Chesterton Town Council Member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd, has resigned his seat on the council, two weeks before he will assume the position of chief of police.

Cincoski announced his resignation at Monday’s council meeting—no surprise there—after making a flying trip from Plainfield, where he has just begun a one-week Police Chief Executive Training Course at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Cincoski’s first official day in his new post will be April 1.

“I want to thank the residents of the Town of Chesterton for the service I’ve been able to provide,” Cincoski said. “It’s been a pleasure and an honor serving on the Town Council.”

“Civil service is in my blood,” he added.

Cincoski noted that he will be officially advising the chair of the Porter County Republican Party of his resignation. In due course a caucus will be scheduled at which precinct committeepersons will elect a successor to fill the vacancy.

“We’re certainly glad you joined our force,” said Member Jim Ton, R-1st. “Chief Nelson and I went to your graduation ceremony from the Law Enforcement Academy, and while you’re too modest to say so, I’ll say that you were an honors graduate, that you graduated in the top 10 percent of your class. I’m proud of your achievement.”

President Jeff Trout, R-2nd, echoed Ton. “It’s been a rewarding experience serving with you.”

Ton also praised outgoing Police Chief George Nelson, who will assume the rank of captain and the title of assistant chief. “I think his honesty and truthfulness are unequaled,” Ton said. “He always shoots straight from the hip and it always comes out as truth. His dedication to the town is total.”

In other business, members voted 5-0 to allow consultant Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) an extension of 90 days to complete its draft of a new Comprehensive Plan, after it was revealed at last week’s Advisory Plan Commission meeting that much work remains to be done on it with only a few days left before the March 31 contractual deadline.

Members were fine with granting the three-month extension, with the understanding, however, that there would be no additional cost to the $28,000 contract price.

Trout took part of the blame for the delay, indicating that there’s been a certain lack of municipal communication. “There’s some oversight and discussion that should have been done that wasn’t on the town’s part,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the request of Member Emerson DeLaney, R-5th, the council voted 5-0 to release $300 to purchase a table and chairs with which to outfit the recently rehabbed lobby of the town hall, to give folks waiting to speak with police officers a place to sit.

DeLaney said that the furniture would be purchased from a local business.

Town Manager Bernie Doyle announced that the town’s new municipal website—at www.chestertonin.org—has been up and running for a week, since March 15, and that the first reviews have been good.

“There are a few glitches but we’re very pleased with it based on people’s comments,” Doyle said. In particular, folks seem to like the public notice page.

DeLaney took a moment at the end of the meeting to remind residents to mail their completed Census 2010 forms before the April 1 deadline.

Posted 3/23/2010