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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2012 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />other cities in a State like Indiana. He stressed that in many cases this could pay for <br />itself. He mentioned earlier in his financial address that the City in embarking on its <br />largest environmental public works project in the history of the community. The bill for <br />that project is somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 million dollars. If we have a <br />leader who is talented and experienced and qualified enough to identify even a 1% <br />savings through better leadership of the department that person is saving $5 million <br />dollars for the taxpayers of the City of South Bend. He also stressed that he recognizes <br />these are difficult economic times and is not seeking this lightly for that very reason he <br />took a pass on opportunity to have his own pay raise that was passed by the previous <br />Council. He stated that he donated that back to the City. He stated that he would not be <br />asking for this if he did not think it was very important for these positions. He also <br />stressed that these are not salary levels these are maximum salary levels and the more <br />head room that they have in being able to attract good candidates the less necessary it <br />would be to offer the maximum salary allowed by the law just to get the applicant they <br />would like through the door. He stated that he does not know whether this is a popular <br />bill. He stated that he does know that it is very important to his effort to deliver on what <br />he was elected to do, which is to deliver major improvements in the transparency <br />efficiency and cost effectiveness of city services. He stated that he believes having the <br />right people in the right positions is critical for our organization just as it is for any <br />organization. Mayor Buttigieg believes that this may be one of those moments that they <br />are called upon to make a distinction between what is popular and what is wise. He <br />stated that he believes this to be wise enough that by the time all of us are facing the <br />voters accountable for our decisions the improvement and the difference that this will <br />have made will be seen and very easy to defend indeed. <br /> <br />Councilmember White stated that due to the lack of time this afternoon in the Personnel <br />& Finance Committee this will be the opportunity to ask questions of the petitioner. <br /> <br /> Council Member Dieter asked what parameters are going to be placed on the new <br />employees to be required to live within the City Limits of South Bend. <br /> <br />Mayor Buttigieg stated that he would make every effort to encourage anybody who is <br />new to the community to locate in South Bend with all the influence at his disposal. He <br />stated that it is not part of the letter of the law in terms of the bill he is brining before the <br />Council. He stated that this is something that he believes in as well. He stated that it is a <br />great benefit for anybody who is being paid South Bend funds to work on South Bend <br />issues to live within the City Limits if at all possible. <br /> <br />Councilmember Gavin Ferlic asked if the Mayor had candidates identified or potential <br />candidates identified for these positions. <br /> <br />Mayor Buttigieg stated yes, in many cases though he does not have as many candidates or <br />as experienced candidates as he would because he has not been able to provide them with <br />any certainty about what the salary is going to be. He stated that there is very much an <br />urgency here and very much appreciates Chairperson White being flexible about the <br />committee process in recognition of the urgency that he and his administration face in <br />filling some of these key posts. <br /> <br />Councilmember Varner questioned Mayor Buttigieg what he meant by with better hires <br />perhaps savings could be accrued. Councilmember Varner stated that with the prior <br />administration they came to the Council with the automated garbage trucks and the <br />savings that it would have on manpower. He stated that when he reviewed the budget the <br />following August to look for those savings he did not find them. He asked the Public <br />Works Director and was given the answer that those positions were reassigned to other <br />positions. He stated that he doesn’t doubt that there were savings. However if those <br />savings are used for something else and are not used productively and are not reflected at <br />some point and time don’t mean a whole lot. Those savings need to be quantified and <br />objectively point to them. He stated that he still has doubts about this bill, but hopes that <br />Mayor Buttigieg proves him wrong. <br /> <br /> 9 <br /> <br />