09-26-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 Councilmember LaFountain, Chairperson, Personnel and Finance Committee, reported that this committee met on this bill and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Mayor Stephen Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mayor Luecke advised that the salary bill that they had submitted for the Council’s consideration generally provides a 2% increase in wages for non-bargaining employees for the City of South Bend. He stated that there are a few positions that have a larger increase than that which has been discussed in Council Committee. Mayor Luecke asked for the Council favorable consideration on this bill. Councilmember White asked Mayor Luecke to explain to the public the rationale for those positions receiving more than a 2% increase. Mayor Luecke stated that these are positions that during the budget process department heads came to the administration and indicated that there had been either an increase in responsibility for that position or again and in particular he think of the communication specialists in the 911 center that they are under paid compared to the market and it was important to increase those dollars to be able to retain employees that we have unfortunately become a farm league for some of the other communication centers in the region. He stated that they would train people and then they would move on to other places where they had fewer calls to take and higher salaries. He stated that was the rationale for those increases. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember White made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember LaFountain seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 59-11 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA APPROPRIATING $95,000 FROM GENERAL FUND #101 TO PURCHASE AND SPECIALLY EQUIP FOUR (4) POLICE VEHICLES Councilmember White, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety Committee, reported that this committee met on this bill and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Dieter disclosed that he is a member of the South Bend Police Department. He stated that he has filed his disclosure statement with the State of Indiana, St. Joseph County Clerk, and the Office of the City Clerk, and after discussion with Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand it was determined that no conflict exists. Mr. Gary Horvath, Services Division Chief, South Bend Police, 701 W. Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Horvath sated that this bill would appropriate $95,000 from the General Fund #101, for the purchase of four (4) investigative Administrative Police vehicles including all necessary emergency equipment, lights, siren, speakers, etc. Mr. Horvath advised that the monies used to fund the vehicle acquisition will be from existing cash balance in the general fund which has accumulated over the last twenty-four (24) months, from insurance settlements received from third party insurance carriers for vehicle damages caused by third party events. He stated the city has a current balance of $113,110 6