Democrat Jocelyn Vare, an at-large member of the Fishers City Council, has issued an open letter to the new Democrat that will soon take office on the council, sharply critical of her Republican colleagues.

North Central District Councilor Samantha DeLong, also a Democrat, is moving out of Indiana and resigning from the council.  A caucus of Democrat precinct officials will caucus in a few days to select Ms. DeLong’s successor.

Vare has written the open letter to whomever will take over the North Central council seat, and has used that opportunity to take issue with GOP council members.

“Unfortunately, I routinely experience reluctance from our City Council Republican colleagues to address important, non-partisan city issues,” Vare says in her letter. “For example, I’ve seen firsthand their reluctance to address Open Door Law compliance concerns that obstruct government transparency. I’ve seen their reluctance to improve the way the City Council appoints citizens to boards and commissions, even when failing to do so risks the integrity and diversity of our local government. I’ve seen their reluctance to supervise the State Road 37 construction project even though it is currently $40 million over budget. I’ve seen their reluctance to critique the Fishers Health Department, a new department of city government created hastily during the pandemic. They seem reluctant to oversee municipal spending of taxpayer funds, even though such oversight is the cornerstone of fiscal responsibility.”

Vare claims Republicans on the council “feel uncomfortable” with Democrats serving for the first time in anyone’s memory.

“A bipartisan legislative body is a new opportunity for lively debates on how to achieve the best outcomes for the city,” writes Vare. “But it requires an acceptance of diverse perspectives in order to be productive.”

“Multiple” instances are cited by Vare in her letter where the city failed to provide information she has requested.

“If I raise a constituent’s concern to the City Council but receive silence in response, I keep using my voice,” according to Vare. “And if another council member tells me that I am overstepping when I demand better for our city, I know that demanding better is exactly my job.”

Vare praises DeLong and the job she did in her tenure on the council dealing with a pandemic, but also cited the “partisan obstacles” Democrats have faced serving on the council.

Hosting a Farmers Market during a pandemic has proven to be a challenge.  In 2020, the City of Fishers tried a system of ordering online and picking up your order.  In 2021, the city plans to retain the online pick-up feature with a home delivery option, but will use guidance from the Fishers Health Department to have an in-person market in 2021.

Below is the news release issued by the city with all the details:

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The City of Fishers is updating and refreshing its comprehensive plan, called the 2040 Plan.  The first version was approved in 2016.

The City Council received an update on the plan at last Monday’s work session.

The Fishers 2040 Comp Plan creates long-range planning goals for land use, housing and neighborhoods, transportation, and parks. For more details on specific changes to the original plan, visit fishers.in.us/2040.

Process for Fishers 2040 Comp Plan Update

April 21, 2021 – Virtual Open House #1 – Zoom

May 6, 2021 – Virtual Open House #2 – Zoom

June 2, 2021 – Planning Commission Public Hearing – City Hall

June 21, 2021 – *City Council Adoption – City Hall

Virtual Open Houses

Wednesday, April 21 at 6 p.m. – Register

Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. – Register

Online Feedback

Residents who cannot make it to a Virtual Open House may submit feedback via an online form.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness puts together a youth academy each year, and the current group decided to take on the task of connecting the local youth with the Fishers Fire Department.  The group made their presentation on the project before the City Council Monday night, including a TickTok video.

On hand for the presentation before the council were academy members Arianna Davis, Darlene Senisse, Noah Spirek, Savanna Jensen and Shelby Sloan.  Group member Ajaypratap Singh was unable to attend the council session.

Other members of the Mayor’s Youth Academy include:

Nataki Pettigrew has been the Equity & Inclusion Officer for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools for roughly three months, but has been very busy during that time.  She updated the school board Thursday morning on the many programs ongoing at HSE.

She talked about student forums, feedback from district parents and collaboration with the City of Fishers, just to name a few.

Board member Suzanne Thomas asked about parents and students wanting to opt-out of equity & inclusion programs because they want less of that and more of the core subject areas.

“It’s not about teaching students what to believe, but it’s teaching them – how do we work together to deal with some of these complex problems in the world?,” replied Ms. Pettigrew.  “We can’t do that in isolation.  We have to do that together.”

Pettigrew says inclusion and diversity prepare students for the world today.

“We have to live in reality,” said Ms. Pettigrew. “For example, if someone says racism does not exist, that’s not living in reality.”

Later in the day, the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial was announced.  Following the verdict, HSE Schools released the following statement:

Continue reading Equity & Inclusion Officer addresses HSE Board plus HSE reaction to Chauvin verdict →

The Fishers City Council allowed the police department to use funds from a forfeiture account to pay for new gun racks in officers’ police vehicles, but not without a sharp discussion over use of this account.  $25,000 will be tapped from the forfeiture account to help pay for the gun racks.  The vote was 8-1, with Jocelyn Vare the only “no” vote.

City Controller Lisa Bradford told the council there was $65,000 in the forfeiture account before the action Monday night.  The city has no control over how much forfeiture money is allocated to local law enforcement.  County Prosecutor Lee Buckingham, along with state and federal authorities, control how much forfeiture money is allocated to Fishers.

Vare and former Democrat council candidate Lane Skeeters had concerns about how the forfeiture program is administered overall.

Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart said a recent incident where a firearm was stolen from a police vehicle was largely due to the outdated gun racks.

In other news from Monday’s City Council meeting:

–Council failed to get a unanimous vote for a drainage easement along the former railroad tracks at the airport when Councilor Vare voted no.  The matter was approved for first reading.  Vare says she has heard concerns from neighbors about proposed development at the airport and wants more time to go through the easement process.

–Council approved establishment of a fund to receive federal money under the American Rescue Plan (ARP).  Controller Bradford said the first installment of the funds should be coming to the city soon.  The separate fund allows better tracking for this money, because the ARP has restrictions on how the money can be spent and an accounting will be required to state and federal authorities.

–Fishers Public Health Director Monica Heltz praised the council for funding a new city health department in the middle of a pandemic, which she described as a “bold” move when the agency was established about one year ago.  She reviewed a long list of statistics and reiterated the goal of having 85% of all Fishers COVID vaccinated by July.

–Fishers Police Lieutenant Norm Tate was honored for 25 years of service to the city.

–Council members said Goodbye to Planning and Zoning Director Tony Bagato and council member Samantha DeLong.  Bagato is leaving the city after 5 years to take a private sector position.  Ms. DeLong’s family is moving to Las Vegas.  Megan Schaefer will take over the directorship of the Planning and Zoning Department.  Local Democrats will hold a caucus soon to select Ms. DeLong’s successor in the North Central District city council seat.

Thompson-Thrift developed Fishers District and is seeking approval of a rezoning to allow a new residential development to move forward in that same area.  The Fishers City Council gave its approval, but only after complaints from some neighbors in the area were not heard before the vote.

Villas of Fishers District will consist  of 250 residential units located on 25.5 acres of land directly south and adjacent to Fishers District.

The vote to approve the rezoning tallied at 6 “yes” votes, “no” votes from Samantha DeLong and Jocelyn Vare, along with an abstention from councilor David George.

The Fishers Plan Commission had approved the rezone unanimously but nearby residents complained that a fence had been added since the Plan Commission public hearing. Councilor Vare asked Council President Selina Stoller to allow comments from the residents, but Stoller moved on with the council vote.

Residents were able to comment at the end of the meeting following the vote to approve the rezoning, and Mayor Scott Fadness told the residents to contact him and he will work for a solution with the developer.

The Hamilton County Democratic Party issued a statement criticizing State Senator Scott Baldwin for a message sent Friday about firearms freedoms, as news was breaking about the mass shooting at the Indianapolis FedEx distribution center.  Baldwin apologized for the timing of the already scheduled message.

“We firmly believe that Senator Scott Baldwin’s emailed statement calling for firearm freedoms on Friday – the same day that the news of the tragedy broke – was not only tone deaf, but alarmingly dangerous,” HAMCO Democrats said in a statement issued Monday. “It signifies an actively defiant will to ignore the voices of the citizens they are meant to represent, Republican and Democrats alike.”

Baldwin responded saying the post was pre-planned and apologized.

“The email was drafted earlier in the week, regarding pending 2nd Amendment legislation, and its release was pre-scheduled and regrettably timed,” Baldwin’s statement says.  “I apologize for that. Please know my family and I are praying for the victims and loved ones impacted by the incomprehensible violence that occurred in our capital city.”

8 people died in the Indianapolis FedEx mass shooting and, in addition, the alleged shooter also died of an apparent self-inflicted wound.

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, the City of Fishers has announced the City of Service Awards. Three new community-nominated awards will be featured this year: Essential Worker of the Year, Non-Profit Staffer of the Year, and Community Servant of the Year. Winners were selected by the Fishers City Council through a blind process and will be celebrated throughout the week online at ThisIsFishers.com/CityofService and on social media.
This year’s award winners include:

• Essential Worker of the Year: Jesse and Debra McDaniel, American Red Cross
• Non-Profit Staffer of the Year: Jennifer Miller, Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County
• Community Servant of the Year: Anitha and Vani Sharma
• Fishers Non-Profit Volunteer of the Year: Jamison Vance, Mudsock Youth Athletics
• Fishers Parks Adult Volunteer of the Year: Wishes to Remain Anonymous
• Fishers Parks Youth Volunteer of the Year: Johna Coffey
• Fishers Parks Group Volunteer of the Year: Boy Scout Troop 199
• Fishers Police Department Volunteer of the Year: Art Hennig
• Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation Volunteer of the Year: Michael Zahm

The city says that In the year 2020, over 350 individual and group volunteers dedicated over 17,000 hours of their time and talent to our local community.

It is my opinion that the live-action short film category at the Academy Awards fails to get the attention it deserves.  This podcast is being posted one week before the Oscars are handed out in Hollywood.

I decided to screen all five films nominated in this category, and select the film I would select as the winner if I had a ballot (and I do not).  Three of these films are shot in the United States, two in the Middle East.

Here is my look at the nominated films in the live action short film category.