath last week.

The ordinance was approved unanimously on first reading and will be up for adoption on second and final reading -- thankfully by title only -- when the City Council conducts its April meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

The local legislation, Ordinance 2013-1, essentially establishes a City of Greencastle policy and sets necessary provisions "appropriate to prevent discrimination in the area of housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin."

The ordinance has extensive language about what is considered discriminatory, including a section that even addresses transvestites.

The city already has a fair housing document in place, but "nothing that is this extensive," Mayor Murray noted.

The ordinance in question is relevant for any real estate transactions over which the city has jurisdiction, it was pointed out.

Its passage, the mayor said, is required by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), which is providing grant money for the city's new downtown parking garage that is part of the Stellar Program.

"Tell me again what this has to do with parking," Councilor-at-large Phyllis Rokicki questioned.

"Funding," was the mayor's brief response. "It's the funding source."

In other words, when an organization is about to give you $3,280,250 to fund the bulk of a reported $3,580,250 project, you jump through any hoop necessary.

After all, the parking garage is the biggest single structural element of the City of Greencastle's $19 million Stellar Communities package.

The planned public garage is to be located on property bordered by Jackson, Walnut and Indiana streets, a block off the square. The structure will provide free parking for the downtown with vehicles entering and exiting only via the Jackson Street side of the garage.

The ordinance must be passed, the mayor noted, in order for the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to release the funds to the state to be passed on to Greencastle.

After the mayor's lengthy read, Council President Adam Cohen made the motion to approve the measure on first reading. Rokicki provided a second and Jinsie Bingham's vote made it 3-0. Councilmen Mark Hammer and T.J. Smith were absent.

The Council also set an executive session for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7 to discuss the purchase of the old A-Way Home Shelter property. The city has received a 27-page inspection report on the building at 309 E. Franklin St.

Negotiations on a possible city purchase of the building (with the intention the Homeless Solutions group will repay the city over time) have not yet begun, Mayor Murray also noted.