Council Curbs Comment at Meeting

(posted Jan 2)

Speedway Town Council President Gary Raikes attempted to curb Jo Ellen Dotlich's public comments during the council's December 30 meeting. Dotlich did not receive her full three minutes to address the council due to Raikes incessant interruptions. While there is no legal requirement for allowing public comments during a council meeting, the council has historically allowed public comment at the beginning of each meeting. The council also allowed comments at the end of each meeting for a 14 month period that ended in July of 2008.

Dotlich remarked about the double standard, noting she was not afforded the same courtesy as Steve Bishop, who was pleading for new sidewalks and condemnation of a home on Beeler Avenue. Although Bishop represented himself as a resident when making his request, he is a former redevelopment commissioner and currently serves on the community development corporation.

Raikes asked Dotlich to end her comments "now" with seven seconds remaining. His initial interruption came with 54 seconds remaining when he asked her to it wrap up. With 30 seconds left, Raikes told Dotlich to "stop." He asked her to conclude her comments when she was trying explain that Master Developer Jeff Kingsbury has stated that redevelopment road costs have doubled to $125 million. The SRC received approval from the Department of Local Government Finance for a $62 million bond.

Bishop requested for the town manager to email him material about condemnation procedures because the foreclosed home is so run down, "It would be a poor soul that would come in and buy it. Somebody, I don't necessarily think I would be thrilled they would be my neighbor. I think it would be good to take the whole structure down."

Bishop was about 12 seconds short of his three minute allotted time for public comment and was never interrupted.

Town manager Barbara Lawrence said there is a Neighborhood Sustainability program that she recommend the town become involved with to deal with foreclosed homes.

Councilor William Suffel also gave short speech, saying it is his "hope" that "everyone" will be onboard in 2009 with the changes that will come with redevelopment. Suffel said there are "select few" that give out partial, false and misinformation. He said change is difficult, but it is needed because of the decline. He had confidence in the SRC's ability to carry out the plan correctly. Suffel did not make any comments about the residents and business owners who will be uprooted from their establishments for these changes to occur. The SRC voted to use eminent domain in the Spring of 2008.

He said the town manager and he have been talking to HNTB about the I-465 interchange, but some things are out of the town's control. He said town will gain vital property with the new interchange design.

Suffel's speech followed Councilor Lu Hillmer's disagreement over a pay scale for an employee even though she voted to approve it. She apologized for disagreeing, but Raikes said she did not need to apologize just because she had a difference of an opinion that needed to be voiced. He said that was her responsibility.

Councilor Jeff Hartman said that construction to fix the storm water and sewer backup in the Gerrard-Allison the area should happen by June. A public hearing will be conducted on January 14 at 6 pm in order to apply for a Community Rural Development grant. American Structure Point was hired to conduct engineering design.

Lawrence said the engineering fee is estimated at $400,000.