Forum groups seek meeting with mayor

Residents lobbying for legal help to improve code enforcement

By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL

Two dozen residents decided at a forum Tuesday night they want to meet with Mayor James Garner and part-time city attorney Shane Gibson to learn more about how the city’s legal affairs are organized.

This group — a cross-section of Develop New Albany and neighborhood associations from S. Ellen Jones, E. Spring Street, Silver Grove, Fairmont and Main Street — had voted the week before to lobby for a full-time city attorney in the hopes of beefing up code enforcement. Many said they felt unsafe buildings are not being brought into line fast enough.

E. Spring Street President Greg Roberts said after a few representatives of the forum meet with Garner and Gibson, the associations would discuss the outcome and he will then ask a member of government to draft a resolution for a council vote, whether for a full-time attorney or some other option.

“Let’s sit down with the mayor and Shane ... What limitations does Shane perceive to his position?” said resident Brandon Smith. “Let’s look at cities of comparable size and see how their legal departments are organized.”

Reached by phone after the forum, Garner said he’d be willing to meet with residents on this issue. He added that he’d support either a full-time attorney or two part-time attorneys.

“That is something I’m definitely not opposed to,” Garner said. After he and the council discussed it in January 2005, the consensus was against a full-time attorney, the mayor added.



Councilmen weigh in

Councilman Steve Price said having a full-time city attorney sit on every board and commission would reduce expenses for contractual services, but resident Jeff Gillenwater said state statute requires extra pay for work on certain panels. Councilman Dan Coffey said that was incorrect and added that state statute requires a city of New Albany’s size to have a city attorney. These claims could not be verified Tuesday night.

Coffey, who did not attend the previous forum, wondered how the group had settled on addressing the need for a full-time attorney to enforce code violations.

“It sounds like people think this will solve all their problems,” Coffey said.

In his opinion — echoed by Price and councilmen Larry Kochert and Bill Schmidt — a lack of code enforcement could be traced to inadequate work within the city’s current system. The mayor controls the scope of the city attorney’s power and responsibilities, Kochert said.

Coffey said though he supports having a full-time city attorney, he thought adding police protection was also a pressing issue. Several residents interjected to reiterate that they were trying to address one issue at a time, in this case dilapidated housing.

“Wasn’t that what the other forum was to establish?” asked Courtney Paris of E. Spring Street. “I don’t think having more police on the street is going to stop the guy across the street from me from not cleaning up his house. I don’t think we’re trying to slight anybody else’s needs.”

Gillenwater added, “I think we have criminals who seek out these areas to live in because they know they won’t be checked on,” so the code enforcement could actually combat crime.

Schmidt passed around excerpts of ordinances covering the building commissioner’s responsibilities, including notifying violators and filing liens. He said, “Everything goes through the building commissioner,” so that office, currently headed by interim Building Commissioner Ron Hartman, needs to work harder.

Helen Spudich said in E. Spring Street’s fight to have code violations prosecuted in her neighborhood, she was repeatedly told by city government that these efforts were the job of the city attorney.



Next steps

Roberts moderated in the absence of Jake Newman, the Indiana University Southeast sociology professor who ran the previous forum.

“We’re staying away from politics,” Roberts said. “We’re here to get things done.”

Coffey said he would ask Jeffersonville attorney Les Merkley to speak at an upcoming forum. Merkley is a part-time employee, according to his contract, but works some overtime.

After the forum, Gillenwater said the forum would set a good example of how to approach issues.

“I think it’s important for citizens to model the behavior they expect from their elected officials,” he said, adding that he hoped “the government officials, including the council members here tonight, take note.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints