Amending Chapter 2 Budgetary Procedures

Home Browse Search

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Mr. Lewis A. McGann -2 April 1, 1982 (3) Bill No. 27 -82 will lead to ridiculous and damaging results because it would impose extraordinary restrictions on the use of the salary ordinance and the budget. I believe those extraordinary restric- tions result more from imprecision in drafting than from the intent of the Council. Nevertheless, the resulting problems would remain. (a) For example, if the budget ordinance provided for five Equipment Operator III's,'the Depart - ment Head could not demote, for disciplinary reasons, an Equipment Operator III to the level of Equipment Operator II without a Council ordinance. (b) In similar fashion, if a Department Head deter- mined to combine two part -time positions or to divide a full -time position to save salary costs and to improve productivity, an ordinance would be required. (c) The bill would also prevent a Department Head or other supervisor from saving money through following of standard hiring procedures. For example, the Park Department has two Secretary III's in the budget. If one of those Secretary III's should resign, the Superintendent of Parks could not hire a new person as a Secretary II without having a separate ordinance passed by the Council. The Superintendent.would therefore be stymied in his flexibility to hire a new person at an entry level as is often the case. Any ordinance which has the effect of requiring the passage of an ordinance to permit a demotion, a reduction in grade as a result of change in job function, or to create a probationary period cannot be signed by me into law. I cannot believe that any reasonable person would expect a City Administration to manage the day -to -day operations of their bureaus and departments in this fashion. While I can understand that the intent of the ordinance may not have been to achieve the above - described results, the ordinance, as drafted, would have those results. As Mayor, I am accountable to the people of South Bend for the provision of City services as supported by the City Council through the budgetary process. The major responsibility of the City Council members is to pass laws and budgets which help in providing City services efficiently and at the lowest cost.