Hammond board approves promotion, event permit and several traffic/right-of-way items
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Summary
The board approved promotion of Captain/Inspector Brian Williams to battalion chief, granted a New Year's Eve street closure for the Knights of Columbus, referred a traffic-camera request to police, and approved multiple right-of-way and flagger-protected work permits.
At its Nov. 20 meeting, the Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety approved several personnel and permitting items.
Correspondence from Fire Chief Bernard Gazzolia recommended promoting Captain/Inspector Brian Williams to battalion chief (inspector), effective Nov. 20, 2025. The board moved to approve the promotion, and the motion carried.
The board also approved a temporary street closure requested by the Knights of Columbus for its New Year's Eve event (Dec. 31, 2025, 10:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m.) and the associated request for barricades; Public Works will follow up on operational details.
A resident, Ellen Proctor, requested traffic cameras at River Drive and Calumet Avenue to record red-light running. Staff advised that video-only evidence cannot currently be used to issue citations and recommended that the request be referred to the Hammond Police Department for possible surveillance; the board voted to forward the request to PD for follow-up.
Engineering and contractors presented right-of-way and permit items including temporary closure and two-way conversion of Doty Street for sewer work and NIPSCO pole replacements citywide; motions to approve those permits and the flagger-protected work were adopted.
All motions described above were moved, seconded and approved on voice votes. Public-safety and traffic enforcement follow-up will proceed through the police and public works departments.