02-11-08 Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting

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y.a_.._ ~-~.,~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ __~ i ,~ Personnel and Finance Standing Committee 2008 South Bend Common Council The February 11, 2008 meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee of the South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Thomas LaFountain at 3:31 p.m. the Council's Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Dieter, LaFountain, Varner, White, Kirsits, Rouse, Henry Davis, Jr., Puzzello and Oliver Davis; Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, City Clerk John Voorde, Interim City Controller John Murphy, Mark Lyons, Martha Lewis, Rita Kopola, Donald Pinckert, Jamie Loo of the South Bend Tribune and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member LaFountain noted that the Committee Members include Dr. Varner, who serves as Vice-Chairperson, Council Members Oliver Davis, AI "Buddy" Kirsits and himself, who serves as Chairperson. 2"d Substitute Bill No. 10-08 Fixing Maximum Salaries for Non-Bargaining City Employees: Council Member LaFoutain called for a formal presentation on 2"d Substitute Bill No. 10- 08 which would amend Ordinance No. 9790-07 which established the maximum salaries and wages of appointed officers and non-bargaining employees of the City of South Bend for calendar year 2008. Mayor Stephen J. Luecke made the formal presentation. He stated that the bill would provide an additional 1 % for the non-bargaining employees. This would bring those employees to the same percentage level as the Teamsters. The Mayor noted that the Council at his request passed the additional 1 % in a separate ordinance for the Teamsters at the last Common Council meeting, and that he was urged to file the Bill for the non-bargaining employees for a comparable wage increase. The Mayor stated that the costs for these increases can be handled within the existing budget, noting that often there are vacant positions and other savings which could be used to pay such costs. If there are not sufficient cost savings to cover such expenses, he would come back to the Council later. in the year for an additional appropriation. Mayor Luecke added that the ordinance would also correct the salary ordinance for some positions which had been omitted. With the change in Police Administration, Police Chief Boykins has determined that a new civilian position is not necessary. In response to a question from Council Member Oliver Davis, Mayor Luecke stated that both the Teamster employee ordinance and the non-bargaining employee ordinance would be retroactive to January 1, 2008.