There was no opposition among the nine members of the Fishers City Council as the body voted Monday night to approve a $119 million 2020 spending plan. The vote was 9-0.
Councilman David George was unable to attend last month’s budget session where Mayor Scott Fadness laid out the numbers for the council. A public hearing was held on the budget in September, but no one chose to speak.
Vare
George
George explained Monday why he planned to vote for the budget, pointing to long-term plans to repair and resurface streets and roads in the city as they age.
During the community comment period at the end of the council session, Democratic candidate for Fishers City Council At-Large, Jocelyn Vare, criticized the process used by the city administration and council in explaining the 2020 budget to the public. She suggested the 2021 budget process be done differently, calling for a public explanation of the budget in plain language 30 days before the public hearing.
The 2020 budget calls for a 3 percent employee pay hike and includes a 2-cents-per-$100 of assessed property value tax rate increase.
Day
Logan Day, an unsuccessful mayoral candidate in this year’s Republican primary election, chose to turn to another subject during the community comment time. He asked that the council vote on releasing the report done by an outside law firm concerning allegations that City Clerk Jennifer Kehl had violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in dealing with employees in her office.
The firm found no violations of the law in its probe, but a brief statement from the city said the report found management issues in the City Clerk’s office and reduced Clerk Kehl’s responsibilities and staff. The full report has never been made public, with the city arguing that one or more of the employees still has the right to file an action with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC).
Day said the city could release the report and redact private information, such as the employee names.