CITY OF CARLISLE
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
October 9, 2007

The regular meeting of the City of Carlisle was held this evening, October 9, 2007 in the Town Hall with Mayor Jerry Ellender presiding.  The meeting opened at 7PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call: Mr. Dennis Bowles, aye; Mayor Jerry Ellender, aye; Mr. Randy Winkler, aye; Mrs. Jennifer Long, aye; Mrs. Mary Ann Thompson, aye; Mr. Tim Humphries, aye. Absent was Mrs. Carry Branson.

Mrs. Thompson made a motion to excuse Mrs. Branson due to a death in the family. Seconded by Mrs. Long.

Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mayor Ellender, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye; Mrs. Long, aye; Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Humphries, aye.

The minutes of September 25, 2007 were presented to Council for consideration. Mrs. Thompson made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Mr. Winkler.

Roll call: Mr. Bowles, aye; Mayor Ellender, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye; Mrs. Long, aye; Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Humphries, aye.

Public Forum:

Mr. Gary Harrison, 4241 Rogers Dr. Franklin, stated he was running for Franklin Trustee and wanted to introduce himself to the Carlisle Council.

Mary    - Butler County – wanted to know if the city had any programs for volunteer firefighters training.

Scott Broschert-  800 Roberts Ct. -  A fire department that has 150 runs a year and maintains two fire engines, a building and train firefighters, and yet does not get out the door for a fire,  would this  not be in the best interest of the city  to go with Franklin Township’s  basic suppression.

 Mayor Ellender stated that council made a decision in December to put a levy on the ballot. The voters will decided if they want a to support a fire department. We need to educate our citizens more regarding a volunteer fire department.

Mrs. Branson entered the meeting at 7:10PM.

Mr. Boschert asked if it would not be more feasible to contract out to the City of Franklin for basic fire suppression.

Mayor Ellender stated the cost to contract with the City of Franklin would be a lot more. Our fire department does more than just put fires out; they help with Railroad Days, school programs, Sewer Backups, cats in a tree. If we contract with the City of Franklin we would not receive any of these services. It would be strictly basic suppression. The Service Department does act as back up but is limited on training at this time, we did have three men on the department who were trained fire fighters, but they  have left to go to other jobs.

Jeff Adams – Martha Ct. – Asked how many volunteers does Carlisle have? Chief Wallace stated there are 20 on the roster, some more active than others. Mr. Adams questions if  this is going to happen again?  Mayor stated will have more discussion on this item later in the meeting and  hopefully to resolve the issue.

Jackie Lainhart- 961 Wilshire – What will the extra money be spent on?  Mayor stated training, communications. The fire department received  a grant to help replace air packs, which  is a 50/50 grant.

Mrs. Lainhart asked where the Chief was at the time of the fire? Mr. Townsend stated he had been allowed to go on vacation.

Council Report:

Mrs. Branson wanted to remind everyone about the hot dog roast from 8-10 and that Jubilee has donated 90% of the food for the outing.

Mr. Humphries stated the stop sign at Welcome Way. Have called the service department and Town Hall in regards to fixing this. The sign keeps shaking back and forth. Needs to be anchored more.  Also the sign pole at Montgomery and Dayton Oxford Road has been cut off about 2 feet above the ground.

Mr. Humphries stated in regards to Fire Prevention Week another safety precaution for cell phone safety is to have a  first responder to pull up ICE with a contact number to speed process for emergencies faster.

Manager’s Report – Rumpke Contract Service is up March 31, we still have an option year, they have informed us of a rate adjustment or we can continue at the same rate through 2009 if we allow them to mingle yard waste with the regular trash.  Mrs. Branson made a motion to continue Rumpke and allow them to mingle the yard waste with the regular trash. Seconded by Mrs. Thompson.

Mr. Townsend stated there are three options for council to review for enhancing the daytime staffing of the Fire Department.  Mr. Townsend stated that experts suggest it takes three volunteers  on a roster to ensure that one will respond to any given alarm. We have 20 volunteers which averages 5 to 6 firefighters per call.  That is assuming they are available at all hours of the day this  is not the case for daytime hours between 7am to 4pm.

There are three options which most cities consider:

1: Paid Part Time Staff (3 to 5 individuals to cover 40 hours per week.)

2: Train and compensated other City employees to respond to emergencies during daytime hours (i.e. Service Department Employees)

3. Contract with neighboring jurisdictions for coverage during the daytime hours.

Mr. Townsend stated that from 7am – 3pm is our lowest volume time for volunteers to respond.  Most of our runs are mutual aid runs.  a Fire Committee was formed and they decided to place a levy on the ballot. Mayor Ellender stated the if we use the utility men for fire fighters they need to be compensated and at this time our men are willing to be trained to be first responders.  Also we have a police officer and a Sgt who are already trained fire fighters and a new police officer who is willing to take the training. The Fire study  showed that the other surrounding communities only wanted to do basic suppression and not respond for anything else in our community.  We had employees who were  trained and could respond quickly to a situation, but they changed jobs and their employers do not release them to respond to a fire in Carlisle.

Mr. Humphries questioned if a review of the Fire Chief was going to be done. He has  served for 1 year as a full time Chief, and should be looking at the moral of the firefighters, look at the  passion that a fire fighter should have, and if adequate leadership is being given for a volunteer department.

Mrs. Thompson questioned  what other options, you question leadership, moral, pride. She felt the department had this.

Mayor Ellender stated the Chief has this but he also has to worry about training, budgets, this department is working on a $120,000 budget compared to other cites with a budget lots more than ours.

Mrs. Branson stated the school thinks that Chief Wallace is doing a fine job. Has programs for the students, helps when ever his department can. 

Mrs. Branson felt that the citizens need more understanding of what a volunteer fire department really is and how it actually works. This needs to be placed in a  newsletter, flyers to go out to the citizens before the election is due.

Mrs. Thompson stated that option 2 sound the best by utilizing our people as fire fighters and first responders during the day time.

Committee Report:

Mayor Ellender stated the Finance Committee met  to review the 3^rd quarter and the 2008 budget. The Fire Department will be out of money if the levy does not pass. Capitol expenditures were approved for the Service Department to purchase a line stripper and the police to purchase two more radar units out of the 2007 budget.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1466 BOCA NATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CARLISLE.

Discussion: This is on for the second reading. The Law Director has reviewed and has proposed some changes to the ordinance based on the International  Code for the ease of enforcement.  Also Chief Boggess has come up with some strategies in promoting the health, safety and security of the City of Carlisle’s neighborhoods, in cooperation with residents, through the efforts and teamwork of property maintenance inspectors and the city’s public safety and service department.

Mr. Humphries questioned the focus on dress code. Chief Boggess stated looking into this.

Mr. Townsend stated the present board which is called the citizens housing board will be changed to Property Maintenance Review Board.

This will be on for third reading with changes from the Law Director at the next meeting.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CARLISLE PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS SECTIONS 3.12.2 –BONDS OF THE CITY OF CARLISLE PERSONEL MANUAL.

Discussion: Mrs. Thompson made a motion to approve the ordinance. Seconded by Mrs. Branson.

Roll call: Mr. Winkler, aye; Mrs. Long, aye; Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Humphries, aye; Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson, aye; Mayor Ellender, aye.

Ordinance passed of this day will be entered into Ordinance Record Book as 29-07.

Mrs. Thompson asked about the Food Pantry Letter. Mayor Ellender stated that in the past the city has contributed $1500 to the Food Pantry and would like to see this continue. Mrs. Thompson made a motion to approve $1500 to the Food Pantry, seconded by Mrs. Long.

Roll call: Mrs. Long, aye; Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Humphries, aye; Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson, aye; Mayor Ellender, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye.

There being no further business Mrs. Thompson made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Bowles.

Roll call: Mrs. Thompson, aye; Mr. Humphries, aye; Mr. Bowles, aye; Mrs. Branson, aye; Mayor Ellender, aye; Mr. Winkler, aye. Mrs. Long, aye.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30pm

                                                                                    Date: _________________

                                                                                    ________________________

                                                                                                Mayor

Attest: ________________________

            Clerk of Council