CHESTERTON | After months of study, negotiation and deliberation, the Chesterton Town Council took the first step Monday toward creating a town manager position.
The council, with two members absent, voted unanimously to approve the town manager ordinance on first reading. The decision comes after council members further studied presentations that Chesterton High School honors economics students made in May on their findings on the town manager role.
"Since (council President Jim Ton) prepared his presentation and since all the presentations from the high school came in, Jim went over his proposal and made some changes for your approval," Town Attorney Charles Lukmann told the council.
Among those changes for the town manager's duties are the addition of updating, modifying and keeping current the town's Web site. The town manager also will be the council's lead contact for economic development initiatives and issues and will plan functions and deal with resident issues and public relations.
Still central to the position is the town manager's ability to hire, discipline and fire town employees, which the position includes. It is a point of contention among many council members and town officials.
"By state law, this is limited to certain departments, such as police, fire and utilities, and, for the park department, the town manager has no authority over such matters," Lukmann said.
The council's final vote is scheduled for its next meeting July 29.
In other business, the council started the process for annexing a parcel of land contiguous with the town. The parcel included 4 acres owned by Richard and Nancy Baulos, east of Ind. 49 and west of Calumet; 4 acres owned by Irvin and Dorothy Pope, west of Ind. 49 and south of County Road 1050 North; and 80 acres in trust by Irvin and Dorothy Pope.
Attorney Cliff Fleming, representing the group, asked the council for voluntary annexation, and he received unanimous approval. The council will make its final decision during its next meeting. Fleming said there are currently no definite plans for the parcels.
