By John Estridge
As with many facets of life in 2020, everything seems to be changing, and in this context, the Brookville Town Council has changed the way it holds its meetings.
In an answer to social distancing due to the pandemic, BTC uses Zoom and Facebook Live to hold its meetings with council members and support personnel often at remote locations. BTC President Mike Biltz, town administrator Tim Ripperger and clerk/treasurer Gina Gillman are at the town’s administrative building off Franklin Avenue while the other town council members are checking in from their homes or places of business.
Prior to the pandemic, council met where Biltz sits during the current meetings, the meeting room off the lobby. The building is the former administrative offices of the Franklin County Community School Corporation, and the “meeting room” was the office of retired FCCSC Supt. Dr. William Glentzer for many years.
When the BTC used the room, it was usually big enough for meetings as council meetings normally did not attract large crowds. However, when there were hot-button issues, the meeting room was insufficient with many people standing out in the hallway or elsewhere trying to listen and take part.
For the last two meetings, council has discussed coming back together for the meetings and allowing the public to again attend the meetings in person. Instead of going back to the cramped quarters of the town’s administrative building, council members have discussed the possibility of holding the meetings in the Schilling Center, which is also owned by the town. Also, the Franklin County Public Library has offered, free of charge, the big meeting room at the Brookville Library for governmental entity meetings.
Working off blueprints, Ripperger estimated the Schilling Center will seat 30 in the audience area, using the requisite six-foot distance for social distancing.
However, some on council said the BTC may be moving too quickly in going back to in-person meetings. Biltz said he and council member Sam Schuck, prior to the meeting, discussed: with the situation of apparently growing hotspots around the country, regarding the virus, it might be better to continue the meetings in their present form.
“There have been some surges,” Biltz said. “We can propose that we do it (make a move for meeting purposes) unless something comes up where we have to do otherwise.”
Schuck asked if anyone from the public had made any suggestions.
Gillman replied no one had come into or contacted the office, in any way, to state a preference.
Biltz suggested council members talk to Jason Lovins who is part of the local COVID-19 task force and seek advice from him.
Council member Pelsor agreed with Biltz’s suggestion while fellow council member Eric Johnson said he was good with anything the other members wanted to do with subsequent meetings’ venue.
In other business, BTC members:
*Unanimously agreed to continue its previous annual donation of $1,000 to Safe Passage. Prior to the vote, Biltz read a moving letter from Safe Passage talking about how people in abusive relationships and home situations suffered during the shutdown period as tensions within many households became unbearable and the options for innocent family members were reduced by the shutdown.
Biltz briefly discussed how, as the Brookville Elementary principal, he dealt with Safe Passage on occasion due to some students’ home situations, and he was always impressed with the organization’s members caring and professional manners.
*The Census Bureau wanted to meet in the Schilling Center for training purposes on several days. Gillman said only two of the dates were open, July 15-16, and she had notified the Census Bureau’s representative of that.
*Unanimously approved a building permit for Rob Sieg at 135 Connersville Avenue. He wants to build a 20×12 foot lean to on his property. He is going to need a variance, Ripperger said. That is because the rear setback is five feet and he will have only 3.5 feet. Thus, Sieg will have to go before the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance application approval before he builds the structure. Council approved the permit with the stipulation of Sieg obtaining the variance prior to construction.
*Unanimously approved the resignation of Chris Ernstes, the town’s appointee to the county’s Area Plan Commission. The town is now seeking his replacement. Interested parties should contact the Brookville Town Office.
*Reappointed Bill Thompson to the town’s Redevelopment Commission. Thompson is a charter member.
*Heard from Gillman about the need for a laptop. She has been using Ripperger’s office computer for meeting purposes. She said she does not need anything fancy. Members told her to research what she needs.
*Renewed the contract with Tammy Ward for cleaning the Schilling Center.
*Heard from Robert Moore of Liberty National Insurance Company. His company offers a voluntary life and health policy where all the town would have to do is deduct money from the employees’ pretax pay for the policy. He would need to talk to the individual employees concerning the product.
According to globelifelibertynational.com, Liberty National is a division of Globe Life.
Council did not take action on the situation.
Council’s next meeting is 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 14. The place for the meeting has not been determined.