Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Syracuse Town Council members chose not to re-elect Larry Siegel as its president.
Instead, they voted 3 to 2 in favor of Cassie Cowan.
Siegel would not comment on the board's decision following the meeting, which he left immediately after the vote, but did issue a statement.
"Cassie and Paul (Stoelting) are asking me to work on all the projects I am currently working on, without the formal authority. They are asking me to invest my time in projects that they will not invest their own time in or give me the formal authority to pursue. Without the formal authority, accomplishing these tasks will be more difficult and require more time I do not have," Siegel's statement read.
According to Indiana law, the only "formal authority" granted to a town council president is to run the council meetings and elect members to the board of zoning appeals.
"I was going to tell Larry that I thought he did a good job," Stoelting said.
"I think we'd like to share the idea of being president with different people. I think it's our decision that there is no one person who is in charge or in control.
"I think this is a chance to do something different, to have a different president, but I don't think it's saying anything negative about the way Larry conducted or what he did for the town."
Early in the meeting, five Syracuse citizens stood up to speak on behalf of Siegel.
The board also passed an amendment to the employee handbook that insurance would not be provided to new employees for 60 days.
This action will protect the town from spending money on short-term employees.
They also passed an ordinance on minimum housing standards.
The board wanted to make everyone aware that recycling will begin Jan. 17.
Recycling tubs will be dropped off Dec. 27. The tubs will have instructions inside on what can and cannot be recycled.
All items but glass will be accepted.
The council will have its final meeting of the year Monday at 5:30 p.m.
