By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

BURKET – Burket Town Council had to take another vote for its new clerk-treasurer during its regular monthly meeting Thursday, June 8, after the first one was done during an executive session.

During May’s meeting, the council heard from two people — Katina Webb and Nicole Lowe — interested in taking over the position after Janet Rayburn said she was looking to get out of the position. She said she’d stay on until a new clerk-treasurer was found. During that meeting, the council decided to table the decision so council members could think on who to appoint.

The council held an executive session May 11, where the council discussed who they wanted to appoint to the position. According to the meeting minutes, a vote was taken with two people voting for Webb and one against.

During Thursday’s meeting, Council President Bill Rayburn said Janet resigned effective May 31 with Webb filling the role effective June 1.

According to Indiana’s Open Door Law, when an agency holds an executive session, no votes on a motion, proposal, resolution or ordinance may take place. All votes must be in a public meeting. The state does not allow votes in executive sessions.

When it was brought up the council couldn’t vote during an executive session, the council — with councilwoman Cindy Warstler absent — voted on appointing Webb to the position again. Rayburn said he thought since signed paperwork had to be filed with the Kosciusko County Clerk’s Office, the council had gotten around the Open Door Law. He said paperwork will be refiled with the clerk’s office.

After the council voted again, Rayburn said Webb still needs to be set up in Gateway, but she had already been set up with some things like the town’s computer.

Later in the meeting, resident Vickie Scott asked about town officials using town equipment for personal use. She alleged there were town officials using town equipment for personal use, which she said was illegal.

Rayburn said town equipment hasn’t been used for personal use for as long as he’s been on the council.

Scott alleged town equipment was used to plow snow on various times, citing several houses where driveways were allegedly plowed by town equipment. Rayburn said some of the instances were done five or 10 years ago, so he cannot speak on that. However, he said the council will do better in the future. He said he will keep an eye on it.

Scott also asked why the town doesn’t have an attorney on retainer.

Rayburn said the town has Austin Rovenstine acting as its attorney as needed, when needed as the town decided to use him a la carte instead of put him on retainer. He said the town has used Rovenstine’s services a couple times this year, such as making sure the Community Crossings grant paperwork was correct.

Scott suggested keeping an attorney on retainer year-round could possibly help in things like enforcing ordinances.

Rayburn said the council is trying to use the town’s funds as best as they can. At the moment, he said, the council is trying to focus on paving the roads and getting the town cleaned up.

In other business, the council learned Rayburn hasn’t heard anything about a start time period for road work. He asked Street Superintendent James Marshall to get in touch with Phend & Brown about it.