New panel member sought (11/2/04)

Portland City Council members learned Monday that a member of the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee had resigned.

Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bob Quadrozzi said member Darel Selvey resigned from his position on the abatement committee about two or three months ago.

After the meeting, he said Selvey got a job in Fort Wayne six months ago. Because of his new work schedule, he could no longer make it back to Portland in time for the meetings. Quadrozzi said Selvey, who had been on the committee for two or three years, resigned because he was unable to attend the meetings. The committee hasn’t met since he resigned, Quadrozzi said.

Quadrozzi asked Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier to appoint someone to the committee, and Hosier said he would find a person to fill the vacancy.

In other business, the council voted to send a five-year tax abatement request to the abatement committee.

Qualtech Tool & Engineering, 103 Performance Drive, would like to purchase a new lathe for $168,836. The purchase would create two new jobs with salaries totaling $41,600.

A tax abatement allows companies to pay taxes in increasing increments over several years, instead of paying the full amount each year.

Also Monday, the council approved a revision of the city’s 2004 budget on first and second readings.

The modification is for $2,600 for the mayor’s supplies, services and charges. After the meeting, city clerk-treasurer Barbara Blackford said the money was used for office supplies, a new computer and the remodeling of Portland City Hall.

Also approved was $39,000 to pay Portland Police Chief Bob Sours’ annual salary. Blackford said up until Monday, Sours had been paid out of the police department’s budget. When Sours was named police chief, former chief Bart Darby did not leave the department, but simply took another position.

When Sours took office in January, he began working as a civilian employee. Blackford said Darby was under the police and fire pension fund, but Sours is under the city’s retirement fund. This makes him a civilian employee. He is considered an extra employee, which is why the money needed to be added to the budget.

Previously, a position also was created for street and park department assistant superintendent Randy Mann. He is being paid $35,000 per year. There has never been an assistant superintendent, Blackford said. He was also paid by the street and park department’s 2004 budget until Monday, she said.

Also part of the revision is $333,136 that the city is loaning to people starting businesses in Portland. Blackford said $60,000 of the loans has already been paid back to the city.

Also, $296,000 was allotted for the purchase of the Gym City Gymnastics building, located west of Portland on Tyson Road. The current owners are leasing the building from the city, said Blackford.

Also Monday, the council:

•Voted to send all ordinances passed this year to American Legal Publishing Corporation to create new pages for the city’s code of ordinances book.

•Heard Hosier say the city’s Christmas decorations will be hung on Monday, Nov. 15.

•Heard Hosier encourage all Portland residents to vote today.[[In-content Ad]]