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Portland council discusses code-enforcement zones, trash fees and schedules executive session
Summary
Council members discussed assigning code-enforcement zones to officers, the start timeline of a Ritter Strategic study, compensation concerns for code enforcement work, trash ordinance updates before resuming large-item pickup fees, and scheduled an executive session April 13 to interview a potential council attorney.
Council members used the April 6 meeting to raise operational items including proposed changes to code enforcement, personnel and trash collection policy.
Council member Ashley Hilfiker suggested assigning each police officer a specific zone for code enforcement during 12-hour shifts as a cost-saving approach to increase coverage. Hilfiker also asked about the timeline for a study by Ritter Strategic, LLC; Clerk-Treasurer Lori Phillips said the agreement lists a target completion date around Aug. 17, and the mayor said he agreed to the study. During that exchange Hilfiker said the mayor agreed to the study in part to “save face” with the city, a characterization recorded in the minutes.
Council member Mike Aker asked whether the Code Officer position had been advertised; Mayor Westlake said it had not and noted the police chief hired Dylan Limbert as the new Code Officer. Council member Ron May questioned how code-enforcement pay is being calculated; Clerk Phillips said the payroll ordinance lists part-time code enforcement pay up to $16 per hour, but with the newly hired officer’s full-time wages and overtime factored in, the effective hourly rate for code-enforcement duties will be near $31 per hour. The mayor said he would consult an FLSA representative to confirm wage calculations.
Members also discussed the “path to nowhere” on Blaine Pike and whether the city should resume charging residents for large-item trash pickup; the mayor said the trash ordinance must be updated before reintroducing charges and that the Blaine Pike project is closed with INDOT, though modifications remain possible. Council member Kent McClung requested an executive session be scheduled to interview a potential city attorney; an executive session was set for April 13 at 6:00 p.m.
The items recorded on April 6 generated several follow-up tasks for staff, including confirming the Ritter Strategic study start date, reviewing code-enforcement pay calculations and updating the trash ordinance for future council consideration.
