All Delphi City Council members could not agree with the proposed 2007 budget, but it was ultimately adopted at Monday night's meeting.

It took a vote of three in favor of and two abstentions from, with a suspension of the rules, to gain pass a g e . Adoption was necessary deadline for filing.

"I don't want to vote against the budget," council member John Hampton stated before he abstained from the vote. "I don't want to deny employee raises. My goal was to have a flat budget with no increase, but not to deny raises."

Council member Carol Dickman, who also abstained from voting on the measure, echoed Hampton's sentiment. She said she wanted to see the city manage resources without costing employees raises.

Randy Strasser, who voted to approve the budget along with Carolyn Pearson and William Miller, suggested re-examining the city's health insurance plan to reduce costs without placing a larger financial burden on employees.

"I'm willing to work with the council in any way to save the c i t y m o n e y, " mayor Lee H o a r d e m p h a sized. "I am never ever against saving the city money."

Citing strict time constraints on delivering an adopted budget to the state, city attorney Miriam Robeson recommended immediate passage. She said not all monies in each line item had to be expended if money-saving strategies could be employed later in the year.

Non-elected salary ordinance

The non-elected salary ordinance passed three readings, after suspension of the rules, by a four-to-one vote. There was no

The Indiana Supreme Court's Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC) of the Division of State Court Administration, and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles partnered with the Delphi City Court to streamline transmission of driver information. Court staff is now electronically transmitting court information and data to the BMV and state court administration on a secure site.

Delphi's court is complying with state regulations requiring convictions of individuals carrying a Commercial Drivers License be transmitted to the BMV within ten days of the conviction. Because courts and clerks do not always know when a person holds a CDL, the BMV and JTAC have determined this initiative must include all licensed drivers to be successful.

JTAC and the BMV determined Indiana courts must take immediate steps to achieve substantial compliance with the recent changes in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notification requirements. Previously city court was transmitting data and information exclusively by US mail and fax to the various reporting agencies.

However, court information and data sent electronically can be processed the same day by the BMV through the Incite secure Web site. Therefore, the BMV, law enforcement agencies, and courts can know the driving status of motor vehicle operators almost immediately.

Driver suspensions and reinstatement of driving licenses can occur in a timelier manner also.

The new system will assist the court in gathering statistical data for filing with the Indiana Supreme Court's Quarterly Case Status Reports and other activity reports. discussion as Hampton abstained.

Other business

Calling it a "very sensitive topic of discussion," Hoard reported the Indiana Department of Transportation recommended deleting two parking spaces in the downtown area, moving stop bars 16 feet to 18 feet farther from the intersection and re-timing the lights at the corner of Washington and Main streets.

The recommendations come after a study of the traffic at the intersection requested by the city.

Hoard said angle parking on South Union and Front streets one block from the intersection could make up for the deleted parking spaces on Washington and Main.

Calling it a "safety issue," council members passed the ordinance's first reading.

Bradford Drive, built around the back of Alco and to the south of the property that is planned as a bowling alley on Delphi's south side, was unanimously adopted into the city street system. The road will be an exitonly onto SR39/US421 from the properties in Commercial Park.

A request to re-zone a property at 119 N. Market Street, which came with a favorable recommendation from Carroll County Area Plan Commission, was tabled. The property owner will be invited to the next meeting to discuss the request.

Hoard announced that Burlington, Flora and Delphi were recognized for their respective recycling programs by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. A presentation ceremony will be held Sept. 25 at noon in Indianapolis. For more information contact Hoard at (765) 5643039.

The next meeting will be Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Delphi Board of Works meets at 6:30 p.m.