Chesterton Tribune

New 'advanced' curfew to take effect in Chesterton

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By KEVIN NEVERS

The Town of Chesterton has a new--and somewhat more restrictive--curfew ordinance.

At its meeting Monday night, the Town Council voted 5-0 to approve on first reading an ordinance which advances curfew time by one hour, 5-0 to suspend the rules, then 5-0 to approve that ordinance on final reading.

Under that ordinance--endorsed unanimously by the Police Commission--children 15 to 16 with no statutory “defense,” like lawful employment, must be off the streets by 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and by 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Children younger than 15 must be off the streets by 10 p.m. every night of the week.

Under the old ordinance, the curfew for children 15 to 16 was 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; for children younger than 15, 11 p.m. every night of the week.

The Hot Dog Lady

In other business, members voted 5-0 to instruct Town Attorney Chuck Lukmann to revise the contract under which the hot dog lady, Rhesa Magnabosco, operates her cart in the Downtown. Under the current terms of that contract, Magnabosco is permitted to sell her dogs only in the parking lot of the Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce at 220 Broadway.

But Magnabosco has for some time been plying her trade at the northwest corner of Broadway and South Calumet Road, in Thomas Centennial Park. Building Commissioner Mike Orlich, however, informed her that this particular location impedes access to the ADA ramp at the corner and obstructs motorists lines of sight.

The council instructed Lukmann to revise the contract to permit Magnabosco to sell dogs in Thomas Centennial Park provided that she moves her cart further into the park and away from the intersection. Magnabosco noted that she moved her cart after some of her regular customers told her that the site in the park would be far more convenient to them.

Members also voted 5-0 to instruct Lukmann to revise the contract, if necessary, to permit Magnabosco to operate her cart Monday through Saturday. Originally, she had only been selling dogs on Wednesday.

CEDIT Request

Meanwhile, members voted 4-0--with Member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd, a serving member of the Chesterton Police Department abstaing--to authorize an expenditure of $2,588.36 in CEDIT moneys to purchase some gear for the CPD: five replacement LCD monitors for the radio room, two notebook computers for the Investigations Division, and 12 used digital cameras refurbished by Kodak for the Patrol Division.

Police Chief George Nelson made the request and noted that thr CEDIT budget provides for two separate earmarks of $10,000 each for the purchase of officer equipment and computer upgrades.

Salary Amendment

Members also voted 5-0 to approve on first reading an amendment to the 2009 Salary Ordinance, 5-0 to suspend the rules, then 5-0 to approve that amendment on final reading.

That amendment does two things. First, it creates three tiers in the currently singled-tiered position of Administrative Assistant for the Street Department, with wages set at $13.84 for the first tier, $14.60 for the second, and $15.70 for the third.

Second, it creates two positions for summer interns--one to be tasked to Town Manager Bernie Doyle, the second to the Stormwater Utility, both for work on municipal website design--at $10 per hour.

Insurance Payment

Finally, members voted 5-0 to appropriate an insurance payment of $1,204.52 to the General Fund, Police Miscellaneous Repair.

 

 

Posted 5/27/2009

 

 

 

 

 

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