MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JUNE 10, 2013

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL JUNE 10, 2013 The regular meeting of e Hammond Common Council of e City of Hammond, Lake County, Indiana was held on June 10, 2013 in e Hammond City Council Chambers. Council President Michael Opinker presided. City Clerk facilitated. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Markovich, Spitale, Venecz, Uylaki, Higgs, Emerson, Opinker TOTAL: 7 PRESENTATION BY HAST SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM Councilwoman Venecz - So often we hear only about e trouble at kids get into and I ink it s really important for all of us to know some of e accomplishments of our children in Hammond. At e Hammond Academy of Science and Technology Middle School Science Olympiad ey had a very successful season. They placed first in e Hammond Invite held at Eggers. They ranked first again at e regional competition held at Purdue Calumet. At e state tournament held at Indiana University in Bloomington, HAST Middle School ranked ten out of irty teams. This a big accomplishment for e HAST Science Olympiad program at has only been in existence for ree seasons. I d like to introduce you to a couple of members from e team. Victor Lopez - 9 Grade - Science Olympiad is about science and different types of engineering togeer in one class. This is an extracurricular activity at we do after school. There are many different events in Science Olympiad, I ink ere are 23 different events. Each one depends on a different category. I liked e weaer is year so I did a category about weaer. I study and take a test on weaer. If I do good and pass e test and st I get e best score en I get 1 place. There are building events at are typically about building someing like is Roto Egg Drop. We put an egg in ere and we drop it and see if e egg breaks or stays afloat. The whole ing weighs about 3 grams. We ve only been around for ree years which is pretty good at we placed in all ese regional tournaments so far. We had an awesome coach, Tracy Mis, which is in e back. We couldn t have done it wiout her. Announces names of e members of e team. HAST Team Member - I wanted to explain my Helicopter Egg Drop. Basically what you do is hook an egg on a bag up to here and you drop it from a two story drop and you have to get e egg to survive. We based our contraption off of a real helicopter. 1

2 READING OF THE MINUTES Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Emerson, moved to accept e minutes of May 13, 2013 and place on file. AYES: ALL APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to approve e claims from May 8, 2013 rough June 5, Claim #2412 rough claim #2826. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to amend claim #2479 to ILMCT from e City Clerk from $1,200 to $800. ROLL CALL VOTE (amend claim) Motion carried 7/0/2 AMENDMENT ADOPTED Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to pull claim #2791 to Lake Area United Way for $590,877.00, basically for discussion and clarification. Councilman Markovich - As we discussed, maybe Bobby Lendi can give us an answer on is. This is a half a million dollars at e City of Hammond has from gaming revenue at we donate to charities roughout e city. In e past what we would do is a check would come from e City of Hammond to ese organizations stating at is money was from e City of Hammond. The question came up at if is money goes to e Lake Area United Way if a check is going to be cut for ese different groups for e City of Hammond or if its gonna be cut rough e Lake Area United Way. Maybe you can give us an answer and take care of all of is. City Controller Lendi - One of e reasons at e city has been using e Lake Area United Way for e last ree years is primarily to ensure at e gaming money at e gaming commission donates eir charitable donations to, to ensure at ese charities are in fact 501(c)(3) charities. That ey are legitimate charities and at ey re accomplishing e task at ey say ey re going to accomplish when ey apply for e monies. So e Lake Area United Way is tasked wi making ose assurances on behalf of e City of Hammond. So when e charity comes to us and ey say, We need $20 ousand because we re going to do X in your community. Now we can assure at ey are a legitimate charity and en B, we have follow up to ensure ey do what ey say ey were going to do. Secondarily, as you know, e Lake Area United Way is very prominent in our region and one of e ings at ey are able to do is ey are able to garner additional matched dollars. So for every dollar e City of Hammond funnels rough e United Way to our charities, United Way of Lake County is able to obtain additional dollars from large corporate donors and erefor we get an excess of a dollar of service for every dollar at we generate for one of our charities. That being said, when e Lake Area United Way does disburse our monies to ose charities e check will in e upper left hand corner say e United Way however 2

3 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS cont. City Controller Lendi - every charity at it goes to is aware at ose monies are being distributed from e City of Hammond s Gaming Advisory Commission and it s for e purposes at were set for in each ose charities applications to e City of Hammond. Councilman Higgs - I guess my question would be in regards to ese particular organizations is at if ey can be identified to us prior to because every year we get a number of organizations ough out e city at approach us for donations now we get a list altogeer today which is e first time I ve seen it wi organizations rough out e city at receive money from e city but ey also approach us as council persons rough out e city for contributions for organizations. If ey re receiving is kind of money, some of em $25 ousand, ere s no need to come and ask for $50 or $100 from me when you re getting $25 ousand. There are oer organizations at really need e money and ese are e ones at we should be focusing on versus e ones at are already receiving is type of money. So I would like in e future to have some kind of statement or someing identifying e organizations at s applying for is particular assistance rough e city. Councilman Markovich - Everybody at applies, do ey get some money or is is only ½ a million dollars, is ere still money left over or no. City Controller Lendi - No, Councilman. As you know e Gaming Advisory Commission is a nonpartisan board at is set up, I believe e council has an appointment to it. That nonpartisan board en gets togeer. We put out requests rough all e newspapers for applications for approximately $600 ousand in e Mayor s discretionary gaming money at he gives to charitable organizations. Those organizations en fill out an application, it gets presented to e gaming commission who en decides which organizations to fund and in what amounts. Councilman Higgs - At one time Ms. Ola Smi was on ere, for whatever reason she was removed, but e reality of it is ere were questions being asked as how e money was being spent rough out e city. So it brings to me question as to which organizations really need e money. You know, at s e important part. So, in e future, and I understand it s on e agenda here now, but in e future I would definitely like to know what organizations are applying so I can weigh my options as well. Councilman Emerson - As a former member of at commission for five years, e two criteria we had, and it s been a few years since I ve been on ere but were a 501(c)(3) and servicing citizens of Hammond. Because we would have groups at were 501(c)(3) s from roughout Lake County at really didn t service Hammond per se. if ey did it was more or less by accident or you know e way it flopped. We had actually, ey presented, ey would present what eir program was in front of e committee to where we got to know em and we would get strange requests from time to time. Apartment owners at said because ey took a trip to Wrigley Field or Comisky Park, Cellular Field at ey were qualified for e not for profit gaming money. So, I ink e commission does a great job and I know e monies have dwindled a little bit an when I was a founding member of it or not... I was one of e first committee members. So, I don t have a problem wi especially what you just said about e United Way, at s great. 3

4 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS cont. Councilman Higgs - And not just saying at, in e future we might want to put a cap on it. I mean some of ese organizations are getting $100 ousand, some $25 ousand, some $30 ousand, some $5 ousand. I mean, where s e cut off here? City Controller Lendi - For Councilman Higgs edification, is isn t gaming money at comes off e top of e pot. This is part of e money at e council has appropriated under e title of Mayor s Discretionary Gaming. This is e mayor s discretionary gaming money. It s not a general pot of money. Just as you all have your district funds at you have appropriated, is comes out of e appropriation at has been set a side for e mayor. Councilman Higgs - So who makes e determination? He just makes e determination as to which organizations get e money. I understand ere s a governing board but e reality of it is ere s different organizations, ere s no caps on em. It s different amounts for each organization. I mean where do you stop? Do you say okay is organization applied for 50 we gonna give him 30 or is organization applied for $200 ousand, we re gonna give him $100 ousand. I mean what are e guidelines or e restrictions in regards to giving ese organizations e money? That is my question. I know it s a discretionary fund but ere are a lot of needs and wants in my district as well and I would like to see some of at money spent in my district. This is a discretionary fund. City Controller Lendi - I would advise wi Mr. Higgs en to speak wi e council s appointment to e Gaming Advisory Commission and indicate to his appointment at he would prefer to see additional funds in rd addition to e ones at are already spent in e 3 District spent ere. To answer e question as far as who decides, I ink I ve answered at, I ll answer at again for you if I was unclear. That e mayor has created a non-partisan board at s made up of appointments from all over e city from various backgrounds and from all districts and ey re e ones at weigh e applications and make e determinations on where e money goes. Councilman Higgs - Who s our appointee for e council? Council President Opinker - Actually, I don t know. Councilwoman Venecz - I can tell you at I am on e advisory committee. I will also tell you at ere were several applications, ere were many applications at were submitted. Each and every application was scrutinized. We looked to see if e organization was a not for profit. We looked to see how many people on eir board were Hammond residents. We looked at e project at ey were looking for e grant for. How was at grant going to service e residents of e city of Hammond? We scrutinized each and every one of ose. We had ree or four meetings on ose applications because we set some aside and returned to furer review em at a later date. Not everyone got what ey wanted. There was some discussion at it seemed as if some of e same people were coming back year after year. Next year perhaps e whole process will be advertised a little bit better. There were churches at asked for money. There were school organizations. There were various not for profits. Crime Watch was one of em. There were some people who asked for a lot of money for projects in eir neighborhood to beautify eir neighborhood. And each and every one of ose was 4

5 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS cont. Councilwoman Venecz cont. - scrutinized. Councilman Higgs if you ink at someone got more an your district en I recommend at next year you pass out e applications for e committee. Councilman Higgs - And at s not a problem, Councilwoman Venecz. I will certainly do at if ey give me e applications in a decent reasonable time frame I certainly will do what I can to certainly get ose out. But again, my question was at was put on e floor is, who is out appointee? City Controller Lendi - I don t know how to make it clearer. I ink your appointee is Councilwoman at Large Venecz, Councilman Higgs. In addition, Councilman Markovich please keep in mind at what we are doing here is not giving money to for profit corporations. This isn t an engineering firm, is isn t attorneys, no offense. These are e neediest of e needy organizations in our community who help our neediest citizens. These are organizations like Haven House. These are organizations up in your neck of e woods. You know, e Knights of Columbus. The food banks. These are not wealy organizations at are coming and getting a handout. These organizations count on ese funds every year, Councilman Markovich, some of ese organizations provide services to e neediest of our children and our families and a good portion of eir budget comes from e mayor s discretionary gaming at we re talking tonight. Councilman Higgs - I m gonna say is and I m gonna be done wi it. No one in no form or fashion is saying at e organizations are not valuable assets to our city. I m saying ere should be caps on e amount of money given. Wheer you re servicing em wi food or whatever, it should be a cap. That s it. Councilman Markovich - Thank you, you explained it all and everying. I can coincide wi Councilman Higgs. So you re saying Janet is e council s appointment, is at what you re saying? Because she said she s on e advisory committee. Now ere s a difference between an appointee and a advisory committee so is she our appointee? Is at what you re trying to say, or what she is trying to say? Councilwoman Venecz - Yes. Councilman Markovich - Okay, so she s e council s appointment. So at s e first we ve heard at. But I m not against charity or whatever or anying like is but I ink some of ese names are e same ones year after year, after year, after year, it s e same ones. It d be curious to know, because I ought it was always a million dollars and now it s half a million. That s why I asked you if is is only half e payment, if ere was more coming. Some of e reasons why ey say ey want is money is for certain ings. Well, I would wonder if ey are using all at money for at specific reason or if ey are using it for someing else too. You know, wheer at s okay or not I don t care. Councilman Markovich rescinds his motion to pull claim #2791. Councilman Higgs rescinds his second. 5

6 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (approval) Motion carried 7/0/2 CLAIMS APPROVED (as amended) PUBLIC HEARINGS Additional Appropriations from e Rainy Day Fund of e Hammond Public Library to its Services and Capital Outlay Accounts - $524, Additional Appropriations from e Rainy Day Fund of e Hammond Public Library to its Services Account - $2,000 Alvin Cheeks - Speaking in behalf of his sons. Loves e library for its information. His son uses e library on a regular basis for e computers, etc. The library s budget is slim. We need to make investments to keep up wi technology. Councilman Markovich moved to suspend e rules and go to e Marina Redevelopment District so we can handle at. Councilman Higgs - Point of order. We have to close out e public hearings en we can proceed to go to e next form of a motion. You have a public hearing here. Once you close at out en you can move forward. Councilman Markovich - We don t want to close at out. We want to continue it later on. That s why we re going to anoer one. Councilwoman Venecz - In due respect to everyone who has come out in favor of or to speak to e library is evening, and also in due respect to e attorneys at have taken time out of eir schedule to come here is evening, if it is proper, I would like to second Councilman Markovich s motion. Council President Opinker - It was motioned by Councilman Markovich, second by Councilwoman Venecz, to suspend e rules. All ose in favor? All opposed? AYES: ALL Councilman Markovich - I would like to move to item number 11 on e agenda. Resolution approving e Development Agreement among e City of Hammond Redevelopment Commission, Economic Development Commission and Marina District Development regarding e Marina District Development Project. I so move. Councilwoman Venecz seconds e motion. 6

7 PUBLIC HEARINGS cont. Councilman Markovich - Councilman Kalwinski is not here tonight to carry at resolution rough. So, I would refer to Kevin Smi or David Westland to bring is for so we can take care of is at is time. Atty. Kevin Smi - Thank you. Mr. Westland and I, as well as Mr. Shanahan, are here tonight on behalf of e Redevelopment Commission, on e bonds at are going to be issued. What e bonds concern are a development agreement at has to do wi e development at will take place, I guess just to grant everybody geographically from 5 Avenue which used to be Roby, in between 5 Avenue and e old Vogel s property along at area towards five points. What e development agreement contemplates is at bonds will be issued in a total amount of $5 million, of which $3 million will go to e developer and certain ings have to be performed, namely ere will be two new traffic signals on Indpls. Blvd. And a new intersection up in at area. It also mandates at ere will be approximately eight retail outlots for new commercial and retail development, which would include a full service bank, two stripmalls, it has to have two retail establishments for food, fast food, and oer uses. Note it also prohibits certain uses in at development area, namely cigarette stands, adult uses, gas stations, oer an ose at are going to be redeveloped in e area, and also dollar type stores, fireworks as well. It also mandates at construction begin wiin four mons after receiving permits and at permits have to be fully applied for wiin ree mons of signing e agreements, at s a seven mon period. It also allows at construction should be substantially complete wiin two years of beginning construction on st or around July 1, Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to return to e regular order of business. AYES: ALL Councilman Markovich - At is time we would like to take action on ose ordinances and resolutions. Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage of Councilman Markovich - Mr. Smi and Westland just gave e information we were looking for. We had discussion in caucus also and is is what it s all about and now we are going for final adoption and passage of is ordinance. Councilman Higgs - I didn t hear you ask if ere was any oer discussion. I mean, en you move on. Council President Opinker - It was just explained. Councilman Higgs - But you still have to allow us to... Roberts Rules of Order says... Council President Opinker - Okay, Councilman Higgs. Is ere any discussion? Councilman Higgs - Thank you. Now, only discussion is at I see is plan going on in Robertsdale, okay, I wish, and it s my hope at at some point focus is given to Woodmar so it s developed as well. That s e only discussion I have. 7

8 PUBLIC HEARINGS cont An Ordinance Auorizing e City of Hammond, Indiana, to Issue its Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2013 (Marina District Project) and Approving Oer Actions in respect ereto ROLL CALL VOTE Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE NO PASSES Councilman Markovich - I d also like to take care of item number 11 on e agenda, Res. 13R-19. Approving e Development Agreement amongst e city of Hammond and e Redevelopment Commission. I so move. Councilman Spitale seconds. 13R-19 A Resolution of e Hammond Common Council Approving e Development Agreement among e City of Hammond, Indiana, Hammond Redevelopment Commission, Hammond Economic Development Commission and Marina District Development, LLC regarding e Marina District Development Project Councilman Markovich - I d like to add e council as a whole as a sponsor for is resolution. Councilman Higgs - Exclude me. Council President Opinker - Clerk Golec, if you put everybody as a sponsor except for Councilman Higgs, as sponsors. ROLL CALL VOTE (adoption) Motion carried 7/0/2 RESOLUTION R19 ADOPTED Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to return to e regular order of business and reopen e public hearing for e library. AYES: ALL Councilwoman Venecz - I would just like to ank everyone in e audience for indulging us rough at. The library issue is very important to us and we certainly would like to move forward. Council President Opinker - Anyone wishing to speak on is issue please come forward, state your name and address. 8

9 COMMUNICATIONS None COMMITTEE REPORTS Council as a Whole - Councilman Higgs - Brought out & RD ORDINANCE 3 READING - FINAL PASSAGE An Ordinance to make Additional Appropriations from e Rainy Day Fund of e Hammond Public Library to its Services and Capital Outlay Accounts Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved to amend is ordinance as it reads as a ordinance to make additional appropriations from e rainy, it should be take out e e and wi a y day fund to e... Council President Opinker - Okay, to amend it we need a first and second and en go into e amendment. Councilman Higgs - I made e motion. Council President Opinker - Okay, Councilman Higgs is making a motion to amend Do I have a second? Councilman Spitale - Second. Council President Opinker - Second by Councilman Spitale. Is ere any discussion? Council President Opinker - Okay, we have a first and second, now you can read your amendment Councilman Higgs Councilman Higgs - From what I m understanding, Atty. Berger said it needed to be amended. Is is correct, Atty. Berger? Council Atty. Berger - I ink at one time at rainy was misspelled. That was e only correction. Councilman Higgs - So e changes have been made so it s no misunderstanding as to what it should read. Clerk Golec can you read e title for e ordinance. Council Atty. Berger - It s correct in e title as it is on e agenda. Councilwoman Venecz - As I understand from caucus, is is 13-23, e only correction on is is e correction of e spelling of rainy. Council President Opinker - That is correct. 9

10 RD ORDINANCE 3 READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Councilman Higgs - That s what I was doing but you guys stopped me. This one says Rainey. Alright, so at is e amendment to I so move. Councilwoman Venecz - Second. Council President Opinker - It a motion by Councilman Higgs, second by Councilwoman Venecz, on e correct spelling of rainy. Is ere any discussion? Clerk Golec Roll call on e amended version. ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE AMENDED Council President Opinker - Now on as written. Councilman Higgs - Call for e vote. Council President Opinker - Do we have a second? Councilman Spitale - Second. Council President Opinker - Motioned by Higgs, second by Councilman Spitale, to call for e vote. All ose in favor? All ose opposed? AYES: ALL ROLL CALL VOTE Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE NO PASSED (as amended) An Ordinance to make Additional Appropriations from e Rainy Day Fund of e Hammond Public Library to its Services Account Councilman Higgs, supported by Councilman Uylaki, moved for final passage. Councilman Higgs - I d like to take out of is ordinance, rainy day fund. So it says, Ordinance to additional appropriation from e Hammond Public Library to its Service Account. That s how it should read. Councilman Higgs - I didn t type e ordinance up. Atty. Berger is our attorney, he typed it up. 10

11 RD ORDINANCE 3 READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Council President Opinker - Atty. Berger, do you have e correct enunciation of all of is. Council Atty. Berger - Excuse me. Council President Opinker - Do you have e correct enunciation of all is? How it should read. Council Atty. Berger - Apparently Mr. White from e library has e record so I don t want to... Council President Opinker - Please bring at forward, sir. Sir, could you bring at copy forward? Cornell White speaks from audience. Councilman Higgs - I don t know how e typo s took place because you guys were supposed to take care of at. Cornell White speaks from audience. Councilman Higgs moved at we put Hammond Public Lease Rental Fund as e title of is particular ordinance, 13-24, and at clears all of at. Council President Opinker - No, no, no at s not what he did. He put lease rental in ere. That s not correcting e spelling. Councilwoman Venecz - May I ask, are we appropriating from e Hammond Public Library Lease Rental Fund, $2,000 to appropriate to e Hammond Public Library Lease Rental Fund? Is at correct? Councilman Higgs - That s e same ing. Councilwoman Venecz - So what are we going from and to? Councilman Higgs - Mr. Accountant and Ms. Greenleaf, could you step to e podium please? I need for you guys... is was supposed to been taken care of prior to is meeting. I don t know why e language is not spelled out correctly. Ms. Rene Greenleaf, Hammond Public Library - When e information was given it said at e monies were coming for e Lease Rental. These documents came from you. From your attorney. Councilman Higgs - Berger was supposed to type it up. Ms. Greenleaf - We told him exactly what is was supposed to be and when we got it back, because we can t type it, you have to send it, okay. So, let s make it clear. 11

12 RD ORDINANCE 3 READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. Councilman Higgs - The only clarity at we need at is point is where is e money coming out of what fund. It s coming out of e Lease Rental Fund? Ms. Greenleaf - The money is coming out of e Lease Rental Fund. There are monies in e Lease Rental Fund. It has to be appropriated to be paid... Councilman Higgs - We understand all at. All I need is e clarification as how e language is supposed to be explained and documented. I don t need no extras, please just tell me what it is just coming out of so we can get is taken care of. So now, we already made e motion to put it on ere. Am I correct Clerk Golec? City Clerk Golec - Correct. Councilman Higgs - Now we just need a second and we can proceed on. Councilwoman Venecz - Where is e money going to? Is it going to e Services Account? Where is it going to? Ms. Greenleaf - The money, if I may explain, is in e Lease Rental Fund. It needs to be appropriated by you to be paid for e services in e Lease Rental Fund. It has to be appropriated by you. Councilwoman Venecz - So it s from e Hammond Public Lease Rental Fund and it s going to e Hammond Public Library Services Lease Rental Fund. So we have to insert e word ere. Councilman Higgs - In e second title of appropriation it should be Hammond Public Library Service Lease Rental Fund for e $2,000. It s coming out of e Hammond Public Library Lease Rental Fund going to e Hammond Public Library Service Rental Fund. I make at motion. Council President Opinker - Councilman Higgs has made e motion, do we have a second? Councilwoman Venecz - What is e motion? Council President Opinker - He just read it. Councilwoman Venecz - Okay, but is at e only one? That s e only change we re making on here? Council President Opinker - Yes. Councilwoman Venecz - Okay, second. Council President Opinker - Is ere any discussion? 12

13 RD ORDINANCE 3 READING - FINAL PASSAGE cont. ROLL CALL VOTE (amendment) Motion carried 7/0/2 AMENDMENT ADOPTED Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Spitale, moved for final passage and adoption of 13-24, as amended. ROLL CALL VOTE (passage) Motion carried 7/0/2 ORDINANCE NO PASSED (as amended) INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES Amending Ord. 8746, also known as Sec of e Hammond Municipal Code, as it pertains to Accident Report Fees st nd Councilman Markovich, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved at e proposed ordinance go to 1 and 2 reading by title and referred it to e Council as a Whole Committee. AYES: ALL Councilman Higgs - I ink what is ordinance does is no longer will e citizens of e great city of Hammond be allowed to go directly to e police department in regards to receiving police reports. You have to go online and ere s a fee. From what I understand it s more revenue for e city according to Atty. Kantar. Councilwoman Venecz - There is also a phone number at a resident can call for e police report. RESOLUTIONS None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS nd Councilwoman Venecz - A couple of announcements. I would like to announce e 2 annual Kaleen Pucalik Memorial 5K run/walk at Wolf lake. This will be on Saturday, July 20. For more information you can call Councilman Higgs - I ink at MLK Park, on behalf of e Ministerial Alliance of is great city of Hammond ey will be having a Give Back Day at MLK Park at e pavilion on June 15. Give back to e community. All e ministers from our great city will be present, I would hope. 13

14 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilwoman Venecz - For ose who are interested in doing good in your community and finding about what is going on in your neighborhood I d like to announce a couple of Crime Watch meetings. Tuesday, June 18 East Ham d Pullman C.W. Ophelia Steen Center Thursday, July 20 Hessville C.W. Jean Shepherd Center 7 p.m. Thursday, June 20 Sou Hammond C.W. Ham d Housing Auority 7 p.m. Thursday, July 13 Whiting/Robertsdale C.W. Calumet College 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 Woodmar C.W. Nat l Guard Armory 6 p.m. Councilman Higgs - The Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce BP Luncheon is Thursday, June 20 at e Dynasty Banquet. BP presents an update on Whiting Refinery modernization program and projects in e world wide energy review. Networking starts at 11:30 a.m. Presentation at 12 p.m. Cost is $20. Reservations are required. Please call Council President Opinker - I d like to welcome our newest councilman, Councilman Jack Uylaki of e 2 nd District. I m sure Jack will be here to work hard for at district. Welcome aboard, Jack. Councilman Higgs - I know ere was some discussion, and I have to do is because I feel at it is appropriate. There was some discussion as regards to prayer and being at e meeting. Supreme Court has not ruled on e particular issue. In all due respect I feel as ough all my colleagues should make a conscientious effort as to which direction ey want to go. Wheer ey want it or not. I know who I am and who s I am and so I m gonna continue to pray wheer it be silent, on my knees or whatever. I feel as ough because ere has not been a decision rendered from e United State Supreme Court we re not in violation, and e city has been sued for a number of issues in regards to different ings at have occurred and wiin our city so certainly ere are so many oer ings we could be concentrating on and prayer is much needed. I do plan to hold a prayer vigil in e near future. So, I m gonna continue to pray and I just want to make at perfectly clear. Councilwoman Venecz - In response to Councilman Higgs. I too am a Christian. I attend church every Sunday. I pray in e privacy of my own home and when is came up I ought, you know, I m going to do some research and is is what I have found. From e book of Matew, e 6 chapter, verses 5 rough 8. And when you pray do not be like e hypocrites for ey love to pray standing in e synagogues and on e street corners to be seen by oers. Truly I tell you ey have received eir reward in full but when you pray go into your room, close e door, and pray to your faer who is unseen. Then your faer who sees what is done in secret will reward you and when you pray do not keep on babbling like pagans for ey ink ey will be heard because of eir many words. Do not be like em for your faer knows what you need before you ask em. Thank you very much. Councilman Higgs - If we want to get biblical we can go ere, because you know what, it also says in e bible at, If you deny me before men he will deny you in e judgement seat before him. Councilman Emerson - I d like to respond a little bit to e topic at hand. Myself, a former Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph s Church and a former parish counsel member, in terms of service my wife is a graduate of Bishop 14

15 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS cont. Councilman Emerson cont. - Noll, our daughter is a graduate of Bishop Noll, our son as well, a graduate of Bishop Noll. Our daughter is also a graduate of e University of Notre Dame, class of 02 and was married at e Basilica of e Sacred Heart at e University of Notre Dame. My son is a graduate of Loyola University, a Caolic University, law school. Our daughters marriage has been blessed by Pope Benedict. Our sons marriage has also been blessed by Pope Benedict. My wife s masters degree is from Olivet Nazarene University, a Christian University. Our family has over 52 years of Caolic and Christian education and service. That said, I would not begin to foster my beliefs on e city citing em in any fashion after e gavel. And I am on e same page wi Councilman Higgs as far as I believe in e same hymn as he s quoted in e paper as saying, to deny him. The problem, councilman, is at not everyone believes in e him at I believe in. I ink at s e issue at we have to be concerned wi after e gavel. Before e gavel, I don t have a problem wi it. Councilman Higgs - All I could do is say at is topic of discussion shouldn t of even came up because it s been going on before I was even a councilman. And I don t even know why it s such an issue now. But it s not gonna defer me or derail anying my relationship wi God whatever. So it doesn t make me a difference if you choose to do it or don t, at s fine wi me. But as for me, I m gonna continue to kneel down before I deal wi any issues as it relates to e city of Hammond. PUBLIC EXPRESSION Alvin Cheeks - We live in a society where people can pick eir own religion. We have to incorporate everybody s religion. There has to be a clear separation of church and state. We just have to be tolerant. Rev. Santiago Gamez - I believe prayer is very essential at home, in church and wi our government. The bible requires of us to pray for our leaders. You are our leaders and we pray for you. It saddens me at ey took prayer out of school. Now ey take it out of e council. I was born here, I m an American and I ink we should have rights. MaryEllen Slazyk - I agree wi you Councilman Higgs. I m a practicing Caolic. We have a right to pray. You don t have to do it if you don t want to. You have at right. We have freedom of expression in is country. Councilman Spitale, supported by Councilman Higgs, moved to adjourn. AYES: ALL Michael Opinker, President ATTEST: Hammond Common Council, City Clerk Minutes approved at e council meeting of June 24, Time: 7:15 pm cb 15