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Record of Proceedings

New Albany Common Council Regular Meeting - August 3, 2026

City Council & Boards — Monday, August 3, 2026
BodyNew Albany, Indiana
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateMonday, August 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 12:10

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

35 hours minimum four hours.

0:09

So Chris and Jenny area.

0:13

Roma life.

0:18

Good evening.

0:19

We will go ahead and call the uh New Orbany City Council regular session for Monday, August 3rd, 2026 to order.

0:29

And we will begin with a moment of silent prayer, centering, and reflection.

0:34

Please join with me now.

0:52

Thank you.

0:53

Please ride for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:57

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

1:02

And to the Republic for which it stands.

1:06

Underground.

1:08

With liberty and justice for all.

1:13

The clerk will call the roll.

1:15

Mrs.

1:16

Collier is not present.

1:18

Mr.

1:18

Phipps.

1:19

Here.

1:20

Mr.

1:20

Fitzgerald is not present.

1:22

Mrs.

1:22

Goman?

1:23

Here.

1:24

Mr.

1:24

Blair.

1:25

Here.

1:25

Mrs.

1:25

Griffith.

1:26

Here.

1:26

Mrs.

1:27

Murphy.

1:27

Here.

1:28

Mr.

1:28

Unrue.

1:29

Here.

1:29

President Dick.

1:30

Here.

1:30

You have a quorum.

1:32

All right.

1:33

Our first items on the agenda are the approval and or correction of the following minutes.

1:40

We have a public hearing from July 16th and a regular meeting minutes from July 16th.

1:47

I would entertain a motion as appropriate for either the correction or approval.

1:53

And we could do these as a slate.

1:56

Mr.

1:57

President, I move that we do this as a slate and approve the minute.

2:01

Second.

2:02

I have a motion by Miss Murphy, second by Mr.

2:04

Phipps.

2:05

Any further discussion?

2:07

Hearing none.

2:08

All in favor signify by saying aye.

2:10

Aye.

2:11

Opposed.

2:13

That carries.

2:15

Thank you.

2:16

That takes us to communications from the council.

2:19

This being the first meeting of the month.

2:21

Mr.

2:22

Phipps, you have the honor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████47%
Animal Welfare██████████████████████████27%
Community Engagement██████████████15%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Summary of Proceedings

New Albany Common Council Regular Meeting - August 3, 2026

The New Albany Common Council held its regular meeting on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting was called to order by President Adam Dickey with a moment of silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call showed eight members present (Phipps, Gohmann, Blair, Griffith, Murphy, Unruh, Dickey) and two absent (Collier, Fitzgerald), establishing a quorum.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The council voted unanimously (motion by Elaine Murphy, second by Greg Phipps) to approve the Public Hearing Minutes and Regular Meeting Minutes from July 16, 2026, as a slate.

Communications & Announcements

  • Councilmember Louise Gohmann: Announced several community events including a Floyd County Health Department/Love Unlimited campout for donations (drop-off at old Kroger on Grant Line Road on August 7 from 5-7 PM and August 8 from 12-2 PM), a Hope Southern Indiana food drive (August 15, 9 AM-12 PM), and a back-to-school block party at Grant Line Road (August 8, 10 AM-1 PM, with music, free food, and inflatables). Also reminded the public about financial assistance for feral cat population control via publicvet.com and urged caution as schools open.
  • Councilmember Scott Blair: Updated that he and Louise Gohmann are working on an ordinance for the treatment of animals in retail stores, in response to advocacy by Mindy Johnson (Southern Indiana Animal Welfare Watchdogs). They are reviewing similar ordinances from Jeffersonville and Clarksville and plan to meet with the city attorney after the meeting. The ordinance may be introduced in committee soon.
  • Councilmember Stefanie Griffith: Thanked Mrs. Glodzbach for sharing information about free downtown parking; clarified that while some private lots are converting to paid lots, the city does not operate paid lots and the garage remains free. She emphasized that downtown parking is still affordable compared to other cities like Boston and Philadelphia.
  • Councilmember Elaine Murphy: Reminded drivers to watch for children and new drivers as school starts, and recognized National Purple Heart Day (August 7) thanking service members injured in the line of duty.
  • Councilmember Don Unruh: Announced library events including the end of the summer reading program, an outdoor book sale (August 8, 8 AM-12 PM), and a financial literacy seminar (Credit 101) on August 6 from 1-2 PM. Also noted the start of fall sports practices, New Albany High School’s first football game on August 21 against Providence, and welcomed new head football coach Mark Clark.
  • President Adam Dickey: Echoed back-to-school safety reminders, noted ongoing work on a stormwater presentation update for the next meeting, and mentioned coordinating budget hearing schedules with the city clerk (Linda Shane). He also flagged a fast turnaround between the two September council meetings.

Administrative Items

  • One Southern Indiana Presentation: President Dickey requested and received unanimous consent to schedule the annual One Southern Indiana presentation for one of the next two council meetings.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved (unanimous).
  • One Southern Indiana presentation scheduled (date TBD at future meeting).
  • Ordinance for treatment of animals in retail stores under development; council will meet with city attorney to advance the proposal.
  • No public comments, no ordinances, resolutions, board appointments, or committee reports were presented.
  • Meeting adjourned by unanimous vote (motion by Murphy, second by Phipps).

Meeting Transcript

35 hours minimum four hours. So Chris and Jenny area. Roma life. Good evening. We will go ahead and call the uh New Orbany City Council regular session for Monday, August 3rd, 2026 to order. And we will begin with a moment of silent prayer, centering, and reflection. Please join with me now. Thank you. Please ride for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. Underground. With liberty and justice for all. The clerk will call the roll. Mrs. Collier is not present. Mr. Phipps. Here. Mr. Fitzgerald is not present. Mrs. Goman? Here. Mr. Blair. Here. Mrs. Griffith. Here. Mrs. Murphy. Here. Mr. Unrue. Here. President Dick. Here. You have a quorum. All right. Our first items on the agenda are the approval and or correction of the following minutes. We have a public hearing from July 16th and a regular meeting minutes from July 16th. I would entertain a motion as appropriate for either the correction or approval. And we could do these as a slate. Mr. President, I move that we do this as a slate and approve the minute. Second. I have a motion by Miss Murphy, second by Mr. Phipps. Any further discussion?

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