Residents angry when shushed by town council
Two Fillmore town residents walked out of the Town Council meeting Thursday evening after being told there would not be any public comment allowed at the meeting.
Board President Jeff Osborn explained that he had a previous commitment and needed to keep the meeting short.
"It's just for this meeting," said Osborn. "We'll open the floor for comments at the next meeting."
After hearing there was no public comment, Fillmore residents Julia Sosa and Curt Leonard walked out of the meeting. Osborn did ask Leonard if he had something to discuss. Leonard said if no one else was allowed to talk he would wait.
Several residents complained after the meeting that they were not able to discuss issues or make comments.
Cheryl Bumgardner wanted the board to follow up on her complaint to them at the June meeting regarding ATV drivers and speeders on her street.
"I am really disappointed with this meeting. I want something to be done about the ATV's and speeders," said Bumgardner.
Other residents complained of not being able to discuss the hiring of the new town deputy marshal, changes in the trash pickup billing being added to the water and sewer bills and other issues.
Board member Alan Jones joined the group outside the meeting and suggested they come in and ask to have their complaints put on the agenda.
During the meeting Osborn told Council members that they had planned to have the first six months of budget activity ready but the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) had just notified them that their budget of $93,500 was not accepted.
"They only approved $78,872 so we'll have to wait for the next meeting. We have to look at things and see what's what," Osborn told the group.
Osborn also told the council that 230 surveys had been returned and only seven of those objected to adding trash pickup to the water and sewer bills. The council plans on moving ahead with incorporating trash pickup with the water and sewer billing.
Bill Dory, Director of the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center presented the board with statement of compliance for continuing tax abatement for Liberty Trailers. Dory said this is pretty routine resolution. He explained that most abatements are for seven to 10 year periods and include both property and equipment. He added that tax abatements encourage economic development.
"Twenty-three people work there and that exceeds the number of jobs they promised for the abatement. It was a vacant lot when they came and now it is a 20,000 square foot plant," said Dory.
Council members tabled the request to have time to review it. Dory will appear at the next Council meeting when they vote on the issue.
In other business:
Town Clerk Wanda Seidler announced that Erin Brown, Monrovia was hired to work as a part time temporary Deputy Clerk.
"I know Erin and trust her to work well with me," Seidler told the Council.
Seidler also informed the Council that no Annual Report had been given to the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission since 2005. They are due yearly. She will be working on a report for 2007.
The Council informed residents that the town ordinance for dogs and yards requires a visit by the Town Marshal followed up with a letter and a citation in ten days if no action is taken by the resident.
A professional grant writer will be at the next Town Council meeting to discuss possible grants for the infrastructure of the town. The Fillmore Town Council regularly meets on the first Thursday of the month at Town Hall.