Paoli Town Council approves redevelopment spending plan, handbook changes and opioid fund award to Safe Haven

The Paoli Town Council on Nov. 18 approved a series of administrative and operational items, including a $96,000 spending plan for the Redevelopment Commission and changes to the town's employee handbook, and authorized several equipment purchases and grant applications.

Council President Bobbie Bostock opened the regular session at 6:00 p.m. and the council approved minutes from its Nov. 4 meeting. Town Attorney Hunt Reynolds presented a Redevelopment Commission 2026 spending plan of $96,000, which the council approved in a 3-0 vote with President Bostock abstaining.

The council adopted Ordinance 2505-11 amending Employee Handbook Policy 305. The change removes a paragraph addressing floating holidays for police officers and adds clarified language about eligible law-enforcement officers. The amendment passed in a 3-0 vote with Councilwoman Donna Dillard recorded as abstaining.

Town Attorney Reynolds announced a public hearing on an unsafe premise at 215 Horton Avenue scheduled for the Dec. 2 council meeting. Reynolds also said he will contact a Paoli Schools representative after the water-tower final inspection to discuss installing antennae.

In utility business, Taylor Baker presented equipment quotes in the absence of Utility General Foreman Mike Compton. The council approved a Diamond Equipment backhoe-hammer quote of $12,990.00 to be paid from the town's three utility funds and approved a rebuilt 25-horsepower WEG mixer motor from National Water Services for $8,718.33, both pending warranty confirmation. Baker also summarized an IMPA power-rate study projecting a 2.82% increase and a 2026 power cost of about $93,270.00, and introduced demand-metering as a possible next-year project.

Code Enforcement Administrator Benji Farris reported three building permits and raised complaints about residents blowing leaves into streets. Farris recommended amending Ordinance 96-14 to include all vegetation so leaf blowing and similar activity fall under the town's public nuisance rules; the council approved that amendment 4-0.

Police Chief Randy Sanders presented an Axon body-camera quote of $24,482.88. The vendor will honor the expired quote through the end of the month; the purchase would be financed over five years with an initial December payment of $4,896.56 charged to the unrestricted opioid fund. The council approved the purchase 4-0.

The council also authorized applying for a $15,000 Hoosier Uplands Public Safety Grant to equip patrol vehicles with 800 MHz Tait radios and approved applying for $6,500 from Orange County Families In Action to cover the K-9 unit's annual training and handler certifications; both grant-application motions passed 4-0.

Clerk-Treasurer Beth Jones presented routine financial items. The council approved a Toys for Tots parade/road-block permit for Nov. 29, 2025; a one-year anniversary pay increase for an employee (Kenneth Clyde Hunt) from $16.48 to $17.51 effective Nov. 19, 2025; an invoice from Cripe for $4,882.50; and several Commonwealth engineering invoices totaling multiple line items. A Commonwealth invoice of $4,951.90 for the Water Storage Rehab project was tabled pending paperwork and revisions. Utility billing adjustments for October totaling $2,071.54 were approved. The council approved claims totaling $1,270,078.02 for Nov. 5'Nov. 18 in a 3-0 vote with Councilwoman Donna Dillard recorded as voting no.

Under concerned citizens, Kelly Mullen, executive director of Safe Haven, presented the October director's report. The council voted 4-0 to award one-half of the restricted opioid funds, $8,328.00, to Safe Haven to support local services including Dakota's House and outreach programming.

Council President Bostock circulated a proposed 2026 Salary Ordinance for members' review ahead of the next meeting. Clerk Jones described proposed pay-scale changes and a clearer distinction in the deputy clerk pay scale; councilmembers discussed possible bonuses and noted uncertainty about the impact of Senate Bill 1 on town finances.

With no further business, the council adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve Nov. 4 executive-session memorandum: Passed 3-1 (Dillard no). - Approve Nov. 4 regular-session minutes: Passed 3-1 (Dillard no). - Release Barnes & Thornburg security-breach report when complete: Passed 4-0. - Approve Redevelopment Commission 2026 Spending Plan ($96,000.00): Passed 3-0 (Bostock abstain). - Adopt Ordinance 2505-11 (Employee Handbook Policy 305 amendment): Passed 3-0 (Dillard abstain). - Amend Ordinance 96-14 to include all vegetation (public nuisance): Passed 4-0. - Approve Diamond Equipment backhoe-hammer quote ($12,990.00): Passed 4-0 (pending warranty). - Approve rebuilt 25 hp WEG mixer motor ($8,718.33): Passed 4-0 (pending warranty). - Approve Axon body-camera purchase ($24,482.88): Passed 4-0. - Authorize application: Hoosier Uplands Public Safety Grant ($15,000): Passed 4-0. - Authorize application: Orange County Families In Action grant ($6,500): Passed 4-0. - Approve Toys for Tots parade permit (Nov. 29, 2025): Passed 4-0. - Approve employee one-year pay increase (Kenneth Clyde Hunt to $17.51): Passed 4-0. - Approve Cripe invoice ($4,882.50) and multiple Commonwealth invoices: Passed (votes recorded; Water Storage Rehab invoice tabled). - Approve utility billing adjustments (Oct.): $2,071.54, Passed 4-0. - Approve claims $1,270,078.02: Passed 3-0 (Dillard no). - Award restricted opioid funds to Safe Haven ($8,328.00): Passed 4-0.

What's next - Public hearing on 215 Horton Ave. unsafe premise set for Dec. 2, 2025. The proposed Salary Ordinance will be reviewed before being considered at an upcoming meeting. The Water Storage Rehab invoice was tabled pending additional paperwork.