Maryville council approves fee changes, budget moves, fund reorganizations and an attorney appointment

The Maryville Town Council adopted several ordinances, budget appropriations and housekeeping measures at its March 25 meeting, and appointed outside counsel for the town’s police commission.

Among the measures the council approved on voice or roll-call votes were adjustments to building and planning fees (Ordinance 25-06), an amendment to allow advance payment for certain recreation/vendor payments (Ordinance 25-07), and several supplemental appropriations including Ordinance 25-08 (a $122,000.754 additional appropriation for the general fund) and Ordinance 25-05 (a $193,591 appropriation to pay a previously incurred obligation). Council also passed ordinances to reestablish separate federal and local forfeiture/seized asset funds (Ordinance 25-09) and to amend the town’s rainy day fund language to conform with Indiana Code 36-1-8-5.1 (Ordinance 25-10). All of those items passed with recorded votes showing unanimous support among members present (seven in favor where roll call was recorded).

Town Manager Sean Griffin explained the timeline for the $122,000 appropriation, saying the council’s adoption would “allow this money in place and reported so that there will be continuity of operations regardless again of the outcome of your vote on the other ordinance.” The council voted to suspend the rules to adopt Ordinance 25-08 on second reading the same evening.

Council also approved Resolution 25-17 directing the town manager to submit a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for fiscal 2025 and recorded an appointment of Murphy Law Firm to represent the Metropolitan Board of Police Commissioners at a proposed rate of $200 per hour for legal services. The council’s staff recommended that the town’s approximate CDBG allocation of $151,150 be used to remove neglected homes under the town’s unsafe building removal process; that recommendation was stated on the record during discussion of Resolution 25-17.

A motion to defer the Board of Zoning Appeals items for DVG Team and 3 Brothers Investment (both special-exception car-wash petitions) passed by voice vote; Councilor Hardaway stated she would abstain from one of the deferral votes because of a fiduciary interest. The council deferred Ordinance 25-11, which would have converted the town clerk-treasurer office into a separate town controller, by unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance: - Appointment: Murphy Law Firm to represent the Metropolitan Board of Police Commissioners — motion by Councilor Uslak; second by Councilor Neal; outcome: approved (voice vote); hourly rate proposed: $200/hr. - Ordinance 25-06 (fees and charges for planning/building) — roll call: 7 in favor; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25-07 (advance payments for recreation/event vendors) — roll call: 7 in favor; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25-08 (additional appropriation, General Fund, $122,000.754) — suspended rules and adopted on second reading same evening; roll call: 7 in favor; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25-09 (reestablish federal and local forfeiture funds) — roll call: 7 in favor; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25-10 (rainy day fund language update per Indiana Code 36-1-8-5.1) — roll call: 7 in favor; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25-05 (additional appropriations, $193,591) — roll call: 7 in favor; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-17 (CDBG application; recommended use: unsafe building removal / demolition) — voice vote: approved. - Ordinance 25-11 (convert clerk-treasurer to controller) — motion to defer; outcome: deferred. - BZA petitioner deferrals (DVG Team and 3 Brothers Investment) — deferred; note: Councilor Hardaway stated a fiduciary conflict and will abstain when those items come to a vote.

Council members and staff said they will bring additional details and documentation to future meetings where specific implementation, appropriations, or procurement steps are required.