New Albany City Council Meeting – March 19, 2026
New Albany City Council Meeting – March 19, 2026
The New Albany Common Council met on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered routine approvals, committee reports, a resolution regarding disclosure of dam-related legal costs, and other updates.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the March 2, 2026 public hearing and regular council meeting as a slate (unanimous voice vote; Councilmembers FitzGerald and Gohmann abstained).
- Renewed the City Council Attorney contract with an increase in compensation, as recommended by the administration; motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Will Stofer (speaking for a community group) expressed frustration over the lack of disclosure of funds spent on dam litigation, stated that public trust has been broken, and called on the council to take action. He noted he had reached out to the mayor five times since January 1, 2026 without a meeting. He urged the council to use alternative tools if the resolution failed.
Discussion Items
- Administrative Item – Attorney Contract Renewal: Council Attorney Corey Manning presented proposed changes: striking the word "severally" from the description of her role (to clarify she represents the body as a collective) and a compensation increase. Council members commended her work; the contract was renewed unanimously.
- Health & Welfare Committee Report (Councilmember Collier): The committee met March 4, 2026 and reviewed a draft opioid settlement funding request packet. Key points:
- Balances as of report: $27,664 in non-restricted funds and $85,565 in restricted opioid settlement funds.
- The packet includes eligibility requirements (501(c)(3) status, 24-month operating history, independent audit every two years, conflict of interest policy, board list, bylaws) and a timeline: submissions due August 7, 2026; committee review; applicant notifications August 10; in-person presentations August 28; recommendations to full council September 10, 2026 for second-round 2026 appropriations. The process would serve as a template for future nonprofit funding requests. The report was accepted unanimously.
- Public Safety & Traffic Committee Report (Councilmember Gohmann): The committee met March 16, 2026 and set goals: seek public input via a listening session on April 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM at the Floyd County Library (Strassweg Auditorium). The report was accepted unanimously.
- Public Works Committee Report (Council President Dickey): Verbal report on discussions about dangerous tree ordinances. Topics included financial assistance for private property tree removal, requiring licensed contractors for city-assisted removal, and cost recoupment. The report was accepted unanimously.
- Resolution R-26-01 – Disclosure of Amount Spent on Dam (sponsored by Councilmember Blair): Requested the city disclose all costs incurred to prevent removal of the Silver Creek Dam (Providence Mill Dam) and to place/remove rock fill, including legal fees, staff time, and outside consultants. The resolution outlined a four-step process: (1) letter to administration; (2) referral to city public records access officer; (3) complaint to Indiana Public Access Counselor; (4) potential lawsuit. Council debate included:
- Supporters (Blair, Griffith, Gohmann, FitzGerald): Argued the public has a right to know how taxpayer money was spent; noted that the dam and rock fill litigation (eight cases) have been resolved, leaving only a wrongful death case which was excluded; previous requests (public, media, council) have been denied; the resolution follows state open records law.
- Opponents (Dickey, Phipps, Murphy, Unruh, Collier): Raised concerns that a resolution is an inappropriate vehicle (requires mayor's signature to sue himself), that litigation would incur additional legal costs, and that the mayor has committed to a complete report after all litigation is fully resolved. Council President Dickey noted that as a resolution it expresses city policy and requires executive approval, which unlikely given the subject; other tools (continued negotiation, review of financials) should be used.
- Tally on R-26-01: 4 yes (FitzGerald, Gohmann, Blair, Griffith), 5 no (Collier, Phipps, Murphy, Unruh, Dickey). Resolution failed.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes from March 2 public hearing and regular meeting (unanimous).
- Approved renewal of City Council Attorney contract (unanimous).
- Accepted Health & Welfare Committee report with opioid funding packet (unanimous).
- Accepted Public Safety & Traffic Committee report (unanimous).
- Accepted Public Works Committee report (unanimous).
- Defeated Resolution R-26-01 (4-5).
- Adjourned at approximately [time not specified in transcript].
Meeting Transcript
I myself really didn't know that. Probably a few months whole time. Yeah, just now do this. Good evening. We will now call to order the New Albany City Council meeting for March 19th. And begin with a moment of silent prayer centering and reflection. Please take your moment. Thank you. If you please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. The clerk will now call the roll. Mrs. Collier, here. Mr. Phipps. Here. Mr. Fitzgerald. Here. Mrs. Goleman. Here. Mr. Blair. Here. Mrs. Griffith. Here. Mrs. Murphy. Here. Mr. Unru? Here. President Dickey. Here. All are present. All right. Our first item of business is the uh approval or correction of two sets of minutes. The first being from the public hearing on March 2nd. The second being of the regular council meeting on March 2nd. I would entertain any uh motions to correct. Uh these can also be taken uh as a slate if you'd like to do it uh in total package. I'll accept those as a slate. So we have a motion to approve both sets as a package. Uh is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Phipps.
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