GRIFFITH | The Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to support a petition to leave Calumet Township.

The council's vote for the resolution was intended to show bipartisan support, said council President Stan Dobosz, D-5th.

Members of both parties must stand together in Griffith and in the state's General Assembly for the petition to secede, said council Vice President Michael Gulley, D-4th.

The resolution, in parallel with the petition started by Councilman Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, asks the state to either abolish Indiana's form of township government or allow Griffith residents to vote in a referendum to secede from the township.

The resolution calls for a two-thirds vote among Griffith residents to leave or stay.

"I am very happy that the Town Council voted tonight to adopt the resolution," Ryfa said. "We must stick together as a town right now, regardless of our political affiliations."

The resolution also asks the state to "adopt a funding source to replace the local welfare property tax that currently funds county relief programs."

Griffith pays $3.2 million a year for these programs and says it gets very little back.

Resident Todd Sturgill said all Griffith residents would applaud the full council for "joining the fight." He asked if the board will continue fighting if the going gets tough.

Dobosz asked that residents bring completed petitions to the clerk-treasurer's office at Town Hall so they can be properly processed.