On a split vote over procedure, Randy Skalku was named Burns Harbor General Maintenance/Street supervisor Wednesday.

He replaces long-time supervisor Doug Wentz, who previously was on extended leave following a near-fatal motorcycle accident. After subsequently coming back to work, Wentz has been on temporary leave the past six months for additional medical procedures.

Skalku, who’s been serving as interim superintendent, has been with the department approximately 14 years. Councilman Mike Perrine first suggested terminating Wentz’s employment, ceasing to pay for his health insurance and taking applications for the superintendent’s position.

Perrine said it was no reflection on Skalku’s performance but the new town personnel policy, up for a vote later in the meeting, provided for posting the job to other applicants.

Town attorney Bob Welsh said since that wasn’t the policy at the time of the vote, the council could proceed as it wishes. President Jim McGee said Skalku should be hired outright.

Council member Toni Biancardi, who was the lone no vote on the motion, said she supported hiring practices. Councilman Cliff Fleming said he does, too, but in this situation he’s torn. He, Perrine and McGee voted for Wentz’s dismissal and Skalku’s promotion. Louis Bain was absent.

Later in the meeting the council split 3-1 with McGee dissenting on adoption of the personnel policy handbook. It states that where council-approved department policy is more restrictive than the handbook, the former will prevail.

In a second promotion, the council unanimously named Burns Harbor police officer Michael Heckman to the merit rank of corporal and the non-merit rank of assistant chief at chief Jerry Price’s request. Heckman will not receive a pay increase at this time.

The meeting concluded with resident Tyler DeMar complimenting Police Department officers Joe Martin and K. Karimi for their work following vehicle break-ins last week. DeMar said their follow-up with residents was appreciated.

The council voted 4-0 to have Welsh send a firmly-worded letter to Brant Development over the bad condition of its private Tech Drive that serves Tech Business Center west of Indiana 149 south of Old Porter Road.

Fire chief Bill Arney said the road is so bad “we were driving in the grass to get to a call.” Concern was expressed that town police and fire vehicles will be damaged.

Arney, who also serves as building commissioner, said he sent a letter to Brant and had three conversations with a representative of the park’s property owners association, which maintains the road, but the condition remains nearly impassable.

Fleming’s motion cited needing access for public safety and the road being a public nuisance; the council will consider legal action if the problem isn’t addressed.

Arney, wearing his sanitation superintendent hat, reported that a wetlands septic field at the Brant industrial park has failed and developers are seeking permission to rebuild it. Arney said businesses in the park not served by a functioning system have been told they will be required to tap onto town sewers.

Luke Oil, according to Arney, missed its deadline to both correctly install handicapped parking spaces at its new convenience/fuel mart at Indiana 149 and U.S. 20, and to make repairs to Old Porter Road damaged during construction. The next step is citing Luke for a violation if the work isn’t done.

Ending an earlier battle for zoning compliance, Arney said the Moneypenney property has had its final work completed and full occupancy was approved.

Welsh was asked to research whether HEA 1331 will require Burns Harbor police to provide “active members” of the department with body armor.

Full-time officers are provided with bullet-proof vests but Clerk-treasurer Jane Jordan said it would be cost-prohibitive to supply part-time officers, too, considering they typically work full-time elsewhere and would have a vest.

Price said vests are custom made for the individual officer and generally can’t be left at the station in generic sizes for rotating part-timers to use.

Jordan’s concern is what the State Board of Accounts will say when the town is audited. Welsh said his initial reading of the legislation is that it doesn’t apply to towns but he will study the applicable code.

Also Wednesday, Price said in July officers responded to eight property-damage accidents resulting in no injuries, part of 171 calls to service. Of 13 arrests, 11 were misdemeanors and two for felonies. Tickets issued were 104; warning tickets 69 and verbal warnings 38.

Assists numbered 100, courtesy calls 14 and complaints 44. Full-time officers worked 823 hours last month and part-time 60. Police vehicles traveled 8,792 miles.

Arney said firefighters responded to 21 calls in July and drove department vehicles 606 miles. A CPR class for 15 people was conducted Tuesday.

Biancardi announced residents will be receiving a mailer soon advising them the town picnic is Aug. 29 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Lakeland Park. Typically about 250 people attend.

By unanimous vote at the steelmaker’s request Rick Balunda was named ArcelorMittal’s representative on the Burns Harbor Sanitary Board. The town-owned sewage treatment plant is on Mittal property and operated by Mittal employees.

Fleming suggested town officials and members of town boards and commissions meet to better familiarize themselves with the new zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan adopted in June. SEH, the consultant paid $100,000 for the work, will be asked if facilitating such a meeting is part of its contract.

Jordan said she will be working with teachers on promotions for students to stress to their parents the importance of the coming 2010 census. Jordan also is attending meetings on the property-tax situation; she said the town is owed 16 percent of its 2008 money and part of its TIF funds. No property taxes have been sent out yet this year.

Posted 8/13/2009