Months of work on seven individual ordinances came to fruition for the Delphi City Council as each ordinance was passed unanimously at the Monday night meeting. The ordinance which held a significant amount of meaning for all city employees was Ordinance 2008-09 to set appropriations for the 2009 budget.

Other ordinances adopted were:

• 2008-08, for elected officials salary;

• 2008-10, making an alley behind Delphi Community Elementary School one way;

• 2008-11, making E. Summit street one way going east from Washington St. to Prince William Rd,;

• 2008-12, establishing a non-reverting tree fund;

• 2008-13, smoking ban for all city-owned buildings and vehicles; and

• 2008-14, prohibiting parking on the south side of Franklin St. from Wabash St. to SR39.

Another milestone for the city was the adoption of Resolution 2008-05 which approved the Delphi Comprehensive Land Use Plan as part of the county plan.

Other business

City Court Judge David Weckerly reported a failed attempt was made at the state level to establish uniform qualifications for city judges. Judges at that level are not, and will not, be required to be licensed attorneys or have received law education.

The city and the Main Street organization will purchase Christmas decorations for approximately $5,500 for 2008 use. Decorations were rented from a vendor in the past. It is expected the city would add to the number of decorations each year.

Street commissioner Aaron Lyons reported the asphalt and curbs and sidewalks programs concluded for the winter.

Parks department director Richard Farrer said trees were planted in Trailhead and Riley parks. The Park Master Plan was approved by the state.

Police chief Justin Darling reported that 67 requests for applications to replace a police officer were made. Two weeks remain before applications are due.

The police activity report indicated in October more warnings, traffic summons, felony reports, animal control violations, assisting another agency calls and parking tickets issued than in September.

Board of works

Former Delphi Police Officer Paul Vondrasek's request to be paid for 12 hours for each of his nine vacation days held over from 2007, when officers worked eight-hour shifts, was denied. Mayor Randy Strasser consulted Rick Cole of the Indiana State Board of Accounts about how to proceed with the matter. He said Cole advised there was no provision in the city's personnel policy manual which allowed officers to collect 12 hours of pay for vacation accrued in 2007. Strasser said Cole also advised when officers worked eight-hour shifts, the city was bound to pay that which was actually accrued at the time when the payout occurred the following year.

Vondrasek said officers were permitted to use heldover vacation time earned in 2007 at the 12-hour shift rate after the first of the year. He said it was not fair to deny him compensation at the same rate.

Strasser said Cole advised the city would have to reevaluate usage by each officer since the beginning of 2008. Vondrasek accused city leaders of having a "lack of appreciation and loyalty" for the police officers for the decision.

The next board of works meeting will be Nov. 17 at 4:30 p.m. The next city council meeting will be Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.