SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Council Chamber was packed Tuesday night for the regularly scheduled council meeting.
Most were there in support of food trucks, but some to express opinions on the salary ordinance and the recent State Board of Accounts investigation into council members’ and past employees’ reimbursement of insurance.
During the first public comment section on agenda items, Michelle Owens wanted to know if they were going to pass the 5% across-the-board salary increase for employees and elected officials as was discussed last month, and said she wanted to see all employees and elected officials receive that.
When the 2025 salary ordinance came up for a vote, Councilman Bill Musser asked if the ordinance stated the percentage of increase. Clerk-Treasurer Virginia Cazier said it didn’t, she just took last year’s amount and added 5%.
Councilman Paul Stoelting said next year they should consider raising the minimum hourly rate, which is $7.25. “I don’t think anyone can live off that,” he said.
Councilman Nate Scherer brought up that “there’s been some discussion about elected officials not taking an increase given the (SBOA) audit that was put out, but in one breath I don’t think we’ve done anything wrong so there’s no reason not to take it but in the other breath, is it appropriate?”
Councilwoman Cindy Kaiser asked if that would include the clerk. Scherer said she was definitely an elected official. Cazier commented that the budget already passed. Town attorney Jay Rigdon pointed out that just meant that the money was available, but they weren’t required to spend it.
At that point, Cazier said, “I’m a full-time elected official - I work over 40 hours, and I don’t think it’s fair that I can’t get a cost-of-living raise - I work my ass off.”
Scherer asked her to explain the certifications she’s received. Cazier said she’s been clerk since 2020, and she received the IMAC certification and just got the CMC certification that she said was hard to do. She said there’s a lot of turnovers in the clerk’s office because it’s a tough job with a lot to learn.
“I feel I brought the clerk’s office into the 21st century as we’re now accepting credit cards and I feel it’s much friendlier,” she said.
Kaiser asked if the previous clerks had those certifications and Cazier said she believed they each had one.
Musser asked how an elected official gets longevity pay. She responded that it was in the ordinance that the council signed. Musser said he thought longevity pay was only for employees. She responded that her predecessors also got longevity pay. Cazier said she was a town employee for 23 years and lost her longevity when she became clerk and had to start over.
Scherer said it made sense that the certifications would increase her salary versus a standard annual increase. She responded when she first started as clerk, she was making the same as she was as an administrative assistant but with lots more responsibilities. That’s why she got the certifications and feels she should get the cost-of-living raises.
Stoelting said the council member who wasn’t there - Larry Siegel - did a study and provided the council with a list. Stoelting said he found, “We pay our town clerk more than any other clerk except Fort Wayne - even more than South Bend and a lot of clerks make quite a bit less.”
He said the certifications added $6,000 to her salary so even without the cost of living increase she’d still be in the highest range of clerks in the state.
According to the ordinance, in 2025 the clerk-treasurer would be paid $3,086.78 per pay period plus longevity and certifications pay.
Cazier countered that they could say the same about the town manager. “You gave him a $10,000 raise last year and he makes more than the mayor of Warsaw,” she said. She went on to say that she and Town Manager David Wilkinson are the faces of the town of Syracuse, and they put in lots of hours.
Scherer said as an apples-to-apples comparison, other clerks have the same struggles, and they have to look at all of that to make sure they’re being prudent.
Cazier said, “If you don’t want to give it to me just say so. I’ve been here 27 years and I’m a loyal employee so to make me feel I don’t deserve it is insane.”
Musser said next year they should take a closer look at what they’re doing. Stoelting agreed, saying in the past they’ve said it’s OK but, in the future, they need to look at it in advance, not at the last minute.
“I’m not saying you don’t deserve it,” he said.
Dale Owens broke in and accused the council of interrogating her and making her defend her job. “If anyone should defend their job, it’s the council,” he said.
Michelle Owens said, “Everybody should get the 5% cost of living. Council members can decide not to take it but don’t take it away from her.”
Scherer responded, “The big thing is are we being prudent - I don’t think we’re interrogating her, but it is our duty to ask questions and be informed.”
The council approved the salary ordinance as presented. Council members will get $8,167.41 a year and the council president gets $9,788.75. The town manager’s salary is $3,461.54 per pay period plus longevity. Public works director salary is $3,269.23 per pay period plus longevity. Police chief’s salary is $2,893.89 per pay period plus longevity, and the park superintendent’s salary is $2,825.23 per pay period plus longevity. The ordinance also lists the paid holidays for 2025.
Attorney’s Report
The town attorney’s report was moved up on the agenda as he had to leave. Rigdon said he looked at the question of full-time employees for the purpose of insurance versus full-time employees for the purpose of municipalities. He said there are some communities within the state of Indiana that have council members considered as full-time employees for purposes of having benefits and insurance, which is different than clerk-treasurer, for example.
Rigdon said there’s a case before the Indiana State Supreme Court now because Perry County provided council members with insurance and made the decision to stop covering them so it is in appeal determining whether they can remove compensation during their term, which Rigdon said generally they’re not allowed to do. He said the Supreme Court will be giving directions on this question soon.
Later, during public comment, a couple of residents spoke to this issue. Matt Goodnight said the board appointees the council made are volunteers that should be emulated. “Because they do it to make Syracuse a better place to live, work and play - they don’t do it for pay or insurance.”
He said, speaking of insurance, “Those of you who paid it back, you’re doing the right thing until this is figured out - thank you.”
He said Musser had 95,000 reasons to wait and Siegel had double that. Goodnight then went on to address Stoelting, saying he didn’t know how it happened.
At some point Stoelting and his wife divorced but didn’t tell anyone and continued living together while they dealt with family issues. They’ve since remarried but while they were legally divorced his wife was still being covered as a spouse. Goodnight told Stoelting he owed an apology to his family, to the council, to taxpayers and “Frankly, I think you should resign.”
Musser pointed out Goodnight ran against Stoelting in the last election.
Michelle and Dale Owens read a prepared statement, first “expressing disbelief the first time we heard about it was on social media and not directly at any public meeting. They failed to address such a critical matter publicly citizens shouldn’t have to remind the council of their fiduciary responsibilities.”
Owen said she reviewed the SBOA repot and the decision by the council to allow reimbursement to council and employees as a cost-saving matter, but it seemed they “passed it for personal gain of some council members” and reimbursement outside of group policies didn’t comply with the SBOA.
Dale took over reading the letter, mentioning amounts and said when the water bills increased, they said other towns charged more, but other towns don’t reimburse council members for insurance so they’re not using the same logic.
Owens called it “hypocritical” that they are disputing the SBOA’s findings when they’re trying to recover money for the town and now they’re trying to get the town to pay their attorney bills. He concluded by saying they are “concerned about future decisions of the council reflecting the best interests of the town.”
Scherer responded by reading the town’s official response to the SBOA investigation, which the Times-Union printed on Dec. 9.
Food Trucks
Michelle Camacho, owner with her husband of the Twisted Tiki food truck, also had a statement for the council and said she had 500 signatures on a petition in support of food trucks and letters of support from local businesses.
She said there is no current specific ordinance for food trucks - there’s a mobile business ordinance that requires permits. She said she should be allowed to operate without being harassed by others and warned if the council were to pass an anti-competitive ordinance it could be considered unconstitutional.
She also read a statement from state Rep. Joanna King in favor of food trucks. Camacho said at the last council meeting it was mentioned that brick and mortar restaurants pay property taxes, but she has to pay $600 a year, which is way higher than surrounding communities charge. She said some don’t charge anything, Goshen charges $20 and Warsaw charges $300.
Scherer pointed out that it was Camacho who brought up ordinances, not the council. Camacho agreed, saying she wanted to be proactive since a local business asked the council to restrict food trucks and a council member agreed.
Scherer said the Chamber of Commerce wants to be involved and they want to work things out. Stoelting said he was personally in favor of food trucks. “Most towns and cities find them beneficial. I’m sure we can work it out.”
Kaiser asked how many were there to support the food trucks and about 95% of the room raised their hands.
Jennifer Esterline, CEO of Whitley County Chamber of Commerce, said she was there to tell them, “100% food trucks are a benefit to economic development. They are a huge opportunity and to put limitations on it would be a huge detriment.”
Esterline said she tells her brick and mortar, “if you’re having a problem - do better.” And she is the owner of a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
Council members had questions for her since she has expertise, including Musser, who asked about designated places for the food trucks. Esterline responded, “When you segregate them it actually draws people away from downtown.”
Jama Owens is on the board of directors of One Warsaw and said they hold events with food trucks on the courthouse square and the brick-and-mortar restaurants sell out, too.
“The idea that food trucks compete with brick and mortar is a myth,” she said.
In other business, the Council:
• Approved a list of appointments for 2025.
• Passed a resolution authorizing end-of-year transfers.
• Heard plans by Andy Cripe for renovation of Main Channel Marina after a fire.
• Approved ARPA funds to be spent with $55,000 for clarifier repairs, $25,000 for AEDs for squad cars and the balance to the parks department for their projects.
• Approved the fire department purchasing ballistic vests - 15 at an approximate cost of $15,000.
• Approved using legal means to defend the town and employees.