Winamac Town Council prepares for a new year

Approving a couple of ordinances and resolutions to start the new year was the work of the Winamac Town Council on Dec. 30.

During a special session, councilmen approved two ordinances regarding employees’ salaries, a resolution regarding end-of-the-year transfers, and a resolution to honor council president John Plowman. Councilwoman Judy Heater was absent from the meeting.

As the discussion ensued regarding two salary ordinances, ordinance #18 establishing salaries and wages of various town officers and employees for the calendar year 2015 and ordinance #19 establishing salaries and wages of the Winamac Police Department for the calendar year 2015, councilman Tom Murray opposed one of the ordinances regarding employees being paid on their birthdays.

“Nobody else pays anybody for their birthdays and gets the day off,” Murray said. “I feel that it needs to be done away with.”

The ordinances were approved but Murray opposed the motion.

Councilman Richard Denney said the council should readdress this issue in 2015 with new councilman, Ken McFarland.

Resolution #16, honoring John E. Plowman for service to the Town of Winamac, was approved after some confusion.

There was a question as to whether Plowman could vote on the resolution. Councilmen Murray and Dan Vanaman approved the resolution while Denney and Plowman abstained, creating a lack of majority for the vote.

Plowman said he didn’t want the recognition, but later agreed to the resolution after hearing it was something that has been given to board members in the past.

“I appreciate the past eight years that I have been on — seven as president. It has had its up and downs but I have enjoyed every minute of it,” Plowman said.

As for the end of the year transfers resolution, Vanaman questioned why there was still a line item regarding the county transfer station.

Clerk-treasurer Melanie Berger said there will also be a line item for the station because the town uses the transfer station for other things.

“Next year’s budget will show an actual line for garbage and recycle,” she said.

In other business:

• The minutes from the Nov. 19 executive meeting and the Dec. 8 regular meeting were approved.

• Claims in the amount of $401,407.19 were approved.

• Berger said Chris Smith made a request of the council to use the baseball field, such as last year, once a week for the 4-H dog training. Murray said the field wasn’t made for dog training, but baseball, and he doesn’t want to see it interfere with the baseball program. The group uses the ball field because it is fenced in. It was suggested that Smith talk with the leader of the baseball program and work something out to share the area.

• Councilmen approved an organizational meeting be scheduled for Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. An executive session will follow to review applications for the town manager position.