Homeplace Advisory Board ratifies leaders, requests accounting and moves meetings to 6 p.m.

At its February 2025 meeting the Homeplace Advisory Board unanimously ratified leadership and took several administrative steps, including a request for an updated accounting of funds associated with the Homeplace annexation.

Jeff Moorerer, secretary of the Homeplace Advisory Board, moved to ratify Greg Lentz as chairman and Moorerer as board secretary. Paul Hensel, Clay Township trustee, seconded the motion; the board voted unanimous aye.

The board then voted to ratify the descriptive text submitted to the city for the board’s web page — a summary of initiatives, goals and past accomplishments that the board had prepared for publication. Moorerer moved to ratify the text; the motion passed unanimously.

During discussion, Moorerer and other board members noted the board was created by state statute as part of Carmel’s annexation of Homeplace and said they have requested a formal accounting of funds accrued and spent under that statutory framework. Moorerer said he had asked Tony Green for guidance on the process and asked that an updated accounting be provided at least annually so the board and the public can see expenditures tied to Homeplace. A resident, Kathy Bolander, asked about the annexation date and whether a three-year spending window applied; Moorerer said the accounting and the question of what counts as eligible expenditures (maintenance versus capital) needed further review with legal counsel and the city.

The board also approved a scheduling change: a motion to move regular board meetings from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. carried unanimously after a motion by Tim Mayle and a second from Moorerer.

Formal motions recorded in the meeting minutes included:

- Ratification of Greg Lentz as Chairman and Jeff Moorerer as Secretary (motion moved by Jeff Moorerer; seconded by Paul Hensel; outcome: approved unanimously). - Ratification of the board description text for the city website (moved by Jeff Moorerer; seconded; outcome: approved unanimously). - Change of regular meeting start time to 6:00 p.m. (moved by Tim Mayle; seconded by Jeff Moorerer; outcome: approved unanimously).

Board members asked the city to provide a clear accounting of annexation-related funds and said they will follow up to determine which expenses are credited to the Homeplace account. Moorerer said meeting recordings are available on the city’s YouTube channel and that he takes notes for the board; the board agreed to continue pursuing a formal written accounting and clarification about what constitutes eligible expenditures under the annexation statute.