This meeting was more than interesting.   The county GOP chairman’s contempt for residents concerns with safety on a road was “unexpected.” This post at Brown County Matters

Audio of the meeting: https://independentvotersofbrowncountyin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/audio-commissioner-meeting-dec-6-2023.mp3  

• • Excerpt – 7 minutes Audio https://independentvotersofbrowncountyin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/excerpt-audio-commissioner-meeting-dec-6-2023_08-12-23_07-55-13-505.mp3
    • Commissioner Pittma “assumed” that Sherrie would be discussing a different ordinance so he was prepared (scripted?) to shut her down and have her removed. Sherrie was going to discuss another ordinance (building permits for small structures) and prefaced her comments with big govt/small govt policies. Included in the cast of the show was our local GoP – Mark Bowman (GoP Chair) and Clint Studabaker (BCRSD VP – we will get rid of your septic system and you will like it) were in the front row. Robyn Bowman (4th commissioner?) usually sits in the back row with her supporters. Conflicts between Sherrie and the Bowmans are legendary. Ron Sanders was the adult in the room – and tried to keep things rational.
    • Govt Meeting Policy:  Commissioner Pittman was correct in that the commissioners do not have to let anyone comment. They can choose to allow a citizen to ask questions, be placed on the agenda, and they can limit time. – Options that the local GoP via the commissioners, tried to institute last fall. I challenged the policy when they were discussing funding for the BCRSD and would have welcomed being escorted from the room. Jerry allowed me to speak and they abandoned the formal policy. Jerry has invited anyone with a question to ask it – raise your hand, be acknowledged, go to the podium, state your name, and ask away. And, you can also ask to be placed on the agenda – sometimes at the last minute depending on the issue. This meeting was an “outlier.”

Agenda Comm Mtg Dec 6, 2023

• First Amendment Rights – ACLU?  Audio: 57:58 and 1:22.  A county citizen(Sherrie Mitchell) asked to be on the agenda to discuss an ordinance-related issue.  She wanted to make the case that the county square foot requirement  (per an existing ordinance) for requiring a building permit for a new structure be increased.  Commissioner Pittman assumed she wanted to discuss a different ordinance.  He directed the Sheriff to remove her from the meeting.  Following the meeting, Mrs. Mitchell filed a complaint with the ACLU alleging a violation of her First Amendment rights.
• County GOP Chairman contempt for a resident.  Audio 1:05.  A resident on Cottonwood Road shared her experience,  frustration, and requests in trying to resolve safety issues with the road and submitted a petition from the other residents asking for a range of improvements that include gravel, ditching, a guardrail, and paving.   I was not the only one that heard the Chairman of the local GOP, Mark Bowman, refer to her as a “bitch.”   (Note: The highway superintendent is Mike Magnor who is also a GOP precinct chair.)
  • Cottonwood Rd Gravel Road Policy – Safety, Maintenance, Costs
    • This post at Brown County Matters
• Indiana Hill Railroad Crossing. Audio: 46:25. and 1:26.  Scott Rudd provided an update.  The target date for re-opening is May 1, 2023. Commissioners Pittman and Wolpert were not aware that INDOT reportedly has the money needed to make the necessary changes.   My comments on the funding issue were provided at the end of the meeting.  It was thought that grants or other fundraising efforts would be needed.  Background Info on the Indian Hill RR Crossing
• Commissioner Staffing -Re-Org.  Audio 14:31 Commissioner Pittman and Wolpert want to defund the HR director position that the council and commissioners approved last fall.  They signed an undated memo to this effect and distributed it to council members.  However, there was not  a vote on this decision at a commissioner meeting.  The rather absurd justification for the defunding is that the HR director has no direct reports.   Commissioner Sanders contacted the county consultants to confirm that the requirement for direct reports was bogus.
  • Email: Commissioner Sanders — HR Director-Direct reports not needed

Background on Staffing Issues. Last fall, the commissioners, council, and auditor decided that a full-time commissioner assistant (a position held by Melissa Stinson) was not needed. They determined that the position should be replaced with a full-time HR Director. They also decided to fund a part-time commissioner receptionist/clerical position.

Last fall, Melissa Stinson accepted a new and higher-paying position with Monroe County. This year, she decided to return to the county as a contractor supporting the development of the commissioner’s budget.  Commissioner Pittman and Wolpert agreed to create a new full-time commissioner assistant position and to de-fund the part-time position. Melissa was selected for the position.

Commissioner Pittman and Wolpert then decided to defund the HR Director Position and modify the position description for Melisss Stinson (commissioner assistant) and add another full-time position for the commissioner’s office to assist Melissa. At today’s meeting, they just introduced the new position description for the additional position that included references to the requirements to coordinate with the HR Director.  Appears Commissioner Sanders was the only commissioner who actually read the position description and asked questions.  The decision to approve the position was postponed pending clarification of the position requirements.

Does it get any more “interesting”?  We’ll see. The county council has to approve funding for the staffing-related changes. The council has a working session meeting scheduled for Dec 7, 2023, from 6:00-7:30. Their regular meeting is scheduled for Dec 18, 2023, starting at 6:30.

Justification?  Note that I have yet to see any documentation or credible analysis that justifies the elimination of the HR Director position and the addition of the two new positions for the commissioner’s office.

Contempt for Voters. In America, We the People are “top management.” Elected officials are “employees.”  In the case of “commissioner staffing”, we have “employees” who want to spend more money and refuse to make the case to top management that the changes and additional funding are needed.  Why do Brown County voters tolerate this behavior?