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Council keeps Cohen as leader, Thursday night meeting date
Just days after opting out of the Putnam County Democratic Party chairmanship, Adam Cohen went right to back work in his familiar City Council leadership role.
The First Ward councilman on the city’s seven-member governmental body, Cohen was unanimously re-elected Thursday night to a 10th straight term as City Council president.
Cohen, who stepped down as county Democrat chairman earlier this month to devote more time to candidate recruitment, initially assumed the city leadership role in 2009, during just his second year on the City Council when succeeded John Lanie as president of the then five-member panel.
Cohen’s re-election as Council president came virtually without discussion following a motion and a second by fellow Democrats Dave Murray and Gary Lemon, respectively.
Previously, Cohen has suggested that for all intents and purposes the City Council president really becomes the unit’s “utility player,” going from such matters as observing audit meetings to being available as the mayor’s first call for input into any given situation.
Traditionally, the first meeting of the new year means time for the Council’s annual reorganization along with restructuring city board appointments and department liaison assignments, and this year was no different.
It was also unanimously agreed that the City Council will again conduct its regular monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month, beginning at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Meanwhile, Council members will again team up with the various city departments as liaisons.
The changes for 2018 are Stacie Langdon becoming Police Department liaison, Cohen taking on Public Works Department duties, Lemon being liaison for the Utilities Department and Tyler Wade taking over as Forest Hill Cemetery liaison.
Meanwhile, returning to their liaison roles will be Murray, Fire Department; Steve Fields, Parks and Recreation Department, and Mark Hammer, Planning Department.
The City Council also made several board assignments for 2018. Those include:
Commission on Sustainability -- Lemon, replacing Fields in that role.
Putnam County 911 Board – Langdon retaining her post.
Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center Board – Murray, retaining his appointment.
Greencastle Plan Commission – Hammer (in second year of four-year term).
Putnam County Animal Care and Control Board -- Police Chief Tom Sutherlin (in final year of three-year term).
Tree Board – Lemon (in final year of three-year term).
Economic Development Commission -- Wade (in final year of three-year term).
Cable Access Committee – Wade (in final year of three-year term).
Meanwhile, concerning its annual appointments to the Greencastle Redevelopment Commission, the Council unanimously reappointed Erika Gilmore and Lottie Barcus to additional one-year terms. Mayor Bill Dory had previously reappointed Drew Brattain, Gwen Morris and Gary Lemon to the other three seats on the commission.
The City Council will next meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at City Hall.