Action: Home Rule Ordinance
- What it means: Officials have initiated proceedings to consider the possible disposition of the city’s waterworks utility and wastewater. While there is an Indiana Code that provides for a process that a municipality must adhere to when undertaking the sale of non-surplus utility property, there is no code or state process for wastewater utility sales.
- What’s next: The Home Rule Ordinance allows Westfield to create a process to sell its wastewater property.
Action: Additional appropriations to the general fund
- What it means: Todd Burtron has asked the City Council to use $691,837 COIT dollars to replace funds not approved by the DLGF. The city administration budget items were approved previously by the council before being submitted to the DLGF. Burtron explained that five budget items were either decreased or not approved by the DLGF, including: attorney/consultant ($390,514), administrative consulting ($133,000), travel/training ($5,031), services ($161,792) and official bond ($1,500).
- What’s next: Mayor Andy Cook said the funds are approximately 50 percent of the one-time COIT payment from the state. Cook added that the remaining funds were placed in a Rainy Day Fund for future use.
Action: Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau grant
- What it means: The city received a $1 million grant from the Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau. City officials said the funds are a sub-grant from a larger grant the bureau received. Of that larger grant, Westfield received the largest portion.
- What’s next: Cook said the funds will be used for the Grand Park project
Action: Anti-Nepotism Policy
- What it means: Westfield currently has a nepotism policy, but new state law requires cities to add or fine-tune their policies. The ordinance states that the city may not employ persons in positions that result in one relative being in the direct line of supervision of another relative. Any city that does not accept the new nepotism policy will not have its budget approved next year.
- What’s next: The new ordinance went into effect July 1. Updates were made to the city’s policies and procedures manual.
Action: Amendment to Tall Weeds Ordinance
- What it means: The city has made several minor changes to the ordinance including the wording to include subdivision lots. Matt Skelton said the original ordinance had provisions intended for farmlands and larger properties, not subdivisions. Since the ordinance began, Skelton said the city has processed 25 to 30 properties and mowed 10 to 15. “This is about extreme situations,” he said.
- What’s next: The second reading and possible consideration will occur at the July 9 meeting.