No raises in Portland

Portland employees won't be getting pay raises next year.

The city's mayor, Bruce Hosier, announced Monday that raises for all hired and elected officials will not be included in the city's 2010 budget. Hosier told Portland City Council members Monday night that he made the decision a few weeks ago and told city employees on Monday morning.

Hosier said that because of the slumping economy, he had a choice between laying-off employees or freezing pay rates. He said the employees responded well to the news. "I think the right choice was made," he said. City employees were given 4 percent pay raises this year.

Randy Geesaman, city clerk-treasurer, said after the meeting that one of the factors in the decision is the fact that both International Paper and Mars Petcare recently announced they would close this year.

Hosier said council members will review the city's 2010 payroll ordinance at the June 1 council meeting.

In other business Monday, council members learned about recent decisions made by state legislature that will affect the city.

Ann Cottongim of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns told the council about several bills that recently were passed, such as House Bill 1230, House Bill 1514 and House Bill 1483.

The first bill allows more people to serve on a board of works. It increases the number to five from three. This bill also states that cities no longer are required to publish their salary ordinances.

As part of the bill, newspapers may increase their annual fees for legal notices by 2.75 percent per year. Cottongim said newspapers have not been able to raise such rates for many years.

Bill 1514 states that all financial reports submitted to the State Board of Accounts must be sent electronically. It also increases the annual surety bond requirement to $30,000 from $15,000.

The third bill allows local governments to pass ordinances allowing golf carts to be driven on local streets or road.

Cities or towns also may establish an ordinance that requires golf carts to have slow moving vehicle signs, that requires the driver to have a valid license and to be insured.

Cottongim also mentioned several bills that were not passed.

Also Monday, council members:

•Approved a five-year tax abatement request for Priority Plastics. 500 Industrial Park Drive, Portland.

The company plans to purchase three new machines to create new products. The machines are expected to cost $2.9 million. The new production lines will bring back 12 laid-off employees and create one new position.

Bill Bradley, Jay County Development Corporation executive director, said the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee recently met and recommended the council approve the abatement request.

A tax abatement allows companies to phase in property taxes on new investments over a period of several years.

•Took no action on a Portland woman's request to have a streetlight installed near her home. The request died due to a lack of motion.

Deb Crump, 614 N. Western Ave., asked council members at the May 4 meeting for the light to be installed for safety purposes. She lives across the street from Haynes Park.

On Monday, council member Bill Gibson asked Portland Police Chief Bob Sours how frequently crimes occur in that area. Sours said there was one person arrested near Crump's home after fleeing from police for theft. He said there were have been no serious crimes in the area, and there have been no vandalisms this year.

•Approved several changes to the city's zoning ordinance.

Before voting in favor of the changes, councilman Kent McClung asked if prohibiting windmills in residential areas would be too restrictive.

Bill Milligan, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator, said he thought prohibiting windmills in the city was appropriate. He said he was afraid someone would try to install a 100-foot wind tower on a small lot.

The windmill restrictions would only apply to wind mills used to create energy, not small, decorative ones.

The ordinance changes also include guidelines for wind turbines in the 2-mile radius outside of the city. There are guidelines for tower height, how to apply for rezoning, what is prohibited and signs and lighting. The ordinance also changes the definition of neighborhood business, requiring the site development plans for some projects to be reviewed by a committee and adding some guidelines for the exteriors of new businesses.[[In-content Ad]]