11-01-94 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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I Commttttt Ztport: Health and Public Safety Committee �0 tbt lCOmmott t0untUY of the City of ffi0utrj Stub: The November 1, 1994 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Eugene Ladewski at 4:40 P.M. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Puzzello, Kelly, Slavinskas, Zakrzewski,Washington,Coleman, and Ladewski; Fire Chief Luther Taylor,Police Chief Ron Marciniak, Irene Gammon, Jo Ann Harper, Mayor Kernan, Richard Nussbaum, Kevin Horton,Jeff Rinard,John Broden,Don Porter, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Council Member Ladewski noted that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss what should be appropriate retirement gifts for Public Safety Personnel of the City of South Bend. He noted that the Committee members had received a copy of South Bend Municipal Code Sec.2-124 setting forth the current policy for retiring Police Officers and that they had also been sent copies of the two Resolutions recently adopted by the Board of Public Safety and the Board of Public Works addressing the proposed Fire Department policy on fire helmets. Police Chief Ron Marciniak noted that he brought this concern informally to the attention of the City in light of the fact that the Department has recently been issued"Semi- Automatics" and these are not within the definition of a "Service Revolver". The Chief noted that they are commonly referred as a sidearm and that the Department could get by without such a policy however it is an important policy to the officers. He noted that the sidearm is often seen as their partner and that it is a morale issue. Council Member Slavinskas noted that in 1988 the compelling reason for the Council to pass such an Ordinance was to show a "token of appreciation" for retiring officers. He noted that at that time Council President Niezgodski was a retired Police Officer himself and provided insight on this topic. Council Member Slavinskas noted that he voted against the issue then and believes it is an awkward issue since he believes that recognition of our Police Department Officers is most appropriate. He stated that he would hope that through good pay and good working conditions that the Council's support of the Department and all their people would be realized. He further noted that he has a concern by taking good useful equipment out of service especially when the Common Council is charged with being the stewart of the financial assets of the City. Council Member Slavinskas also voiced concern with regard to potential liability if a retired officer would ever use a service weapon and question whether a policy could be developed where the weapon would be returned to the City upon the death or incompetency of the individual retired officer. Council President Puzzello noted that there is also a safety issue after retirement which was discussed at length when Council Member Niezgodski was on the Council. Chief Marciniak confirmed the safety issue. Council President Puzzello stated that she saw the Council's action as a positive gesture however is bothered like Council Member Slavinskas if these weapons are indeed sold by the officers after they retire.