By KEVIN NEVERS

Jim Ton, R-1st, will preside over the Chesterton Town Council in 2008.

At a special meeting on Tuesday, members voted 4-0 to elect Ton to the presidency, then 4-0 to elect newcomer Emerson DeLaney, R-5th, to the vice-presidency.

Newcomer Jeff Trout, R-2nd, not yet sworn in as a member, was not in attendance.

In their next piece of business, members voted 4-0 to make the following appointments and re-appointments:

•Re-appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals: Jim Kowalski, term ending Dec. 31, 2011.

•Re-appointed to the Utility Service Board: Andy Michel, term ending Dec. 31, 2009.

•Re-appointed to the Police Commission: Nick Walters, term ending Dec. 31, 2010.

•Appointed to the Tree Committee: Phoebe Jane House, succeeding Dan Watt, term ending Dec. 31, 2010.

•Re-apppointed to the Tax Abatement Advisory Committee: Rick Hokanson, Steve Yagelski, Paul Tharp, and Gayle Polakowski. Appointed: Phoebe Jane House, succeeding Bob Allison. All terns end Dec. 31, 2008.

•Re-appointed to the Redevelopment Commission: Town Council members Dave Cincoski, R-3rd, and Sharon Darnell, D-4th.

Ton then made the following presidential appointments and re-appointments:

•Appointed to the Advisory Plan Commission: outgoing Town Council member Mike Bannon, R-5th, completing Trout’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2009. Bannon served on the Advisory Plan Commission throughout his one term on the Town Council.

•Appointed to the BZA: Brandon Kroft, completing DeLaney’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2009; and Sig Niepokoj from the Advisory Plan Commission, completing Trout’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2008.

•Appointed to the Park Board: Eric Witt, succeeding Ted Jacobs, term ending Dec. 31, 2011.

•Re-appointed to the Utility Service Board: James Raffin, term ending Dec. 31, 2010.

•Re-appointed to the Stormwater Management Board: Park Superintendent Bruce Mathias, term ending Dec. 31, 2010.

•Re-appointed to the Redevelopment Commission: Mark Singer and Josh Lantz. Appointed: Edward Schoenfelt, succeeding Bannon. All terms end Dec. 31, 2008.

Members voted also voted 4-0 to appoint DeLaney and Trout to the Plan Commission.

Liasons

In addition, they voted 4-0 to give themselves the following liaison positions:

•Fire Department: DeLaney.

•Street Department and Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission: Cincoski.

•Police Department: Ton.

•Building Department: Trout.

•Utility and Parks and Recreation Department: Darnell.

A Statement Read

Ton concluded the meeting by reading this prepared statement: “This being the first day of the New Year, it is appropriate to wish everyone the very best of everything in 2008 and to note the following.

“It is evident that the winds of change are blowing across the landscape of the Town of Chesterton. It is also very evident that attempts to build walls against this change, be they psychological, emotional, or legal, are efforts doomed to failure. When people make walls, they only serve to imprison themselves.

“How much wiser it would be to harness the winds of change, in the fashion of a windmill, and draw from the positive energy managed change can provide.

“This is true in respect to positive, meaningful expansion of services and business. It is also true in maintaining a welcoming attitude to those who choose to join us to live in Chesterton. Recent residents are not adversaries.

“They have chosen to live here for the very reasons that we more ‘experienced’ residents continue to do so. It is illogical to assume that they would want to alter for the worse the very community they have selected.

“In 2008 let us all work together, with mutual respect for differing views, to continue the traditions and positive climate of Chesterton. Together we can achieve our collective goal: continuous improvement in the quality of life for all Chesterton’s citizens. Happy New Year, one and all.”

Posted 1/2/2008