WARSAW — The beginning of some year-end business took place Monday evening, Dec. 7, at the Warsaw Common Council meeting, with council appointments to various boards and commissions. Additional appointments, made by the mayor, will be announced at the Dec. 21 meeting.

“You have six appointments to make,” Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer told council members. He stated the appointments are statutorily prescribed, except the position on the Warsaw Community Development Corporation, which is according to its bylaws. He noted there has been a change in the number of plan commission members, based on state statute. The board has been increased from seven members to nine members. Thallemer explained this is due to the city having a full time paid city engineer and a park board.

He stated each board member will serve four years, with the board made up of five citizens and four appointees. The appointees will consist of one from the board of works, who appointed Jeff Grose; James Emans, city engineer; an appointee from the park board which will be made Dec. 15; and one member from the common council. Council members unanimously voted Diane Quance to serve.

The remaining five citizen members, which is to be politically balanced and appointed by the mayor, will be announced at the Dec. 21 common council meeting. Two of the appointees will serve four years, two will serve three years and one will serve two years based on the state statute.

Two appointments to the redevelopment commission were made by the council for one-year terms. Mike Klondaris and Rick Snodgrass were voted into those positions. Snodgrass has previously served on the commission. The mayor will be appointing three other individuals.

Dan Smith was unanimously appointed to the board of zoning appeals to fulfill the remaining one year of Jack Wilhite’s term. Wilhite will begin his term on the common council on Jan. 1. An elected official cannot serve on the BZA.

Dan Robinson and Cindy Dobbins were reappointed to serve on the economic development commission and Warsaw Community Development Corporation, respectively.

Funds Transferred

Two ordinances to transfer funds for the police department and fire territory, to meet shortfalls in funds within those departments, were approved.

Scott Whitaker, police chief, requested $14,500 be transferred into salaries due to a 2015 budget oversight. This will allow the department to replenish funds needed for payroll for the remainder of the year. Additionally $2,500 was requested transferred into machinery and equipment. These funds will replenish needed equipment funds.

Whitaker stated there was more officer overtime than anticipated when the budget was set. He will be working to bring overtime down the remainder of the year, so as not to carry hours over into next year.

Mike Wilson, fire territory chief, requested the transfer of $35,000 from three funds to handle salaries due to the change in personnel and the addition of the new fire chief. He noted the salaries and overtime will will be close to the dollar amount being transferred with a “little cushion” just in case.

It was noted the city is still awaiting its 1782 notice from the state’s department of local government finance regarding potential necessary budget cuts. It was noted a special meeting may need to be called if the deadline for cuts falls before the next meeting.