New Carlisle City Council Considers City Manager Evaluation Process

During the September 16 regular meeting, members of the New Carlisle City Council spent considerable time discussing the need for a review of City Manager Randy Bridge.

Vice Mayor Peggy Eggleston stated that there currently is not a process for reviewing the city manager, and she is working with Councilman Ben Bahun to create a review template. Per Bridge's contract, the review is required to be completed by November. Bridge expressed concerns that no goals had been stated at the start of last year, making it difficult to know what he would be reviewed on.

Council ultimately set dates and times for two executive sessions designed to plan for and review Bridge's performance. A motion by Councilman William Lindsey was approved unanimously to hold these executive sessions on October 9 and 10. Invitations will be extended to Bridge counsel and Director of Law Jake Jeffries.

The New Carlisle Fire Department reported more than 1,150 runs year to date, representing a 30% increase over last year. When asked what accounted for the increase, Fire Administrator Steve Trusty cited an uptick in both motor vehicle accidents and fire calls.

“We’ve been steadily increasing for the past three years,” Trusty said.

Trusty invited members of Council to the fire department’s open house on October 12 from 12 to 3 p.m., held in honor of Fire Prevention Month. Council voted 7-0 to participate in the open house and contribute $150 towards refreshments to be given away at the community event.

Although receipts from the city’s pool season were up for 2024, the facility still showed signs of struggle. Finance Director Colleen Harris shared pool expenditures were approximately $54,000 in the red.

Councilman Lindsey commented, “That seems to be a lot more than last year.”

Harris attributed the difference to many maintenance projects that needed to be completed. City Manager Randy Bridge agreed.

“This is a year we’re going to have to have a real hard discussion about the pool,” said Bridge.

In other business, Council heard a presentation from Matthew Mills about the Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center levy on the November ballot. Planning for Monroe Meadows was discussed, and it was decided that the next scheduled Farmers Market would be canceled due to the anticipated low turnout. Both Eggleston and Councilwoman Kathy Wright asked about the possibility of making the city water softer and cheaper for residents.