08-17-00 Council Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 17.2000 stated that she did not know which presentation to make in light of the results of the vote by firefighters. Therefore, she called upon Mr. Leon Stein, President, Local #362, Firefighters Association to advise the Council on the outcome of the vote. Mr. Stein informed the Council that .in February they gave the Council a presentation on their staffing and the ranking in the state among other cities for a pension base. In 1999, the City of South Bend was ranked ninety -three (93) out of one hundred four (104). In the year 2000, the City was ranked ninety (90) out of one hundred seven (107). For years the pension base has been low in South Bend. It was felt that the Council did address their needs for the pension base. However, there are other areas in contract language that they still have a few problems with. He noted that the membership had concerns about insurance for retirees and the out of pocket for the preferred provider as well as concerns about holiday pay. Mr. Stein thanked the Council for negotiating with the firefighers and informed the Council that a small per cent of the firefighers abstained from voting but that the contract was ratified with a majority voting to ratify the contract under protest. They felt some of the issues were not clear in the language to be voting on and there are still some grey areas that need to be addressed. Council Attorney Cekanski- Farrand advised that she is making the presentation on behalf of the Council, the negotiating team which consisted of Councilmembers Aranowski, Ujdak, White and Kelly as well Cathy Roemer, City Controller, Tom Bodnar, Attorney for the Board of Public Safety and Attorney Cheryl Greene. She noted that since the mid 1980's the City has been using a joint format of using a City negotiating team to represent the Board of Public Safety who deal with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the working conditions of the Police and Fire Department, the City Council who address monetary issues, the City administration who provides goal setting, and the fire department administration. Attorney Cekanski- Farrand gave a brief overview of the process which began in February of this year to begin their strategy with regard to goal setting. Many questions were raised to where they would like to see the Fire Department in the next several years. They reviewed the last session which was held in 1996 and compared that to where the department is this year. Many executive sessions were held. Three goals were set out. One, to have a multi- year agreement with four (4) years being suggested. Second, to establish competitive wages which were affordable by the City and third to address pension base. Attorney Cekanski- Farrand also noted that the Collective Bargaining Agreement will be acted upon separately by the Board of Public Safety. Mayor Stephen Luecke commended and thanked both teams for their work and long hours and for the successful agreement that has been reached. He noted that he believes that the best agreement is reached at the negotiating table and he believes that the process that the City went through exemplifies that. He commended the Council for their strong first position in the negotiations that showed where the City wanted to go with this matter. The package begins to make improvements immediately for the firefighers and in particular in the pension base by increasing the pension base amount in four (4) years more than what done in the previously fourteen (14) years. He noted that he realizes that it is very difficult process for all involved and he recommended favorable approval of the ordinance. Councilmember Aranowski noted that as a member of the team and chairperson of the Personnel and Finance Committee he would like to thank the firefighers negotiating team. He noted that their overall goal was to provide public safety in this community as well as for the safety of the firefighters and good wages. The number one goal was the pension base as well as parity. Another issue was that the firefighers wanted the Common Council to become very active in the negotiations. Those three goals were met. The Council knows the financial position of the City and they recognize the sacrifices the firefighers have made over a number of years. He stated that the City was aggressive and put out a very good package that would move the firefighters into better pay over the next four (4) years. Councilmember Aranowski noted that the Collective Bargaining Agreement language was addressed in issues of safety and shift strength.