Action: The council, staff and representatives from Fishers Freedom Festival discussed the festival’s budget in a work session.
What it means: Fishers Freedom Festival Executive Director Jennifer Kehl responded to the council’s ruling on not appropriating the festival a larger budget for its 25th anniversary. After discussing the actions previously taken by the council and what could be on the table, the councilors gave input on an updated budget from Kehl.
What’s next: Town Manager Scott Fadness and the staff was tasked to with Kehl on a new proposal that the council may review in the future.
Action: Officer elections were held.
What it means: The council held elections for the president and vice president. Councilor Scott Faultless nominated John Weingardt for president, and Pete Peterson was nominated by Councilor Michael Colby. After the vote, Weingardt took the center position at the council’s bench and presided over the meeting. Weingardt said he had heard and read others say now was a time to go into “cruise control” and wait until city government becomes a reality. That perspective bores him, he said.
What’s next: Weingardt and Peterson will hold the position for the year. The councilors are now rotating through the position until Fishers becomes a city.
Action: Items ‘a’ through ‘e’ of the consent were approved after item ‘f’ was stricken.
What it means: The first five items were approved in the consent agenda, including resolutions declaring town property as surplus (and transferring and disposing of property) and approving a Memorandum of Understanding with IU Health Saxony. IU Health Saxony will be the title sponsor of the Summer Concert Series from summer 2013 through summer 2015 and provided the full amount of funding, $45,000, up front, according to a council action form.
What’s next: ach meeting has a consent agenda, and it changes every week.
Action: Item ‘f’ was stricken from the consent agenda.
What it means: The item was discussed at the end of the council meeting. Item ‘f’ regards contract change orders for various projects, but Councilor Stuart Easley took issue with one specific change order. The order is for the 96th Street and Allisonville Road intersection project and increases the original contract amount from $531,530 to $656,282, an increase of $124,752 to carry American Structurepoint’s inspection and oversight services through the project, which now ends in May. Jeff Hill, director of engineering, addressed issues with the reasons for the contract change. The additional fee will keep American Structurepoint on through the completion, not account for an inspector the town did not provide to supplement the company’s efforts, the reasoning for the contract change in the paperwork, he said. Multiple councilors wanted American Structurepoint to address the council directly, tabling that one change for a future meeting. All other change orders were approved.
What’s next: The council will revisit the single change order in a future meeting. Town staff will find a date for American Structurepoint to come in.