The Syracuse Town Council held a special meeting Wednesday, Feb. 5. Attending were, clockwise, Councilman Tom Hoover, Town Manger Mike Noe, Council President Paul Stoelting, Councilman Larry Martindale, Councilman Bill Musser and Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker.

SYRACUSE  — The Syracuse Town Council held a special public meeting Wednesday, Feb. 5, to discuss an engagement agreement with Bose McKinney and Evans, also known as Bose Public Affairs.

The town intends to issue bonds to be secured from tax increment revenue resulting from an expansion of Polywood. Proceeds from the bonds will be used to fund road improvement and other projects.

Councilman Bill Musser asked about the TIF district, if Polywood is the only business in the district. Noe said there was more than just Polywood in the district.

The council made a motion to sign the agreement, the motion passed. In attendance along with Musser was Paul Stoeling, council president; and councilman Tom Hoover; Mike Noe, town manager and Paula Kehr-Wicker, clerk treasurer.

In other business, Noe told the council the contractor hired to do some renovations in town hall has installed automatic doors and is currently working on the restrooms to make them more handicapped accessible. The contractor has been asked to be paid $20,962.

The council approved the payment and approved Kehr-Wicker cutting the check for the $20,962 for the renovations before the council’s regular monthly meeting on Feb. 18.

Noe asked for two more days bereavement leave be allowed in the case of death of immediate family members. Currently town employees receive three days bereavement leave, Noe requested it be raised to five days. The council approved increasing the amount of bereavement leave from three to five days.

Noe brought up another employee issue, pay during holiday time. Currently employees, except police officers, who come in to work on a holiday are paid time and a half for the time they worked along with holiday pay.

Noe told the council he felt employees should be paid more in those situations. After some intense discussion the matter was tabled so Kehr-Wicker could do some research on how the town budget would be affected.

Musser asked if the survey on the dike in Wawasee Village had started. Noe said it was supposed to start within the next week or so.

Martindale said he emailed Bill Pipp of the dam committee regarding a phone interview with The Mail-Journal. This brought up a few concerns about the dam conservancy. Musser offered to call Pipp about those concerns.

Stoelting asked who from the town council was on the dam committee. Martindale and Musser both said they were.

Noe reported permits for the water control device are done and bid specs should be available for review next week. It’s hoped bids can be opened on March 10.