By KEVIN NEVERS

Beginning immediately, the Town of Porter’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)—consisting mostly of department heads who make recommendations to the Advisory Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and other boards—will notify the public of its meetings and take minutes of its proceedings.

So Town Council President Bill Sexton, R-1st, announced at Monday’s meeting, after a bit of a contretemps with Jennifer Kluge, who from the floor maintained that TAC is subject to the Open Door Law.

The issue emerged when, a few minutes earlier, Sexton had asked his colleagues to read and consider the manual published by the Indiana Citizens Planning Association, which covers among other things the proceedings of municipal planning and zoning bodies. One of the conclusions which he has already drawn from the manual, Sexton noted, would be the need to make a few changes to TAC, in particular regarding its membership. Sometime soon, Sexton added, he will put those changes in the form of a resolution.

Sexton then noted that most municipalities open their TAC meeting to the public, have agendas, and keep minutes, although they are not required to do so.

Member Dave Babcock, R-3rd, agreed. TACs are not governed by the Open Door Law. “They make no decisions,” he said. “They are merely advisory.”

At this point Kluge made a strong argument that TAC is, in fact, governed by the Open Door Law.

In the end Sexton, with the consensus of the council, said that going forward TAC will notify the public of its meetings, allow the public to attend, and keep minutes.

150th Birthday Party

In other business, Public Works Director Brenda Brueckheimer told the council that she’s looking for volunteers to serve on the 150th Porter Birthday Celebration Committee. It meets at 6 p.m. every Monday at Hageman Library and everyone is welcome.

At the moment a number of events have been scheduled, Brueckheimer said: a golf outing, a RailCats game, and a yard sale May 3-4 at Public Works Department on Beam Street.

Council members can do their part as well, Brueckheimer suggested, as she is hoping for several or all to volunteer their bodies for 30-minute duty at a dunk tank which she has arranged for the yard sale. “This is your opportunity for people to let you know how they feel,” she joked.

Subsequently volunteering were Clerk-Treasurer Carol Pomeroy; Sexton himself; and members Micheal Genger, R-4th, and Michele Bollinger, R-5th.

“I’ll try to keep the water warm,” Brueckheimer said.

From Public Works

Meanwhile, Brueckheimer noted that residents in need of brush or leaf collection should call the Public Works Department at 926-4212 and leave their names, addresses, and the sort of debris. “We’ll put you on the list and get it picked up,” she said.

Brueckheimer also urged residents to bag grass clippings and leave them by the curbside, as it’s much easier and faster simply to collect the bags than to use pitchforks. Residents may also drop their bags of clippings at the Public Works Department during regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

In addition, she said, crews are working on potholes in town. “They’re growing everywhere.” Motorists can report especially bad ones by calling 926-5342.

The Public Works Department is asking residents as well to donate old newspapers to be used for weed prevention, Brueckheimer said. Drop them off at the Beam Street complex during business hours.

Finally, Brueckheimer praised her staff for its quick response to a recent overflow during an early-morning rain event at the Triangle Trail lift station while she was out of town. “They did a really good job,” she said.

From the Park Department

Park Superintendent Jim Miller took an opportunity to encourage residents to volunteer their services for a planting effort along Ackerman Drive in Hawthorne Park. The initiative, led by John Beckman, is replacing an invasive species known as multi-flora rose with 3,000 native plants. “It’s a pretty nice project,” Miller said. “It’s going to improve the look of Ackerman Drive. The bike trail’s going down that way.”

Just show up anytime after 2 p.m. today through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, and between 12 and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Miller also told members that he would like more input from residents on the Parks and Recreation Department’s five-year plan survey. He’s had a few responses, Miller said, but more would be good.

In addition, Miller took note of a donation of $430 to purchase three two-inch caliper winter hawthorn trees.

From the Building Department

Building Commissioner Art Elwood expressed his gratitude to Duneland Rebuilding Together for its plan to work on a home off 23rd Ave. this weekend. The woman who lives there, he said, is experiencing a “financial crisis and her home is falling down around her.”

So Duneland Rebuilding Together is “playing a very significant part in the Town of Porter,” Elwood remarked.

Members then voted 5-0 to waive all building permit fees for Duneland Rebuilding Together.

Elwood also thanked Police Chief Jamie Spanier for the “aggressive” program of tagging abandoned vehicles. “It’s cleaned up the town quite a bit,” he said.

From the Clerk-Treasurer

Pomeroy told the council that Porter County Auditor Jim Kopp has informed her that probably during the week of May 19 the town and the Redevelopment Commission should receive its 2007 property-tax settlement.

And in July, she said, the town should receive around one-third of its 2008 settlement, based on provisional property-tax bills.

Posted 4/23/2008