Russellville council looks at town hall status

RUSSELLVILLE -- In its last regular meeting before it reorganizes to tackle 2020, the Russellville Town Council addressed items in both old and new business Tuesday evening.

The council devoted a measure of time to discussing the status of the Russellville Town Hall, as well as that of nearby properties. In essence, it is still undetermined whether the building, which was condemned last March, is safe to move back into.

While Clerk-Treasurer Martha Mandleco said she had no further updates, Town Attorney Stu Weliever stated that he had asked County Attorney Jim Ensley to “put in a good word” with Putnam County Planning and Zoning. He also said the town needed to figure out whether it wanted other buildings close to the town hall.

The building was recently ruled as safe by an independent structural engineer, though Mandleco and the council steered against a question by the Banner Graphic as to his or her identity. It remains to be seen if this overrides the determination which was made by Don Hatfield of Putnam County Planning.

The council also briefly addressed two ordinances from 1996 and 2004 which address animal control and nuisance. They were brought up during the council’s November meeting with regard to barking dogs.

However, the 1996 ordinance has been mainly at issue, as it was found that it does not provide a process for nuisance citations to be paid. As such, Weliever suggested that the town should adopt a future ordinance designating the clerk-treasurer as the person to whom they are given.

In new business, the council approved Ordinance 2019-3, which establishes town officials’ salaries and wages for 2020. Mandleco said that the only change made to this list was that the clerk-treasurer would earn $24,000. It wasn’t specified if this was an increase or a decrease.

The council also approved Resolutions 2019-5, 2019-6 and 2019-7, which authorize Mandleco to transfer money between funds in order to balance them out.

Mandleco said that money underspent on legal matters would go toward the town’s consulting fund being overspent. Money from professional education will go toward miscellaneous charges, while money allocated to the town marshal’s salary will cover labor expenses.

Council member Cathy Jones was absent for most of the meeting, and did not cast a vote in approving the November minutes, Ordinance 2019-3 and the three resolutions.

The first regular meeting of 2020 for the Russellville Town Council and the Russellville Water Board is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 20 at 7 p.m. in the Russellville Community Center.