Applicants sought for vacant positions on Environmental Commission and Community Advisory on Public Safety Commission
The City of Bloomington Office of the City Clerk is accepting applications to fill vacant positions on the Environmental Commission and the Community Advisory on Public Safety Commission. Established in 1971 by municipal ordinance, the Bloomington Environmental Commission (EC) is a voluntary advisory body composed of citizens appointed by the Mayor and Common Council. The mission of the EC is to advise the City on how its actions and policies may preserve and enhance the quality of Bloomington’s environment, including the life-supporting processes that natural ecological systems provide to humans and other organisms. The EC actively participates in the city planning process; researches and reports on environmental topics; develops educational materials; responds to inquiries from residents; and coordinates with other municipal boards and commissions, and other organizations on issues of mutual interest. Commissioners must reside within the municipal boundary. The time required to fulfill the EC duties are approximately four hours per month. There is no compensation for serving on the Environmental Commission. For more information, please see the Bloomington Municipal Code 2.12.050.
The Community Advisory on Public Safety Commission’s goal is to increase the safety of all Bloomington community members, especially those often marginalized due to race, disability, gender, sexual identity, or sexual orientation. The CAPS Commission will perform research and gather data on the perceptions and preferences about public safety from community members, with specific focus on data gathered from minority community members, individuals who are disabled, and other often marginalized community members. The CAPS Commission will research evidence-based alternatives to traditional policing, identify best practices in public safety globally and evaluate the efficacy of such practices for implementation in Bloomington, and will make recommendations to the Common Council, the Board of Public Safety, and/or the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee on policies and programs that enhance public safety for all community members. The CAPS Commission will be composed of eleven voting members appointed by the Common Council. Each member shall have one vote and shall serve without compensation. The Commission typically meets on the fourth Tuesday each month. Committees convene as needed. There is no compensation for serving on the Community Advisory on Public Safety Commission. There are three vacancies. For more information, please see the Bloomington Municipal Code 2.12.120.
To learn more about each of the City’s boards and commissions, including mission statements, membership requirements, current membership listings and term lengths, meeting schedules and location, visit the city website, here: bloomington.in.gov/onboard. If you are interested in applying to a vacant seat on a board or commission, you may apply, here: https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/applicants/apply
All board and commission meetings are free and open to the public. Potential applicants are urged to attend a meeting of their desired board or commission prior to applying.
Hoosiers advised to be vigilant ahead of the Indy 500
Attorney General Todd Rokita warns Hoosiers of crafty scammers before heading to the greatest spectacle in racing. During large sporting events, con artists are exceptionally prevalent and can fool even the most experienced fans.
“As Indiana prepares to welcome tens of thousands of people to the Indianapolis 500, I encourage Hoosiers to exercise caution before buying tickets, paying for parking, or making any online reservations,” Attorney General Rokita said. “If you believe you’ve fallen victim to any type of scam, please contact my office to file a complaint.”
Many counterfeit passes and tickets look authentic, but track staff can spot a fake right away. In the past, race fans have made it all the way to the gate only to be turned away for fake parking passes or tickets. If the deals sound too good to be true, it usually is.
Attorney General Rokita offers the following tips to avoid scams during this year’s race:
- Purchase items directly from IMS whenever possible.
- Consider your source. Know the difference between a professional ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited reseller), a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller) and a scammer selling scam tickets.
- Know the refund policy. You should only purchase tickets from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction.
- Use payment methods that come with protection. Always use a credit card so you may have some recourse if the tickets are not as promised.
- Call the hotel directly before your trip to let them know you’re on the way.
- Check the reviews for the hotel or wherever you’re staying.
- Look for warning signs, like prices that seem a little too low or website addresses that seem odd.
- Get email confirmations for all reservations and tickets.
Hoosiers are encouraged to contact the Office of the Indiana Attorney General regarding any suspected scams or scam attempts. You can file a complaint online by visiting indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516.
Sandra Keller Wins 2022 Human Rights Award
The Bloomington Human Rights Commission selected founder and executive director of My Sister’s Closet, Sandy Keller, as the recipient of its 2022 Human Rights Award. Through Keller’s efforts, My Sister’s Closet has partnered with the Exodus Refugee program to help Afghanistan refugees as they settle in Bloomington. She works with refugees to provide them with new clothing, shoes, toiletries, and other essential items. She and her staff created labels for each item, written in the refugees’ native language.
Ryne Shadday, chair of the Bloomington Human Rights Commission, will present the award to Keller during the June 1 meeting of the Bloomington Common Council. The meeting begins at 6:30pm at City Hall and can be viewed on Zoom. For more information about the meeting visit bloomington.in.gov/council.
This Week in Hoosier History
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1921 – Wonder Bread was introduced by the Taggart Bakery in Indianapolis. The name was inspired by the “wonder” of the International Balloon Race at the Speedway. At first, the bread was sold as a whole loaf. The “pre-sliced” product was introduced in the 1930s.
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