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Cloverdale council considers county involvement in building inspections
CLOVERDALE -- On the heels of recently terminating its building inspector, the Cloverdale Town Council is now looking to the county to perform these duties.
Town Attorney Daniel Hofmann, who predominantly led the discussions had during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday, presented the prospect of going forward without having this office locally.
He said he had consulted with the Indiana State Fire Marshal, who opined that Cloverdale did not need a full-time building inspector due to its size and potential lack of demand.
As such, he said the town could consider working with another municipality or hand over commercial inspections to the state. However, the focus was honed in on the county’s involvement.
Hofmann said he had talked with attorney Jim Ensley, who represents the Putnam County Commissioners. He provided that they were open to covering inspections in Cloverdale and would likely discuss the matter during their meeting next Monday.
Hofmann opined that delegating the paperwork and the behind-the-scenes procedures to the county would keep the town from having to hire a building inspector and further supporting that individual.
With the town attorney believing there was a “general consensus,” and with Council Vice President Greg Jay providing that the town would be relieved of liabilities, the council approved moving forward.
In his report, Town Marshal Steve Hibler related that the Cloverdale Police Department was effectively working 24-hour coverage in Cloverdale. James Collings’ duties as an SRO for Cloverdale Schools are not needed, allowing him to cover the midnight shift.
However, he made a further request that the council consider hiring another full-time officer soon. He provided that the police department was technically down one officer after the departure of Billy Wallace last year.
The council approved moving forward with the search, with a caveat provided by Hofmann that Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway wanted Hibler to “verify” where he was with the budget and “independent auditors” (i.e. certified public accountants).
Hibler said he had not used all of the budget alloted to CPD. Hofmann added that consulting with the auditors would be something to investigate further with Mrs. Galloway.
The clerk-treasurer was not present at the meeting, but was following it virtually. Hofmann provided that she did not want to get out and risk being exposed to COVID-19.
The council also approved to provide retroactive pay for Deputy Marshal Levi App back to March 24. This is when they approved a pay raise for him and other officers. Hibler stated that App had not received it until this time.
Hibler did not attend the meeting, but listened in from his home. He said he was quarantining after coming into contact with a person positive with COVID-19. He added that he had been tested and was awaiting results.
In a separate comment, Hofmann confirmed Mrs. Galloway had hired an attorney to advise her going forward. He also implied that having one would help with communication between her, Hofmann and the council.
Jay seemed annoyed, saying taxpayers were paying out of the budget while another police officer was being sought. Hofmann responded that the money would come out of an allotted amount for “professional services.”
Under Section 36-5-6-8 of the Indiana Code, the clerk-treasurer is allowed to hire legal counsel, “on terms the clerk-treasurer considers appropriate.”
It has not been made clear whether this attorney is involved in another pending litigation involving both Mrs. Galloway and her husband, former Town Manager Wayne Galloway.
This matter is considered separate from the recent lawsuit filed by Mr. Galloway against the town. In this case, he has hired his own attorney.
In other business, the council motioned to follow state guidelines concerning the closure of the Cloverdale Town Park. Community members may use its walking trail and WiFi, as long as they do not congregate and children stay off the playground.
Hofmann also suggested that other town employees could cover duties once held by Mr. Galloway. The council gave its blessing to seek out conversations with these employees.
The council finally approved a request by Hofmann to utilize the town’s insurance provider and pay a $2,500 deductible in countering Mr. Galloway’s lawsuit. He said that once insurance steps in, it would cover attorneys and other costs.
The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m., and will be held in the Cloverdale Town Hall.