Syracuse Gets New Town ManagerSYRACUSE – Former North Webster utilities manager Michael Noe was named the new Syracuse town manager at Tuesday’s year-end town council meeting.
Noe will replace Henry DeJulia, whose retirement was announced at the November council meeting. DeJulia will work with Noe on a part-time interim basis as a trainer and assistant town manager until March 27. On weeks without a holiday, DeJulia will work four days at eight hours each, and be paid $1,350 per week.
Noe signed a contract valid through Dec. 31, 2021, at an annual salary of $85,000.
A retirement reception for DeJulia will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the town hall.
Other agenda items included Town Marshal Jim Layne presenting a plan to purchase a used police car for a backup vehicle. Layne had his eye on a specific vehicle that had much of the equipment already in place from the Sellersburg Police Department.
Council member Larry Siegel said he’d rather Layne get another new vehicle with a lease agreement, and the language was worked out for Layne to move forward in making a lease happen before the end of the year.
Council President Bill Musser read a statement encouraging citizens to be more aware of what’s put in to the town’s sewer system. Many products are sold as “flushable” on the label, but in the fine print say that many municipalities prohibit those types of products from being put into the sewer system. Syracuse is such a municipality.
Musser said it’s beginning to become a problem and hopes citizens will cooperate so the council won’t have to consider punitive action.
In other business, the council:
• Signed a salary ordinance for 2019 and authorized the town clerk to make “certain transfers” to balance the town’s book at the end of the year.
• Swore in Siegel and Paul Stoelting for their new terms on the council.
• Chose Larry Martindale to serve at council president in 2019. Martin appointed Stoelting as vice president.
• Approved board appointments and department heads for next year.
The next Syracuse Town Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 15.
