06-14-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 14, 2010 student’s complete shot record. She also noted that these shots are required for school entry. Councilmember Puzzello noted that super shots will also be offered at the Sr. Maura Brannick Health Center 326 S. Chapin Street on July 6, and August 3, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and the St. Joseph County WIC office, 1817 E. Ireland Road on June 28, July 26, and August 23, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Henry Davis suggested that he would like to see the partnership between the South Bend Community School Corporation, the St. Joseph County Health Department and the City of South Bend continue to provide vaccinations to all students. He stated that he will be holding a Community Relations Committee meeting with the SBCSC to discuss this matter. Mayor Stephen Luecke advised that as everyone is quite aware there is a lot of paving projects being done around town. He stated that some of those projects are funded by federal stimulus dollars, some by state dollars and some from local funding. He stated that in the midst of all that the Street Department was able to squeeze in repaving the parking lot at the Charles Black Center at LaSalle Park and have done an excellent job and the residents of the area are quite pleased with the work. He commended the street department for a job well done. Secondly, he stated that effective July 3, 2010 he will be removing the salary freeze instituted in 2009 and 2010 on more than 300 non-bargaining employees. For the rest of the year they will be paid within levels specified in the 2010 Salary Ordinance. He stated that ordinance provided for a two percent salary increase for non-bargaining employees. For budgetary reason they continued to pay them at 2008 salary levels. Now that they are half way through the year he said that he can project that this added salary expense can be covered within their existing budget. He stated that the five percent (5%) voluntary salary cut by senior staff will also be rescinded. The cost to the budget for these actions will be less than $200,000. No additional appropriations are required. He stated that he is deeply grateful to city staff for the sacrifices they have made to help us through these difficult economic times. He stated that he believes that by implementing this half-year pay increase is fiscally responsible and a matter of fairness. He stated that the collective bargaining employees have negotiated salary and or pension increases during this time that non-bargaining staff have fallen behind. All employees have seen cuts in their benefits. Now, due to cost savings staff positions held open and staff taking on additional duties, and with lower health care benefit expenses that they had projected, are able to institute this modest raise for the employees who have not had an increase since January 2008. He stated that as they being to work on the 2011 budget, this action puts all employees on a level field for future modest raises. He stated that they will continue to be fiscally conservative in budgeting for city services, seeking more efficiencies and increased growth, striving to balance fair compensation for the staff with fairness to the tax payers. RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 7:13 p.m. Councilmember Henry Davis made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. Councilmember Puzzello, Chairperson, presiding. Councilmember Puzzello explained the procedures to be followed for tonight’s meeting in accordance with Article 1, Section 2-11 of the South Bend Municipal Code. Councilmember Puzzello stated that a brochure may be found on the railing in the Council Chambers explaining those procedures. 2