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Residents urge improved FOIA compliance, clearer streetlight process and greater engagement during public comment
Summary
Public commenters raised concerns about the town's Freedom of Information compliance, ADA access to documents, streetlight-request coordination with the utility and called for greater resident inclusion on committees.
During public comment at the Jan. 28 council meeting, several residents raised procedural and access concerns for town government.
Bridal Messart said the Redevelopment Commission and town council needed to comply with Indiana's open-door laws and the Freedom of Information Act, and said she intends to file complaints with the state because she believes multiple public-record requests were mishandled. Messart also asked for documents to be provided in ADA-compliant formats without repeated requests.
Resident Paul Payan described an ongoing problem over streetlight requests and said he had traced the issue to inconsistent communications between NIPSCO and town staff. "NIPSCO said all you gotta do is put a request in online on their web page," Payan said, adding that he had received conflicting information from the utility and town staff about pole supply and who placed orders.
Macy O'Raney, speaking for a group of homeowners along the 70 Third and Wickham corridor, praised Clerk Treasurer Eric January for outreach and transparency but urged continued engagement with residents on local projects.
Samuel Payan urged elected officials to use official public email addresses when conducting town business, saying private accounts can impede records requests.
Speakers asked the council to improve communication, publish ADA-compliant materials proactively and confirm processes with external partners such as the electric utility so residents do not have to escalate issues repeatedly.
