Ellettsville–Richland reorganization committee creates seven subcommittees, appoints volunteers and names school superintendent to committee

The Ellettsville–Richland Reorganization Committee on Tuesday voted to create seven subcommittees to develop sections of a proposed merger plan and appointed volunteers to each panel.

Doctor Jerry Sanders, identified in the meeting as the Richland–Bean Blossom School System superintendent, was nominated and approved as the committee’s seventh member. The committee then amended and approved a motion establishing the subcommittees for planning and zoning; finance and public assistance; governance; public safety; parks, recreation and cemeteries; roads and streets; and water/storm/sewer/wastewater.

Committee members read names from a volunteers list and approved the proposed rosters by roll call. The planning and zoning subcommittee roster approved included Diane Critchlow, Eric Spoonmore, Mike Richardson, James Farmer and Marv Olmott. The finance and public assistance committee accepted Kenny Williams, Jerry Cravens, Sandy Hash, Lane (Elaine) Thompson and Richard Matt. Governance appointments were Noel Conyer, Tom Spencer and Theis Carmichael. The public safety roster includes Zach Michaels, John Newcomer, Calvin Poole, Josh Conway and Sherry Newcomer. Parks, recreation and cemeteries initially accepted Jim Perry, Paula Anderson and Michael Clemens; the committee later amended that appointment to add Ros Gerstman after a public commenter offered to serve. Roads and streets appointments approved were Daniel (Dan) Bittner, Roger Woods, Corinna Cosentino and Melissa Stone.

The committee explicitly tabled appointments for the water/storm/sewer/wastewater subcommittee to the next meeting to allow outreach to local utility operators and additional technical experts. A member suggested contacting Rick Coppock, described in the meeting as a long-time water/sewer consultant, and the committee agreed to seek utility input before finalizing that roster.

Members discussed how department heads and municipal staff should support subcommittees in an advisory or ex officio role and agreed subcommittees may draw on town and township staff for technical briefings. The committee also stressed that subcommittees should have clear objectives and a short timeline to produce recommendations for the full committee.

The meeting closed with unanimous roll-call votes recorded for the motions to create subcommittees and to approve the appointments. The committee scheduled a follow-up work session and said it will circulate objectives and contact appointees before the next meeting.