The Evansville City Council held their first meeting of the year on Monday. This was the first meeting after three new council members were sworn in.
Council Members-at-Large Paul Green, Mary Allen and Courtney Johnson sat in their first meeting Monday.
Re-appointed Council President Zac Heronemus used his council comment time to welcome the new members of the council.
“I look forward to working with all of you all,” he said. “It's an exciting time right now. And I know that once (Mayor Stephanie Terry) and the administration get their feet under them and get settled we'll have things come at us.”
“I would also like to say I’m happy to be part of this council,” Green said. “Welcome to everyone who made it the first time; welcome to those that made it back.”
Angela Koehler Lyndsey is now a 5th Ward Council Member, and the only returning republican.
Courtney Johnson said he’s looking forward to working on city projects. “I think it went pretty smoothly today,” he said. “I know we have a lot more meetings ahead of us. But I think today was definitely a great start.”
The meeting schedule was of average length, with much of the time taken for boards and commission appointments, usually one or three-year terms.
Regarding new members, Courtney Johnson is now on the Commission on Food Insecurity, and the Commission on the Social Status of African American Males. Paul Green is now on the Commission on Homelessness.
They voted on 20 appointments of which new council member-at-large Mary Allen is on four, currently the most of any other member.
“I put a lot of thought into what potential boards or committees and commissions that I would want to be a part of, and things I'm really passionate about that I think I can speak into, and make an impact,” she said. “So I wanted to dive right in and get to work. And I thought that was a great way to do it.”
Allen is on the Emergency Medical Services Oversight Committee, Evansville Urban Enterprise Association Board, Vanderburgh County Criminal Justice Planning Commission and Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee.
She said these convening bodies are important because they gather individuals who are passionate about a specific subject.
“We can have a concentrated focus and effort toward an improvement or oversight. In one particular area.”
Several of the committees were also open to members of the public, who were also appointed to positions.
Returning members also volunteered for boards. For example, Heronemus will continue on Area Plan Commission. Missy Moby is on the Solid Waste Board and Ben Trockman is on the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission.
Alex Burton is joining Johnson on the Commission on the Social Status of African American Males.
Council also voted on leadership. Heronemus will remain president and Ben Trockman vice president.
Mayor Stephanie Terry kicked off the pledge of allegiance, and Deputy Mayor Lyndsay Locosto and Communications Director Joe Atkinson Attended.
New City Controller Robert Gunter was introduced to council prior to the meeting by outgoing controller Russ Lloyd.
Newly appointed Council Attorney Josh Trockman took his seat for the first time as well.
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