Brownsburg tables COLA decision for water and sewer fees; council directs staff analysis and fills commission seats

The Town of Brownsburg Town Council on July 24 voted to table Item 11.1, consideration of annual cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) rates for water and sewer fees, and directed town staff to prepare an ordinance analysis and market-data review, with a target completion date of Oct. 1.

Councilor Ben Lacy moved to table the item and asked staff to pull market data and analyze the ordinance language; the motion was seconded and the council approved the tabling by voice vote. Council members said budget season and the need for a careful review justified the delay so the council can make an informed decision.

Members of the public who addressed 11.1 during the agenda-related comment period thanked the council for pausing the increase and asked for clearer justification in the packet. Resident Rob Bridal of 624 South Grant said he drove to the meeting to express appreciation. “The easy thing to do is just raise the rates, just make people pay more. It’s very rare that government is looking out for the people and I appreciate you guys putting all the effort into it no matter what the dollar amount is,” Bridal said.

Another speaker, David Wyant (PO Box 513), asked for greater detail and justification for tabling and for clearer information on Item 11.3, council appointments. He urged that, if a vacancy were to be filled by a citizen in the future, the council select someone with the time and talent to serve.

Town Manager Deb Cook explained that one agenda appointment (an APC vacancy) was a council appointment and not a citizen appointment; she also announced that Steve Fletcher had resigned from the Advisory Plan Commission because he accepted the town development director position. Cook said Fletcher has about 25 years of related experience.

Following nominations, the council appointed Matt Simpson to the Advisory Plan Commission. President Travis Duchaine nominated Simpson; another councilor seconded the nomination and the council approved it. Simpson said he will resign from the police commission after taking the APC role. The council then filled the resulting police-commission vacancy by appointing Ben Lacy; President Duchaine nominated Lacy and the council approved the nomination by voice vote.

Deb Cook and council members noted both new appointments are to fill seats only through the end of the calendar year; Cook said the slots expire at year-end. No contested or citizen appointments were made during the meeting.

The council recorded no fiscal estimates for the proposed COLA change that night; the tabling motion included direction for staff to return with ordinance analysis and market comparisons by Oct. 1 so the council can consider the item before finalizing the budget.