A Carmel City Council majority punts a decision on addresses to the voters – next year.

Carmel, it seems, is not quite ready to enter the 21st century. Despite pleas from a growing number of residents who find it increasingly difficult to live a life without street addresses in a world that demands them, a Carmel City Council majority decided on Sept. 10 to not make a decision, but rather to kick it to the voters over a year from now.

There were emotional pleas on both sides during the meeting: Those who wanted to protect Carmel’s village character and the 108-year tradition of no addresses versus those who miss package deliveries, struggle to get insurance or Real IDs, or who have had to flag down first responders in an emergency.

Those against addresses asked for more public input leading to a vote by residents.

Mayor Dave Potter, currently in a race against two challengers in the Nov. 5 election, obliged, making the motion to put the issue to the voters in November 2025. He said the council will decide later whether to make it an advisory vote or a measure. He was joined by councilmembers Bobby Richards and Alissandra Dramov in the 3-2 vote.

A visibly frustrated Councilmember Karen Ferlito voted against it, along with Councilmember Jeff Baron, who is running for mayor against Potter. They wanted the process of adding street addresses to begin immediately. “We have people whose lives depend on this and their health depends on this,” Ferlito said. “It’s criminal to delay this past February or March.”

Ferlito noted that the “world changed” after 9/11 and Covid, leading to requirements by the government and companies for an exact home address instead of a post office box. She said she and her husband had difficulty securing car insurance because their “car does not live at a P.O. box.” Ferlito and Baron argued the city should come into compliance with the state’s fire codes, as well as conform to U.S. Post Office rules.