It was Porter Clerk-treasurer Carol Pomeroy’s tie-breaking vote Tuesday that resulted in Joe Wagner being named to the town’s Metropolitan Police Commission.

Wagner formerly served as a member of the Chesterton Police Commission. In Porter he replaces Bill Donley, who did not seek reappointment.

Wagner will be one of three new members on Porter’s municipal boards and commissions this year. All 2009 town department heads were retained.

Porter Town Council member Todd Martin presented a slate of 2010 appointments that included naming Bob Maletta to the Police Commission. Councilman Jon Granat asked that Wagner’s name be substituted instead of Maletta and Councilman Dave Babcock seconded.

With Councilman Micheal Genger absent, Martin and council president Michele Bollinger voted no on the amended slate; Granat and Babcock voted yes.

Granat’s subsequent separate motion to appoint Wagner resulted in the same 2-2 split and Pomeroy was asked to break the tie as allowed under state law.

A 4-0 council vote returned both town director of engineering Matt Keiser and Bollinger to the Plan Commission, and Porter building commissioner Art Elwood was tapped to replace Martin on that commission. Al Raffin and Trevin Fowler both were reappointed to the town Redevelopment Commission as was William Cantrell to the Porter Stormwater Management Board.

Bollinger named John Kremke to serve out the remaining 12 months of his uncle Bob Kremke’s term on the Board of Zoning Appeals. The elder Kremke resigned.

Other presidential appointments by Bollinger returned Henry Huyser to the BZA; Patty Raffin to the Park Board; Jim Eriksson and Greg Stinson to the Plan Commission; and Genger, Granat and Bruce Snyder to the Redevelopment Commission.

By consensus the council’s incumbent department heads --- police chief James Spanier, fire chief Lewis Craig Sr., Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer, Elwood and Keiser --- all were retained. Jim Miller is park superintendent.

As for council liaisons to those departments, Granat drew double duty to the Park and Police Departments; Genger the Fire Department; Babcock to Public Works; and Bollinger the town hall.

By unanimous vote the services of town attorney Patrick Lyp, town planner Jim Mandon and financial planner Cender & Company were retained.

In other business the council voted unanimously allowing Spanier to spend $74,363 this year to purchase now a $41,460 truck for the new police K-9 unit and the balance for a squad car later this summer. Two weeks ago the council OK’d spending $15,761 to buy the dog from Vohne Kennels and to train the animal with its designated K-9 officer.

Spanier said the kennel staff indicated maximum benefit would be realized if the dog is trained in the Porter vehicle the department will be using. The council authorized the truck to be delivered as soon as possible.

Granat announced that the Police Department page of the town’s website at www.townofporter.com

 links to a new crime reporting page that alerts residents to recent crimes in their area.

Craig reminded landlords that compliance forms are due at the Fire Department by Jan. 31 attesting that rental buildings have operating smoke alarms. He also thanked the council for its support and vehicle/equipment purchases in 2009.

Keiser announced the town of Porter is not included on a list of successful grant awards for money for a new fire station. He expressed hope that with only $160 million awarded of $210 million available, additional money will be disbursed in the future.

He also reminded that starting this month the town BZA meetings will convene at the new time of 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday. The Plan Commission will continue to meet at 7:30 p.m. that night or at the conclusion of the BZA, whichever is later.

Posted 1/13/2010