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Fishers and Fall Creek Township residents will be faced with two important questions in a referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot: 1) Should the town and township reorganize as a single political subdivision and 2) should the town of Fishers change into a city?
In December 2010, the Fishers Town Council and Fall Creek Township Advisory Board authorized the referendum on the reorganization question.
Gregory A. Purvis, an attorney with Spangle, Jennings & Dougherty, spoke on behalf of a citizens action committee called "City Yes."
That group is in favor of the second question, in which, if the town of 80,000 votes to becomes a city, then residents could elect a mayor as well as City Council members -- of whom six would represent districts and three would be at-large. More information can be found at its website, www.cityyes.org.
"Fishers has grown into a city. It's time to act like a real city with a government that has neighborhood and community representation," said Purvis.
On the other side, Wayne C. Crane, an investment banker, represented the committee to "Reorganize Fishers" (www.reorganizefishers.org). That group favors a council led by a mayor elected by other city councilors from within their ranks, as well as an appointed manager and controller.
Crane, offered a power point presentation outlining a "business model" that he compared to the Hamilton Southeastern Schools with elected board members, and an appointed superintendent.
Key points in the debate included economic development; tax increases, the financial impact on the school system; and potential savings to the community.
Some officials estimate that a merger of the town and township could result in a $1 million annual savings. But those opposed to the plan say that would come with a price -- by reducing benefits, such as payments to the Social Security Fund for public servants, including police officers and firefighters.
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http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012210170342
