Fillmore council discusses lacking police presence

FILLMORE -- With a newly revamped body and a new clerk-treasurer set to come in next month, the Fillmore Town Council will still have to face issues with police coverage in the town.

In his monthly report during the council’s regular meeting Thursday, Town Marshal Darrel Bunten addressed complaints from residents concerning a skeleton police presence within Fillmore. This has become more of a problem mainly due to continuous speeding.

With Bunten, who works in conjunction with his full-time commitment with the Greencastle Police Department, Fillmore has three reserves who should be working part time. They include Clyde Siddons (who was present at the meeting), Jack Smith and former Putnam County Sheriff Steve Fenwick.

Resident Amanda Maynard, who helps run Bert & Betty’s Kitchen, provided that she had seen Siddons regularly patrolling within the town, but also expressed concern that the other reserves were not.

Reserve officers are required to serve 16 hours a month, for which Bunten said he has little to no documentation with Fillmore’s officers under him.

Bunten said that he had not seen Fenwick since he hired him as a reserve. While he did not provide a reason for the lack of communication, Bunten said he knew why it has occurred.

He turned to the issue of police uniforms, for which the town does not give an allowance to police personnel. Bunten added that he has not received one for his own uniform in the 10 years he has served as the town marshal. In essence, reserves would have to purchase their own uniforms.

Outgoing Clerk-Treasurer Jayna Haldeman said it could take “years” for the town to accrue funds for an allowance, unless the new council forming next month could work a “miracle.” She also provided that the town pays $750 in liability insurance for its reserve officers, about the same as a police vest according to Bunten.

Outgoing Council President Bill Ashcraft iterated to Bunten that these issues were “his department,” especially as the town marshal has previously suggested terminating the newly-hired reserves because of their inactivity.

Bunten also gave an update on cleanup work which was recently completed at 122 N. Main St. He said that three dumpsters were used to clean the entire property.

Bunten added that the homeowner’s boyfriend had approached him, and offered an apology to the town for the property not being kept up. He then assured Bunten that the cost of the cleanup would be paid, especially so that a lien may not be placed on the home.

The council approved a $2,000 bid to perform the cleanup during last month’s meeting. This came with the stipulation that a lien would be placed on the home, should the homeowner not cover the cost within a month of the cleanup being completed.

The issue pitted Ashcraft and council member Robin Duncan against each other as to whether the move would set a precedent for other properties. It was argued in turn that the town was obligated to take action.

In other business, the council announced that sealed bids for the police vehicle the town is selling would be accepted. These bids will be taken from Wednesday, Dec. 11 to Christmas Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 24.

Duncan asked how interested persons might be able to look over the vehicle. Ashcraft said that Haldeman had the keys, and that they just needed to ask her or a council member to see it.

The council also held the first reading of the salary schedule for 2020. The only change between this one and 2018 is that 2020 will have 27 pay times instead of 26. This would only pertain to Joe Cash as the town’s utility operator and Bunten as the town marshal.

A second reading of the salary schedule is set for a special meeting to be held in the Fillmore Town Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.

Before the meeting adjourned, incoming council member Meredith Trusty thanked Ashcraft, Haldeman and Duncan for their work on the council.

Council member C.J. Huller, who was retained in the recent municipal elections, also extended his thanks to the outgoing members with whom he has worked with on the council.

The first meeting of the Fillmore Town Council in 2020 is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Fillmore Town Hall.

Huller said the meeting was moved back from the normal first Thursday to help incoming clerk-treasurer Tonya Gruenholz transition into her new role.