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Cloverdale council addresses office hours, ordinances
CLOVERDALE -- For the time being, Cloverdale residents will not see the town office opened five days week. However, online bill payment is waiting in the wings.
The Cloverdale Town Council considered both potentialities during its regular meeting last Tuesday evening. Clerk-Treasurer Kelly Maners, still fresh in her role, explained how paying online could affect whether the office needed to be opened up more.
Maners stated she was unsure of where the town stood with its finances. She added that she had been working on establishing an online bill paying system, which could dramatically reduce traffic and calls to the office.
Maners suggested that the council wait on extending the office hours until she knew where the online billing system stood. She added that it might not become available until October.
Town Attorney Daniel Hofmann said he was waiting on a financial analysis for the town. He pointed out that the town was also missing potential property taxes. The state issued a moratorium in March that waived penalties until July 10.
Back in May, the council agreed that the town office’s hours had to be opened up, with Council Vice President Greg Jay citing “common disapproval” of it being closed on Wednesdays. The consensus was that it would be open on Wednesdays as well as half days on Saturdays.
The council set a tentative date of July 6 for the new hours to be in effect, depending on where the state stood with COVID-19.
Stardust Hills developer Don Gedert took exception with the office remaining open four days a week, saying a “traditional” work week was five days. He cited a situation in which the water would have to be turned on for a Wednesday inspection, yet no one answers the phone.
Maners explained that Wednesdays have been set aside for utility workers to get various jobs completed, with that day being the best time. Jay added that should Gedert get an inspection notification on a Monday, the office would still be able to accommodate it on a Wednesday.
However, as a full-time student, Deputy Clerk Samantha Hinman will not be available to work in the office beginning next month.
The council agreed that part of the issue was that Utility Clerk Susie Bass has no official way to get ahold of workers in the field in case of an emergency. Jay suggested that the town look into setting up a mobile phone specifically for this, but no action was taken.
The council approved a motion to hold off on the proposed office hours until town officials know where they stand with the online bill pay and the financial analysis.
The council then looked at revising the town’s sewage use ordinance. Hofmann said he had been working with Bridget Murphy of UMAC on these changes, one of which has been to remove language referring to the town manager, should that position not be filled.
Hofmann said the issue of fines for prohibited discharges had been left “blank” for the council to consider. Jay opined that fees had to be broken down according to consumption.
He believed commercial properties could not be fined greater fees if other residential spaces were using more water. He suggested a compounded fine for both commercial and residential as far as repeated citations were concerned.
The second ordinance which has had some changes made to it is the town’s salary ordinance. Describing them as “minor,” Hofmann said corrections had been made to CPD Crime Scene Investigator Rick Lambert’s salary, as well as to the deputy clerk’s salary.
The major salary amendment was to issue a one-time emergency bonus to Hinman and Utility Clerk Susie Bass, which is to depend on the hours worked by both. The changes also include compensation to Bass for overtime worked.
Both Hinman and Bass, who also serves as an auditor for the town, took on extra responsibilities after the departure of former Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway.
The council approved the changes with the understanding that a more comprehensive revision would be in the works.
In other business:
• Maners swore in 2014 Cloverdale High School graduate Daniel Warren as the Cloverdale Police Department’s newest deputy marshal. He served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Town Marshal Steve Hibler said Warren was selected out of about 80 applicants for the position. He also highlighted that all of the department’s deputy marshals are former military.
• The council approved for three “whirlybird” indicators to be installed on stop signs near Stardust Hills.
• Hofmann stipulated that Gov. Eric Holcomb had extended the moratorium on utility shutoffs until Aug. 14. He advised the council that repayment plans should be set up with customers.
• Hofmann said he had “gotten the ball rolling” with the town’s planned ADA transition plan. He said Commonwealth Engineers, based in Indianapolis, would be coming in August.
The council approved last month for a third-party contractor to assist with updates in the town.
Council member Cindy Holland was not present at the meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall.