05-28-96 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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A Comm Wee Z port: Personnel and Finance Committee to tit Common QCouitufl of he ett1 of ifiouttj Istn : The May 28, 1996,meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee was called to order by its Chairperson Council Member Steve Luecke at 4:10 P.M. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Kelly, Pfeifer, Coleman, Varner, Washington, Broden, Zakrzewski, Hosinski, and Luecke; Mary Wadsworth, Jenny Pitts- Manier, Gary Eritz, Mr. Jensen,Jeff Rinard, Kathy Dempsey, John Byorni, Jeff Gibney, Ernie Szarwark, Gene Oakly, Mike Urbanski, Ed Levy, Don Porter, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. The first item on the agenda was to review Bill No. 36-96 which would appropriate$107, 880.00 from the General Fund; $31, 402.00 from the Cumulative Capitol Development Fund and $350, 670.00 from the Economic Development Income Tax Fund. Mr. Jeff Rinard made the presentation. He noted that the General Fund request is for the remodeling of the first floor of the old fire station on Olive Street to be used for the Animal Control Program; the the CCDF request is for the replacement of one police vehicle and cages to be used by Animal Control; and that the EDIT Fund would be for the Interchange Project in the Blackthorn area improvements on Meade Street and downtown improvements. He then reviewed the line item detail attached to the proposed Bill. Mr.Rinard then reviewed Bill No. 37-96 which would create a division of Animal Control within the General Fund and decrease the Division of Code Enforcement budget by $180, 872.00. Kathy Dempsey,the director of Code Enforcement joined in the presentation and reviewed two hand-outs (copy attached)one entitled"Animal Control Building rehabitation"and the other entitled"Animal Control Statistics". It was noted that the fire station in question needs new plumbing, heating, electrical and a new roof.In response to a question raised by Council Member Varner,it was noted that the projected revenues were based on current actuals. During the public portion Mr. Gary Eritz of 1515 Wildflower Way,voiced concern in light of the South Bend Tribune Article highlighting the proposed appropriations.He noted that in the past fees were split between the Humane Society and the City and noted that depreciation and amortization was not included in the proposed projections by the City. Overall he spoke in opposition to the proposed appropriations. Mr. Jensen noted that he and various other individuals had collected 3, 212 signatures in opposition to the proposed expenditures. He noted that the January 4, 1996 South Bend Tribune Editorial which stated that the City was making a`Big Mistake"by going into the Animal Control business is true. He voice concern with regard to the duplication of services and urged the Council to have the negotiations between the City and the Humane Society reopened.