Common Council - Regular Meeting

5 4 3 2 Good evening and welcome to the July to the July 1st, 2025 meeting of the Gary Common Council. We will begin as is our custom with prayer led by Councilman Washington. Thank you, Madam President. Dear Lord, heavenly father, we just thank you for this gathering today. We thank you, Father God, that you will shed your light and your grace and your mercy upon us as we conduct business for the great city of Erie, Indiana. Allow the words of our mouths, the meditations of our hearts, Lord, let them be acceptable in your sight. Oh Lord, you are our strength and our redeemer. In God's name we pray. Amen. Amen. Please stand for our pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Roll call now. Councilwoman Brown, present. Councilwoman Cwell, present. Councilman Hallebertton, present. Councilwoman Ivy, present. Councilman Toiver, present. Councilman Washington, present. Councilman Wington, president. Councilman Williams, present. And President Lake, present. Madam President, there are nine presents. Zero. Thank you, Madam Clerk. With nine present and zebra absent, the Gary County Council has a form to do business. Colleagues, before you, you have a copy of the minutes of our previous meeting. I'll entertain a motion at this time for passage for acceptance. It's been moved and second. Second. It's

been moved and second. Roll call. Madam clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Councilman Hallebert. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toiver, yes. Council Washington, yes. Councilman Wington, Councilman Williams, yes. And President Leo, yes. Madam President, the vote is 9 to the vote of 9 to zero. Our minutes from our previous meeting have have been accepted. Assignment of council pending ordinances and resolutions on first reading. CPL 2025-40, an ordinance amending title 15 entitled land usage chapter 123 entitle zoning code of the code of ordinances of the city of gear Indiana sponsored by the Gary zoning department petitioner Armanware 1757 through 59 street unassigned mam president's assigned opinion thank you madam clerk at this time. Any colleagues for special select? Councilwoman Morris Caldwell. Good evening. Good evening. Please join the fifth district community forum Thursday, July the 17th at 5:30 at Roseville Park Pavilion. Our special guest will be Daniel Turner from the IBW697. Um, our next meeting again that's Thursday, July the 17th at 5:30. Um, we have another community forum scheduled for Monday, August the 25th at 5:30. And our special guests will be Congressman Frank, Senator Mark

Spencer, estate representative Vernon G. We look for your attendance. Um, I have a couple of appointments to make for voices and commissions. I would like to make a motion to appoint. It's Patrick Design for Dr. Janice for the advisory commission for the social Second, second. I'm sorry. Roll call. Madam clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Councilman Hallebertton. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Councilman Tyler. Yes. Councilman Washington. Yes. Councilman Wington. Yes. Councilman Williams. Yes. And President, yes. Mad press vote is 9 to zero. With a vote of nine to zero, Barl Fitzpatrick is appointed to the social status of black males. Yes. Okay. I would like to appoint make a motion to appoint Curry, designate for Steve Maz of the NAACP for the advisory commission for the social status of black males. Roll call. Madam Clair, Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cowwell, yes. Councilman Hallebertton, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toiver, yes. Council Washington, yes. Councilman Wington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. And President, yes. Madam President, vote 9 to zero. With a vote of 9 to zero, Bruce Curry is appointed to the social status of black males as the design of Steven. Madam President, I would like to make a motion to appoint Cordel Atkins Destiny for work one

reactive for the advisory commission for the status of black males. Second, it's been moved and second. Roll call. Madam clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Councilman Hallebertton. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toer, yes. Council Washington, yes. Council Wizard, yes. Council Williams, yes. And President Le, yes. Vote is 9 to zero. With the vote of 9 to zero, Cordell Atkins is appointed to the social status of black males as to work one designate. Madame President, I would like to make a motion to appoint Aaron King designate for Dr. Devon Stoke, superintendent of the Gary School Corporation for the Advisory Commission on Status of Black Hills. Second. It's been moved and second. Roll call. Madam clerk. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell. Yes. Councilman Hallebert. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Councilman Bach. Councilman Toiver. Yes. Councilman Washington. Yes. Council Wington. Yes. Council Williams. Yes. And President Le. Yes. Madam President, the vote is 9 to zero. With the vote of nine to zero, Aaron King has been appointed to the advisory commission of the social status of black males as Dr. President, I would like to make a motion to appoint Gon Fields designate for Vanessa Alan Mloud of the Urban League retroactive for the status advisory commission on the status. Um October

I'm sorry. field designed today. It's been moved and second roll call. Madam clerk, Councilwoman Brown, yes. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Councilman Hallebertton, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toiver, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Council Wington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. and president. Yes. Madam President, vote is 9 to zero. With a vote of 9 to zero, Deon Fields has been appointed to the advisory board of the social status of black males. Effective immediately, Madame President, I would like to make a motion to appoint James Wallace for Dr. Erica Jackson, Chancellor for the Advisory Commission. status of the social status of it's been moved and second roll call mad clerk. Councilwoman Brown, yes. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Council Hallebert, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toiver, yes. Council Washington, yes. Council Wington, yes. Council Williams, yes. And President, yes. And the president vote is 9 to7. Thank you. With the vote of 9 to zero, James Wallace has been appointed to the advisory commission of the social status of black males as Jackson's designate. All right. Um, there's more. Madam President, I would like to make a motion to appoint Lieutenant Richard Allen for Chief Derek of the Police Department for the advisory commission of the social status.

Second. Second. It's been moved and second. Roll call. No. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Councilman Hallebert, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toiver, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Councilman Wington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. And President Le, yes. Madam President, the vote is 9 to With the vote of 9 to zero, Lieutenant Richard Allen has been appointed to the advisory commission of the social status of black males as chief here at Kansas. Madam President, boards and commissions would like to make a motion to appoint Charles Smith um to the Fire Civil Service Commission as a Republican. It's been moved and second. Roll call. Madam Clerk, Councilwoman Brown, yes. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Councilman Hallebert, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Tower, yes. Councilman Washington. Yes. Councilman Wington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. And President Le, yes. Madam President, the vote is nine to zero. With a vote of 9 to zero, Charles Smith has been appointed as our Republican appointment to the fire civil service. My last for today, Madame President, I would like to appoint Oliver to the police civil service commission as a Democrat. Second. It's It's been moved. It's been moved and second roll call. Madam Cler, Councilwoman Brown, Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Council Haliver, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Council Tolliver, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Council Lizington, yes. Council Williams, yes. Councilwoman Brown, President Le, yes. unpresent vote is

eight yes, one extension. With eight yes and one abstension, Oliver Gilliam is our Democratic appointment to the police commission. Thank you, Councilwoman Barnes, and for your diligence, leading in your committee. Thank you, Councilman Toiver. Yes. I want to make everyone aware that on Wednesday, July 9th, we will be having a second district community forum. Um, Councilman Hallebertton and myself will host this here at the Gary Public Library and Cultural Center at 5:00 pm. Uh, we will have guest speakers in attendance. Michael El Suggs, City of Gary operating officer. We'll have Chief Derek Cannon, Gary Police Department. Christopher Harris, redevelopment director, Terrell Bonds, director of Gary Housing Authority, and Riley Mary Berry, Lighthouse Charter Schools. Uh, our topics will be abandoned schools and parks and centers in the second district. I also wanted to let everybody know that it would be cool if y'all would come and check out the Gary County Council on Thursday, July 3rd, as we will have a wonderful float coming down Broadway. U make sure that you come out and support us. I do believe we're going to be having one of those Cis uh cowboy hats on and boots. So, we're going to be out there. So, it should be a great time. Um, these parades used to be in a lot back in the day and I know they've been a lockdown. So, I would love for the whole city to be out. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Tyler. Councilman Williams. Thank you. I would like to make I like to make this close test. Okay, cool. All right. I would like to announce the Daniel Walker fundraiser by the blind social center. Uh this will be

Saturday, July 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 100 p.m. Um and if you are interested to come out uh to participate for more information or to get involved, please call 219 98097 and please ask for this later. My second announcement bear with me. Christ Temple Church is hosting uh the Glen Park on the 6th district first farmers market. The dates are August 7th, August 28th, September 18th. Um each day the event will start at 4:00 4:00 p.m. and it will end at 7:00 p.m. The farmers market is sponsored by North Farmer markets. associates. So, please come out. Again, it's going to be held at Christ Temple Church. Location is 42nd of Broadway, Gary, Indiana. All three dates. Um, the events will start at 4:00 to 7:00. Again, those dates are August 7th, August 25th. I'm sorry, August 28th, and September 18th. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Williams. Any other members specialists left? Councilwoman Ivy? Yes. Tomorrow is the 16 weeks of summer Wednesday meetup. We'll be in the fourth district at Wood Park Pavilion. That's 24002 Tennessee Street in the Palaski neighborhood. Please come meet myself, Councilwoman Ivy. enjoy music, on-site resources, and other services by our city departments and community partners. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Ivy. Any other

colleague, special president, council Hallebertton, I just want to share some information. Uh today is July 1st and of course uh the new laws have been enacted and I just was reading some of the new laws and this particular one from the Senate Bill Two. The Healthy Indiana Plan participants would need to get to work if they want to stand the Medicaid expansion program. Starting Tuesday, Senate Bill 2 requires participants to work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week with some exceptions, including for people receiving unemployment and rehab, going to school, or parenting young children. So, this is an important bill that's going on in our state, those who are in fact, please, please, let's get to work. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Albert. Any other colleagues for special? This is Dr. Smith in the house. He is Councilwoman Brown. I have a citation for Dr. Smith. I'd like to read if I may, please. We are very happy to have our state representative, Dr. Vernon Smith here with us joining us in this meeting. Here with us. Um, Dr. Smith, can you approach the podium? We have a citation for you. Okay, Dr. Smith, this is an official citation by the Gary Common Council honoring Dr. Vernon G. Smith on his retirement from Indiana University Northwest. Whereas after a remarkable career spanning more than three decades of distinguished service to Indiana University Northwest and a lifetime dedicated to public service and

education, Dr. Vernon G. Smith is retiring from his post as professor of education, marking the close of a truly extraordinary chapter in trip history. And whereas Dr. Burman G. Smith, born on April 11th, 1944 in Gary, Indiana, has proudly called Gary his lifelong home and has committed his life to the advancement in education, social justice, and civic leadership, remaining deeply grounded in his faith as a missionary Baptist. And whereas Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor of Education, Master of Education, and Doctor of Education degrees from Indiana University Bloomington with a focus on elementary and middle school administration, exemplifying a lifelong commitment to academic excellence and educational leadership. And whereas his professional journey as a teacher in the Gary public school system in 1966, Dr. Smith will go on to serve as a principal, assistant principal, and ultimately a transformative figure in the academic community as interim dean and professor at Indiana University Northwest from 1992 until his retirement in 2025. And whereas in addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Smith served the public faithfully as a member of the Mary City Council 1972 to 1990 and continues to serve as a

representative in the Indiana State House of Representatives for District 14 where he has been a leading voice on the education committee and local government committee for over three decades. And whereas throughout his life, Dr. Smith has exemplified civic and spiritual leadership, serving as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Hill Missionary Baptist Church at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and as a member of more than 40 community professional and religious organizations, including the Omega Sci fraternity, Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Gary Association for School Administrators and where Dr. 's contributions have been recognized with numerous awards including the NAACP's Oington Award, the IU Northwest Distinguished Educator Award, and appreciation honors from the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police and the Brothers Keeper Shelter among many others. And whereas his guiding principle captured in his favorite quote by Elanor Roosevelt, I'd rather light a candle than curse the darkness has been the cornerstone of a life devoted to enlightenment, equality, and empowerment. Now therefore, let it be known that we celebrate and honor Dr. Vernon G. for his unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and profound impact on education, public service, and

the people of Gary in the state of Indiana. In testimony where we have here unto set our hands to this document in the city of Gary, state of Indiana, this first day of July, 2025. Dr. We are so proud. Now I have something else I want to say. Okay. And I I many many of you probably know. I have known Dr. Smith since he was I want to say a toddler practically his entire family. I knew everyone. His mother Reverend Julius Smith did the eulogy for my brother's funeral. Mr. AJ Smith used to take us on hay rides all over the place. He was he was the diploma for us. He did all kinds of odd jobs. His all of his brothers, his sisters, Bobo, Eddie, Thomas, Ducky, C, his sister Margaret, everybody. I know them all. And I am so proud of you. I have watched you as you have progressed through the years and I am so very very proud of you Dr. Smith. I really am. I mean you it it makes my heart kind of flutter to see all the wonderful things that you have done in this city. So through the years through the years you you've just been a wonderful wonderful addition to this community and to our entire city. Thank you so very much. I just wanted to say

that [Applause] You've heard my eulogy. We have six men around the table, so it's enough to be my paw bear. I want to thank uh Mary for being a lifetime friend, her family. I want to thank this council for uh allowing me to experience this this honor. And I want to thank the people of the city of Gary, the people of the 14th house district who has varied over my tenure and all the people of the region who have supported me for so many years. Uh I am so grateful. Uh there are many people who want to be leadership and there are those who think they can do it better than you doing and so I'm so pleased that that the people of this community has supported me for all of these years. Uh, I am honored and I'm humbled by this experience. Before I take my seat, may I just say that these 59 years have been a glorious trip. Uh, and people look at me at moments of glory, but they really don't know my story. Okay. And I could not take credit for what people say about me and the accolades that I received um without giving praise to God because

he's made it all possible. Uh you don't know the the trials and tribulations I've had in trying to serve. Uh I don't focus on them, but there's been some difficult days that I've experienced. I had no intentions of being an educator. I I wanted to be a businessman when I was young. And through poor counseling, I became an educator. Uh serves as a teacher. Had a weak principal as far as managing the students and controlling the students. So I took stepped up and did that. He suggested I become a principal and I made that choice. When I finished my degree to be a principal, um I uh ran into a person by the name of Dr. McGhood that told me that I would never be a principal. My guys in control and uh through a series of situations where I finally got my down uh uh because they kept making me interim principal who would not give me a principal ship. Uh I uh I was able to get that principal ship and then while I was working as a principal I decided to to go back and get my masters. I did that before that's how I became a principal. Um and there was a visiting professor from Michigan who said to me uh Vernon you write well you make the best presentation in class and you uh test well. He said, "You ought to consider getting a doctor." I had no desire to get a doctor. Mary know the humble beginnings we had, you know, just to get a masters. I thought I was doing something. But he planted the seed. And when he planted the seed, I

decided to pursue it. Um, and then I ran into a doctor again and he said, "I'm not going to give you a satical to go finish up your doctor. back until you get 120 hours of graduate studies which you had to at that time do a year residency where he had to stay on the campus and uh being a principal at that time he was not going to give me a leave and uh so I just picked it up but I had showing you that God was moving forward me I had a um chairman of the doctor committee who kept assistant calling me every month we come back and finish. Those of you who don't know, when you get into the doctor program, you have seven years to complete. I was in my sixth year, the end of my sixth year, and he told me, "If you don't come down, you're not going to be the doctor." Dr. Matt Andrews had said no. But the right time, he said yes. And uh he didn't give me a satical, which he said he wouldn't give me. But what he gave me was opportunity to work three days a week and go four days down to to Bloomington and that's how I completed my work and on top of that uh I I served uh as a principal for about 20 years and then uh you only make changes through agitation and dissatisfaction. I was not dissatisfied with being principal but the the superintendent Dr. Hawkins that followed Dr. Andrew uh was even worse. And uh he told me that uh I needed to make a decision on whether I wanted to be a politician or to be an educator. And I told him, I think I can do both of them. And so he

continued to touch me and he broke the camel's back one day when we were at the inservice and he hollered at me. The only person that hollered me and I stay in their presence is my mother and she's gone now. And so I I I got irritated and I submitted my resignation. Now I submitted my resistation not because I was a fool you know but because I knew that I was asking me to come there and so I made the transition there very no information I really started working at IU in 1978 when I got my doctor but I was a part-time professor adjunct to become full time when I got there and I'm trying to rush this story but I won't give God praise um when I got there uh you have If you're going to keep your job, you must do research. You must provide service and you must be excellent in your teaching. Uh didn't have any problem teaching. Uh didn't have any problem servicing as a service done that all my life. But I had trouble re with research. I had already published two articles in journals. I magazines, but magazines articles are different from referee journals where they based on research. And I was having a time of time to do doing that. Uh I submitted my third manuscript which had been rejected. It's about 9:30 at night. I go to my to the mailbox and I pick up a my third rejection letter. I went into my office and I cried like a baby and and and I said to myself, you know, God and I I didn't say it to myself. I said it to him. you know, why did you bring me here if you're going to let me fail? Why are you going to bring here if you're going to fail? I have to back up this bit because when I left Williams

school, they threw a party for me two weeks later and they presented me over 500, 600 letters from children. We had maybe 800 students in school and the students were lamenting me leaving uh saying they were sorry, how much they love me and so forth. And so reading the letters uh I to tear up and God is my witness. This is under presence here. I heard a voice. The voice said, "Your work is complete." He said, "Call. You get seven years at Nobel School completion. You get seven years at William School. Your work was complet [Music] at that point when I was in the in the office cheering up I reminded him I said he told me this and um he didn't speak to me didn't speak to me at the time two weeks later a lady that I will always admire and respect and give tribute to Dr. Eay Coleman came into my office 9:30 at night and she asked me how I'm doing my research I could have been very American and said, "Oh, I'm doing okay." But I I was very honest with her. She said, "Let me see your manuscripts." And I handed them to her. She said, "You write well." She said, "But you're not writing as a referee journalist." And I didn't know what a referee journalist was. And she said, "Get the magazines, the journalist, study them, and then write that." And that is that those few words that she said, "She can come and help me write." She may have helped me do my research, but just that seed that she planted made a difference. And now I

retired from the university. They had no more black for professors. Not to say they're not going to ever have any. It's a shame that when I got there, there were six. When I'm leaving, there's none. And we must do something about that. Thank you for this honor. I I appreciate the people uh that have supported me along the way. I have believed in academic excellence. Why? Because I believe what I do, I do it unto God. I do it unto him. So when I push students towards excellence, I push myself towards excellence. I know I'm doing it towards God. Some of my students gotten angry at me. They have not liked me pushing that. had one student that asked me, she said, "What if I don't do this over again?" I said, "That's not the issue. You're going to do it over again." And that's what has made uh my name in this community. And I thank God for and I thank God for his his support and for opening doors for me. And one more point I want to make before I take my seat is that while I was working on my doctor, I had financial problems because I had to was a city council member. I was driving back and forth on the highway up 65 getting back to meetings and so forth. Had to keep an apartment in Gary because they had to be a resident of Gary V. And then I was paying in the dormatory down I mean Bloomington and I had financial problems. Now I was only working three days a week and a guy that I argued with. He was executive director of the alumni association. He got on my case because I started the IU gent which is predecessors for the IU D and he said to me he said uh you don't have the right to create alumni possession for IU and we argued about it and we argued so bad

that his secretary came to the door because he thought he was getting ready to go to blows. Year later I see this guy he asked me to come talk with him and I said what's this part two we going to argue again? Uh, and I go to his office and he asked me how I'm doing. I said, "I'm doing well academically. I'm having financial problem." This man picked up the phone for that year residency down there. I you paid all of my expenses because he called Foundation. So, I have to give God a praise. If anybody ever writes my story for whatever reason, James Le'sburg, tell them that Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to you. If you like a and suffer and through the glory God has made. So I give him the praise today. So this award uh promise to the Lord. [Applause] Dr. Smith, would you share with us your two new awards that you received Friday? Which one? The one from the governor, the governor and the president of the president. Yeah. Uh I got the second offer. Wash, which is the highest award that we didn't come from a Democrat. It came from a Republican and I thank him for it. And then Kenneth Allen who was one of my mentees. He's probably the most cherished mentee I've had. He was a little small guy in sixth grade uh when he joined the African chiefs. He stayed in six years. He uh went down to be a page for me so many times and he he got that drum nature instinct in him. Uh he has now been

elected to two offices in inapolis and he reached back to President Biden uh and President Biden is issued me the war. But really, I looked at today the ward has 24. I'm saying how did how did he get this done in in in 2024? But it was named uh I remember this distinguishes it's something like distinguish national something like that. Uh but I I thank God for for those uh tributes and everybody who celebrated uh two ignments with me with my retirement. I don't know what I'm going to do. I feel lost now. But I'm sure there's something else that he has planned for. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Smith. Thank you. Any other council members for special President Councilman Washington. Yeah. I want to acknowledge um Dr. Smith. Um Linda, you were reading um and a lot of people don't know this um but when you were reading out the nominations for the Black Males Commission. A lot of people don't know that the reason why the Black Mesales Commission exists is because of Dr. Bernie Smith. I was actually the second executive director for the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males and I worked out of FSSA at the time and Jim Roage was the executive director. But the first director came because Dr. Smith vigorously filed legislation year after year because he saw the plight of African-American males not only in the city of Gary but throughout the country.

And when he says you don't know what he's gone through, he's exactly right because he had to fight session after session to finally get that commission, not only to go through, but then also to fight to have that commission funded. And one of the reasons why the Gary Advisory Commission exists is because, and I think Councilwoman Brown, this was your first term on the council, Dr. Bernie Smith and myself and others went around the state of Indiana. We met with the mayors of Muny, Fort Wayne, Gary, um, Evansville, um, and created local commissions on African-American males through local ordinances. And that came because of what Dr. Smith did. And the goal was for each one of those commissions in that particular city that dealt with a lot of racism at that time was to be able to fund a position to do initiatives for black males. Dr. Smith, I think a lot of people don't realize the agony you went through with your colleagues and your Republican colleagues to get this passed. Another thing that you all don't know about, Dr. Berneston Smith. I learned education policy through Dr. Smith. Um, when I was working for him as the executive director of the Black Mes Commission, I saw his passion. And many of you all don't remember during the time that Miss Daniels was the governor. Um, there was a guy named Tony Bennett who came into town that Dr. Smith went headtohead with. He was the superintendent of public education. And people don't remember, Dr. Smith, that the decline of the Gary schools wasn't necessarily regarding poverty and jobs

is when we actually switched testing from spring to fall testing. And that when and I don't want to get into it, but fall testing is when you test your children cuz everything was based on one test. So spring testing was like in college it was a cumulative examination at the end of the year. The teachers had the opportunity to educate the children and at the end of the year they were able to take that test and go on the knowledge of what they have been taught. when they switched it to fall and it was mainly done because some of our republic Republican legislators had an issue with going on vacation. They switched it to the fall which meant as soon as children came back to school, teachers had probably maybe a month or two to remediate children who were suffering from different economic, social circumstances. and you had literally a year and a half, I mean a month, maybe a month and a half to prepare them for a major test and that's when our scores plummeted. And the last thing, the reason why Dr. Smith said this and I remember I was on the school board and I'm going tell you all one of the greatest times in Gary for politics was probably between the years of 1965 to 80. But I got a chance um Council Member Brown to sit in a room with some jargon. I remember when Mayor Rudy Clay was the mayor. I was his lobbyist and it was a room it would be Dr. Vernon Smith, Senator Erlene Rogers, Representative Charlie Brown, Representative Earl Harris Senior, Lonnie Randolph, Mary Brown, and we would sit in these rooms and I would just sit back and be quiet and just watch all of them go at it regarding legislation and what I can't

repeat some of the stuff that happened, but it was like when Christian Leighton was on the dream team and he saw and he just sat back. That's how it was like that. But the last thing, Dr. Smith If you would have had the opportunity, I know we fought to get this done and people didn't recognize that you being a superintendent of the Gary public schools while also being a state legislator would have benefited the Gary community schools because not only would you have been able to lead the school district, but you would have been able to go and fight for the district in Indianapolis because I think a lot of people don't understand that our public schools are actually state schools that are going local And we it it was always Dr. Smith came up as a candidate, but they would always want him, oh way, you need to retire from being a state rep. I'm like, no, we need him as the state rep going to Indianapolis as a superintendent. Cuz I think it was one other good person that was there that was actually a superintendent and a state rep. And Dr. Smith, I just want to say you have been an inspiration to me. I know it was difficult wearing that blue tie because as Omega man, you probably didn't have a purple one to wear, but I was hoping that you would wear a black and gold one. But the the thing is, Dr. Smith. Um, you have played an intricral part of educational policy for this city and for the decades that you've been going back and forth to Indianapolis and adding your educational acum for being a professor and training teachers to be principles and then superintendent. I just want to you say I've learned so much from you and I'm thankful that you have been a part of my life. Thank you. Thank you. Were you a 1980 counsel? Let's see. Consider my my mother was born in 75.

But I do I have to say things. 10 years ago I was in college. I was triple major and I didn't know what I wanted to do. Uh I was always intrigued in politics and the merger between municipal finance, corporate finance, how that could impact So what happened was I made I went to a college fair and I saw uh a state representative internship available but the deadline was the very next day. So I called and this I said Mr. Mo, I need your help. And he said, "Say less." I had an interview the very next week with three individual on the panel. The very next day I got the internship. And not just that, I got an internship with Mike Pence in Ways and Means also working with you. And I learned so much and not just about politics, but about Dr. Smith and his commitment. This man came in every single day on a boot, walking up steps in pain and was never late, demanding coffee, of course, but it was never late. And he would drive from Gary to Indianapolis almost every single day. I didn't mind it because he gave me all his pace and all his cult tickets, so it was cool. And I got many for him not showing up and having to come back home. And I remember I was hurt when I left the internships. I've learned so much about politics. And I said, I would never be a politician. And I remember I told him that and it broke his heart. I said, I would never be involved in politics ever. I've watched things the government we had in office at that time that took place that really crippled this city and not just the city, but the state as a whole. That was

during a time of rift. Really bad time to be down there. And it I disagree. The best side of politics was when I was down there with excuse me, Senator Rogers. Uh, Mayor Melton at that time was there with Erlene. Karen was down there. Oh, it was a great time to be down there. The black presence in Indianapolis at that time was just my goodness. But I called you several months ago and I said, "Doc, I feel like God's talking to me and he's telling me to get involved in city politics." And I said, "I don't know what to make of it." And the first thing he said was, "Do it. Run." And I said, "Doc, you know, I'm getting into the game late. Everybody's telling me I can't win." And he said, "Well, God told you. Sorry you were there." and he said, "If you ever need me, call me." And every time I've ever called you, you always pick up. I would not be here if it wasn't for you. Even when I look at my career, educational accolades, they're good. But the decisions you've made to get me the place that I've been, all the recommendations, all the phone calls, doc, my life is solidified. And I know you won't take it. But God worked for you to get to me and I appreciate you. So, thank you. Any other comments for special? Sorry, Councilman Williams. Testing testing. Okay. So, uh Dr. Smith, I have to say St. my lifetime which is I think coming to an end pretty soon at the age of that right now but I

will have to say that I tried my best to do everything that you've tried to do you know uh if it wasn't for co I'd probably still be the university teacher I just couldn't do the co thing um now I've been elected as elected official and uh I see a lot of those long nights that you had. Uh I remember as a kid you used to take me to the Democratic conventions and the only thing my my twin brother and I really wanted when we went down there was the uh the chili and hot dogs cuz the Democrats were always cooking chili and cooking hot dogs. So we were like, "Oh yeah, chili hot dogs." all the time, right? And uh we saw the long meetings, the long drives, and we did a lot of travel with you during that time uh as you grew into your administration with education as well as as you grew into uh your position as an elected official. So, I have to say this and and from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for for guiding me, guiding my brother, guiding our family. Um, uh, I'm sure there's more to come. It's not over for you yet. That's I know it's not over for you yet. So, I'm looking forward to those years. So, thank you. Thank you. Any other colleagues that you want to select? I'll just add my voice to the chorus. Um, your fingerprints are all over the city. We were at Westside track this morning and I had a flashback of you with the discretion appeal board fighting for our district um working hard to try and get the referendum passed. Um we were there in a beautiful stadium on a beautiful field and um indebted in large part to you. I visited

my cousin at the hospital. Um her friend was a Frabel graduate. I told her, "You all have a beautiful park, which is much better than the burnout that is the the school that I graduated from. Um, and I know how hard you worked on making sure that that happened." So, your fingerprints are all over the city. I'm surprised your back isn't bent because all of us are on your shoulders. We're very grateful. Thank you, Dr. I also have just a couple announcements. Um, I want to remind everyone, especially with the Fourth of July holiday coming up, that our city just passed a Oh, and Dr. Smith, if you can stay around, we want to get a group picture before you leave. Um, our city has passed a ordinance outlawing the discharge of firearms. I know that is a tradition for a lot of people. So, we want to make sure that you know that you can be cited and you can be cited and fined for um discharging your firearm in the air um in the Fourth of July and and and uh and around New Year's. Um also, I want to make sure I thank the Gary Public Library for hosting this meeting. Um, while our elevator at city hall is still under repair, we have been graciously hosted by the Gary Public Library. I also want to encourage everybody to support our library. Um, make sure that you visit often. Download Hoopla and Libby. Do not pay $14.99 a month for your audio books because they can be easily downloaded for free from your Kerry Public Library with your Kerry Public Library card. Um, so support our library. support their programming. Um, make sure you follow them on all social media channels and share their information and share their events.

Um, and then I want to rush to thank uh the administration for the buzz of events that's happening um with food Friday food trucks. Um, there was movies at Westside yesterday, the city, the vibration. and it's all been a buzz with all of the events for the summer. So, I'm really appreciative of the new energy in terms of events that are happening, especially in the first district. Um, thank you to all my colleagues who were able to attend the uh groundbreaking for new construction, some of the first new construction to happen in Etna in decades. Um, many of our co many of my colleagues were able to attend that. So, I want to make sure that I extend my congratulations to the FNL group and all other partners that were a part of that. Thank you, Councilman Tolliver, for speaking on my behalf. And if you get a chance, make sure you stop by Lake Street um the north side of Gold Cleaners, a new or a uh re-imagined um mural of the Jacksons. It's up. It's three times larger than the original that was on the other side of the street. And it's nice to look at. photo op. So, make sure you stop by there and see that. With that, if there aren't any other council members for special select, we will now have public comment. Starting with Commissioner Ry. Please be reminded you have two minutes to speak. The time is being kept by our parliamentarian, Linda Barnes Caldwell. I'll also add that it isn't um question and answer. There are members of the administration who may be here to answer any questions you might have afterward. Thank you, Miss Carrie. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Uh I'm a resident dorian Kerry, a resident of the first district. I'm also president of Gary Advocates for Responsible Development or Guard, which is a local uh not for-profit group advocating for clean air and environment

in the city of Gary and for sustainable development. So, I want to thank you, President uh Laam, and members of the city council who were part of the uh air pollution control committee advisory committee for setting up last week's uh public forum on the serious impacts of air pollution on the health of Gary residents. Uh Gary Works blast furnaces routinely emit hazardous air pollutants such as lead and mercury. Gary works uh is among the largest sources of particulate matter am uh nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxide in this country. These pollutants cause respiratory disease, heart disease and cancers such as were so eloquently described uh by uh Gary resident B barrel Fitzpatrick at last week's meeting of the of the air pollution advisory control committee. So for a cleaner and greener and healthier Gary, we are asking that Gary Works new owners uh need to invest in cleaner iron making technology at Gary Works that will allow for uh the mill to provide jobs, clean air, and a sustainable economic future for our city. So, I want to thank the air pollution control advisory committee for taking these first steps to make a positive impact on people's understanding of the impact of uh air pollution and hopefully move on to making uh potentially a resolution that you can adopt in favor of moving forward with more modern technology at our steel mill for for the benefit of people today and in the future. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Carrie. And thank you, Dr. Vernon Smith. It was so wonderful to hear your story this evening. I'm so glad I was

able to be here to hear that. Thank you. Thank you, Carrie. Next, we'll have Mrs. Tindall. Is Mrs. Tindall here? Yes. Thank you for joining us, Miss Tindall. I'll just remind you, you have two minutes to speak. Thank you so much. Please state your name and address for the record. Good afternoon. Greetings to the count Madame President Council and those in attendance. Last time I was before you, I said that there was a dysfunctional park at Fifth and Buchanan. I was mistaken. It's at fourth of Buchanan and there's a swing set with the seat at the side upside down. The other day I had the privilege of seeing the children playing in a park with water bubbling over and the children playing in the water in their swimwear. That park was not here in the area. Mhm. It's wonderful that the Guaranty Transportation Corporation has arranged for buses to take our citizens and others to the Marquette Beach. But we need more than just one place for our people

enjoying water activities. water activities and having fun in their neighborhood. We've got to do better and we should be ashamed. Today is July 1st and it's we need to do better and uh it's an embarrassment for me to know that we treat our children and treat our community with less with as little regard as we do. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Tend. Thank you. That concludes public comment. We'll now have council pending ordinances and resolution 13 and finally CPL 2025-34 in order to viewing a special use permit for property located at 3930 West 5th Avenue, Indiana to be used as a auto dealership. sponsored by Garrison Department petitioner Eric Tony Smith 3930 West 5th Avenue. At this time I'll entertain a motion for passage of 20 of CPO 2025- second. Yes. Can we just make a note for the purpose of the minutes 3930 on the agenda but the actual ordinance has been amended to read 398. Yes. The next one is going to be the amendment substitution. Thank you. It's been moved and second overview. Attorney Molina. Good evening, council members. Good evening. So, this is a special use permit for a property located at 3930 West Fifth Avenue. Um, I will take this opportunity, I think, to say, you know,

we've had a few of these special use permits for auto dealers, and I think it's a good thing on the timing because that's kind of also um spurred uh our staff to go out and make sure that these car dealerships are complying with who they should be complying with. And I think there's things like that, you know, that that happen and we don't pay attention because there's so many other uh things going on. Um, and so they have compiled a list, I think they shared, of all the uh, car dealerships in town. Um, and they're really willing to make an effort in the next uh, few months to to really crack down on those who are not compliant with it. Um, that's just as a background. But on this one, uh, specifically 3930, uh, this matter came before the board of zoning appeals on May 8th, 2025. It is for property uh, that has been used as car dealership. Uh this was flagged because it should have had a special use. Um but it had been granted uh business licenses in the past. Um and so this was an effort to make him come into compliance. Um they did uh file the appropriate documents and uh when it was heard in front of the board of zoning appeals uh they did find favorably uh that a special use permit should be recommend should be recommended by a four to zero vote. Um as the council is aware when we do these special use permits there are seven factors that we look at um pursuant to our ordinances. Uh one that the establishment maintenance or operation of the special use will not be detrimental to the or endanger the public health safety halls or general welfare. Two that the special use will not be a jurist the use of other properties vicinity for the purposes already permitted. Three, that the establishment of the special use will not impede or substantially alter the normal or orderly development and improvement of surrounding property for use as per the district. Four, adequate utilities, access roads, drainage, and other necessary facilities have been or are being provided. Five, adequate measures have been or will be taken to

provide for access management, ingress and egress so designed as to minimize traffic congestion on public roads. Sixth, the special use will be located in a district where such a use is authorized and all other requirements set forth in the chapter which are applicable to the special use will be met. And finally, seven, that petitioner did document and present to the board that the proposed special use provides for the implementation of sustainable growth principles and initiatives as proved by the board. Um, looking at those factors as as stated uh the uh DCA did believe that it met those factors and voted in favor of it. Um it did not place any conditions at the time. That's certainly something that can be done. Uh but currently as the ordinance exists, it does not have any um extra conditions on it. Thank you, Attorney M. Attorney Molina and colleagues. To Councilwoman Ivy's point, we have an amendment that changes the address or that corrects the address from 3930 to 3980. Is that the correct address? Uh yes. Yes, that is the in the amendment. So at this time, I'll enter And a motion to amend by substitution CPO 2025-34. So move. It's been moved and seconded. And second. Roll call on the amendment. Councilwoman Brown. Councilwoman Call. Yes. Councilman Hallebert. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy. Yes. Councilman Toiver. Yes. Councilman Washington. Yes. Councilman Wington. Yes. Councilman Williams. Yes. And President Lee. Yes. and present vote is 9 to with a vote of 9 to zero CPO 2025-34 has been amended by substitution at this time colleagues any questions or discussion on CPO 202534 seeing none Councilwoman Brown yes Councilwoman

Cwell yes Councilman Hallebert yes Councilwoman Ivy yes Councilman Toiver yes Council Washington. Yes. Council Wington. Yes. Councilman Williams. Yes. And President, yes. Madam President, vote 9 to with a vote of 9 to 0. CPO 2025-34 passes in this order. CPO 2025-38, an ordinance reviewing a special use permit for property located at 4900 West 5th Avenue, Giana to be used as a auto dealership by petitioner Ammani Musla Musla, sponsored by the Arizona Department petitioner Amani Musla 4900 West. Colleagues, at this time I entertain a motion for passage of CPO 2025-38. So moved by second. It's been moved and second. Attorney Molina for the overview. Uh as part of the overview, I'm going to steal a second here since everyone's talking about Dr. Smith. Uh 31 years ago, I had an internship at the House of Representatives between college and law school. Uh and I got to see uh Dr. Smith in action. And I came away with two things. I knew that Gary was very well represented in the state and I knew that Dr. Smith was the best dresser. Um, and I will say my my two my two best dates uh that I was down there are the one day when I won the outstanding intern award uh for the session, but the second was when Dr. Smith told me he liked my tie one day. Sorry to steal that from uh that's how I know he has purple ties cuz he has fantastic tie collection. I remember uh okay so 4900 West 5th Avenue uh is same same situation essentially zone B31 um it is a auto dealership uh that is trying to come into compliance

and get the special use that was needed. uh same same set of uh facts on May 8th uh 2005 2025 uh came before the BCA received a 4 to zero favorable recommendation um same factors the same seven factors were reviewed um and the administration supports u this u uh granting a special use permit and if there's any specific questions certainly happy to address those but essentially it's the same same set of circumstances um colleagues I believe this one also has an amend Amendment. So, at this time, we'll need to amend by substitution CBO 2025-8. It's been moved and second. Roll call on the amendment. Madam cler. Councilwoman Brown. Yes. Councilwoman Cwell, yes. Councilman Hallebert, yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toiver, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Councilman Wington, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. and President. Yes, Madam President. The vote is 9 to The vote is 9 to zero. CPO 2025-38. Um, attorney Melina, for the public, can you describe the amendment? Uh, yes. The amendment was just uh correcting the uh correct um uh section in the uh zoning uh code. So, in the second where is paragraph, it's section 123-194. that that is what we're amending uh or that is where the special use is being granted out of that which corresponds to the B31 zoning district. Also, there was a typo uh in the after the now therefore be an ordained section one um it says at the end of that by establishing a special use permit for the use of an auto dealership facility for the property described at 49 West uh 5th Avenue. Uh there was a typo in the previous version. Uh so that is correct. Thank you, Attorney. Colleagues, any

questions? Um discussion. Councilman Wington. Thank you very much. You referenced to the same as the last one. Uh this one they do custom work. Correct. Anybody work as well besides auto? Uh it's just for automobiles. The name of the business is Lucive Customs and Motor. the only thing we might lead them to both of them to put new signs up. That's he's waiting. So, I will say at the committee meeting there were some issues with the appearance of the lot. I'm not sure if the petitioner is prepared to address. Uh sure. Uh Mr. I do know that there was extensive cleanup that uh Oh, you can certainly no clean up, but what is the size? Look, that's all I was asking. Sure. And can you be clear about what you plan to do? Uh it's it's going to be auto sale. We going to do some more for part not for uh not for people outside. We're going to work on for our part. But part is the sign. We we working on the sign like because it's been taken for a while. So we put it for hold until we get the approval from the zoning and everything to deal here or to deal. That's all. Yeah. No, I was just confused by the sign because the science sales are custom work. Yeah. Yeah. No, no, no. None of that customer. Yes. Sounds good.

Councilman Tiver. Yes. Do we have any update pictures? I know they brought some snow glasses to the committee meeting. I don't know if they were still some things in question from last time. I believe they did uh clean up at right before the development and planning committee meeting and uh those were distributed during that that meeting and believe the discussion was favorable as far as their effort that was made. Councilwoman Barnes Cwell, speak to the mic, please, and turn it on. Can you hear me? Okay. Uh last week at the community at the committee meeting, um his his dealership was uh up to par. It was the other one and they brought in pictures today. They had a hard cop back from Council Wington. Any any other colleagues? I'll just say it as a message to um Mr. Smith as well as Mr. Musla. Keep these places clean. It's a new day in our city. If it's an auto dealership, it needs to look like an auto dealership, not a junkyard. We don't want any special uses that will be injurous to the use and enjoyment of other properties in the immediate vicinity. So, if I'm standing across the street looking at your property, I want to be able to enjoy my view. So, just keep that in mind. and to any other petitioners as we move forward. Our council members are driving around looking at your progress. So, keep them clean.

Thank you. Councilman Tolliver, I take it personally with the Fifth Avenue area, especially with the car lots because I have to drive past them every single day. And I understand that we might be up to compliance now, but we also know within probably about a month or two it's not going to be in compliance. And then I also have a problem with young with youth that are graduating high school. And I want these car lots to be in the best practice. I don't want you taking advantage of the kids because they might not have reliable transportation and they come get a car from you all. They're spending $20,000. Okay? And then you look up and the car breaks down, you still got to pay for the vehicle. You see what I'm saying? So I wanted to make sure that we're doing the best by our people and our youth and people that are buying these vehicles because everybody knows, let's be real, have a real realization about the situation. When you're driving by Fifth Avenue, nobody wants to buy a car from that. I'm just being honest with you. I just bought a brand new vehicle. I'm not going to Fifth Avenue to go buy a car. And when we look at these car lots, there there is it's weeds everywhere. There's RVs on the side. There's tires on the side. Let's Let's be real. And I I want to know that when you go and you get these car lots, are you really trying to sell these cars? It's going to It's going to be totally different than than the other deal. I'm sorry. It's going to be totally different than the other dealers you you seen in Fifth Avenue right now. Yeah. Because what we work with, we work with late models and all the cars is going to be with like how do you say like models like five six years old the most not older than now and it's going to be all the cars coming with warranties that the good shape cars none of cars because I built a business for my business too. I'm going to build a business to succeed for a future. I'm not going to be there for one year, then after that be somewhere else. I'm looking for something for a future. Other than that, I wouldn't be just going to do all this just to open up for a year or build a bad relationship with people because it's like any business you open.

When you open a business, if you open up the bad relationship is going to stay a bad relationship. So, it's going to be after we open up, you will see different. Thank you, Councilman Oliver. Thank you, Mr. Musla. And again, not to single you out, Mr. M, Mr. Smith, hold on to your ordinance. Number three is orderly development and improvement of surrounding property for us is permitted in the district. So, we want to make sure when we drive by, what is it? 3930 West 5th and 4900 West F that we want to move. We want businesses that want to move next to your place because they look so good. Thank you. If no other colleagues, oh, Councilman Washington, thank you, Madam President. So, let me say this. Um, and I want to make sure that we don't step out of our bounds as legislators. Um, I know that the administration is, um, working, and I talked to attorney Molina and Cory Sharp about this, is working on an ordinance regarding spec specifications for car lots. Now, when it comes to what type of financing and deals, that's a little bit out of our purview. Um, if that's something that we want to get into, that's getting into an individual company's business plan. One thing, Madam President, I did share with attorney Molina and Miss Sharp. See, this this genesis starts with the planning commission and with the zoning commission because a lot of the things that attorney Molina is saying, we should not as a council need to spend time adding additions and things like that. Those things should be handled at the level of the planning commission or the zoning. So by the time it comes to

us um lots should be clean. Um signs that have no relevance to the ordinance should be gone. Um so when it comes to us I just feel this year that the council has had to do a little bit too much work. Give our attorney a little bit too much work which things should probably have already been kind of done by the time it comes to this body. And so I'm hoping in the future that you would share, and I know you will, the latitude that the zoning commission has to request that certain things happen um before it comes to us. Because one thing I don't like, I don't like the council looking like the bad guy when it comes to things that could have been handled before it came to us. So when a car lot comes to us, when someone drives around, it should be spanking clean. It should the sign should be at that point. But that we have layers and that kind of stuff should be taken care of. And again, I'm hoping that we can get Toyota or somebody else to come in and provide that. um how we dwell into the business practices of, you know, people buying cars. You know, as consumers, we got to put stuff out to make sure that we ask certain questions, do certain things because it's their business plan. But when it comes to how it looks, um the council shouldn't have to put this much work in um to deal with these ordinances. So, I'm hoping that the level before it gets to us that you would express that latitude that those commissions actually do have to put stipulations on the ordinance before it comes to us. Thank you, madam. Thank you, Councilman Washington.

Oh, I agree with Council Washington. I I I I agree. I mean, we give we we pass these ordinances for these car lots and you drive past them and they look like they look like a junkyard. So many of them just look like junkyards. And so I agree with Councilman Washington 100%. We need to be certain that these things are done before we before we pass the ordinance. That's all. Have a problem with all these junky, you know, drunky car lots. I mean, they just they look junky. Got enough of them. Too many of them. Thank you, Councilman Brown. Madam Chair, Councilman Washington. Even if we the administration finds something after it passes on it, put it put it on paper and just bring it to us and say, "Hey, this got passed on. It got past panning." But we believe as an administration, these certain things should be added on to that. And we having a problem with that. I just think it's unfair for us to have to tell you all when we see certain things because we're dropping all let's add this and let's add that. be very liberal when it comes to ensuring that the properties that people are investing in and they come to us that they every te is crossed and every eyes dotted so we can just move smoothly and you know redevelop this community. So I don't have a problem if you buy cars from an auction or if you're a Toyota. The presentation is what many of us are concerned about. It's the presentation because some car lots give you a better deal if you go to a franchise, but a lot of times people

don't think that because of the presentation that that is. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Washington. And to your point, while um it may not be fair or right or easy for us to do the work, we will do the work, right? This is a a body of council people who will do the work and we will make it as uncomfortable for you to do the wrong thing in our city as many other surrounding communities do. It is uncomfortable when certain businesses are in some of our surrounding committees and we are 100% committed to making sure that happens. So, we want to make sure a year from now when this is revisited, 6 months from now, whenever it's revisited, that you're keeping your place clean, that we see improvements on your site. Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Attorney Molina. We have roll call at this time. Madam clw. Yes. Councilwoman Ivy, yes. Councilman Toiver, yes. Councilman Washington, yes. Councilman Lon, yes. Councilman Williams, yes. And President, yes. Madam President, the vote is 9 to With the vote of 9 to zero, CPO 2025-38 has passed and is so ordered. Madam President, the resolution is Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, we'll entertain any reports or questions of city officials. Seeing none at this time, I'll entertain a motion for adjournment.