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Bilgry presses board on Jeff Howe contract; reporter asks how much taxpayers are paying
Summary
At the July 8 Muncie City Board of Public Works meeting, board participant Bilgry said the board had not publicly voted on a professional-services contract and earlier addenda for Jeff Howe and urged oversight; reporter Rick Yenser asked how much Howe is paid. The board directed procedural questions to the mayor's office.
A board participant identified by the chair as Bilgry told the Muncie City Board of Public Works and Safety on July 8 that the board had not publicly approved an initial professional-services contract nor earlier addenda for Jeff Howe, who Bilgry described as the MRC director, recently appointed deputy mayor and the city's acting mayor.
Bilgry alleged the first professional-services contract was signed on Feb. 15, 2024, and that a second addendum was signed in December 2024, and said a third addendum was the item the board had considered at last week's meeting. "To my knowledge ... you guys have not been brought that in a public meeting," Bilgry said, later adding, "That's 5 weeks that this employee was paid." He urged the board to act as a check on the mayor and reminded attendees that a years-long FBI investigation began in a prior term over actions taken or not taken by the board.
The comments prompted a question from reporter Rick Yenser, who asked, "How much is Jeff Howe being paid from taxpayers?" Yenser noted the pay amount did not appear in the claims packet and said the public has a right to know. President Ted Baker responded that claims come through the Board's register weekly but that the Board does not handle payroll and suggested the reporter seek that information from the mayor's office.
Bilgry also said the Muncie City Council announced it would begin an investigation into the matter at a Monday meeting. The board did not provide a new public accounting of pay or contract details during the July 8 meeting; members directed those seeking documentation to follow standard records or mayoral channels. The council's stated intent to investigate was raised during public comment but no formal board motion or vote on the contracts was recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: the city council said it would pursue an investigation, and reporters and members of the public were directed to the mayor's office and existing records for specific contract and payroll details.
