Merrillville clerk-treasurer casts ordered tie-breaking vote to advance town-court ordinance on first reading

The Merrillville Town Council on March 11 recorded a clerk-treasurer tie-breaking vote and adopted ordinance 24-17 on first reading, a procedural step toward reestablishing the town court after a February 27 court order from the Lake County Superior Court.

Town Attorney Hall read a statement into the record describing the court order and its effect on the ordinance process, saying the trial court had reversed a prior order and directed the council to have the clerk-treasurer cast a tie-breaking vote on the first reading of the ordinance. Hall said the original council vote had been three yes, three no and one abstention and that under Indiana law and Roberts Rules a majority of elected members present is required; the clerk-treasurer's role in casting a tie-breaking vote was identified in the court's directive.

The nut graf: The vote was largely procedural and taken under the direct instruction of a trial court; the council did not open this first-reading item to public comment because the attorney advised it was a first reading as required by municipal procedure after the court’s order.

Clerk-Treasurer Eric January read the prior voting record from May 14, 2024, and then cast the court-ordered vote. January read the earlier votes as recorded: Vice President Neal had abstained; Councilwoman Haines Edwards, Councilwoman Chandler Felton, and Councilwoman Euslec had voted yes; Councilor Pettit, Councilwoman Hardaway and President Bella voted no. After reading those earlier votes, January cast his vote in favor, and the town attorney announced that ordinance 24-17 was adopted on first reading.

Ending: The council scheduled no public comment for this first reading; the item will remain on a subsequent agenda as required for final adoption under municipal ordinance-reading rules.