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<br />Council Member Braboy made a motion to combine the two supplemental reports for
<br />purposes of voting for Council Member Paszek's resignation, seconded by Council
<br />- Member Puzzello. The motion failed on a roll call vote of two ayes and seven nays.
<br />Council Member Braboy made a motion that the Section of the Municipal Code that
<br />deals with the Rules Committee be amended, seconded by Council Member Beck. The
<br />motion carried on a roll call vote of nine ayes.
<br />Council Member Voorde read his supplemental statement. He made a motion the Council
<br />support a request to Al Paszek that he resign from the Economic Development
<br />Commission, seconded by Council Member Braboy. The motion failed on a roll call
<br />vote of two ayes (Council Members Braboy and Voorde) and seven nays.
<br />City Clerk, Irene Gammon, read the following statement of censure:
<br />STATEMENT OF PUBLIC CENSURE
<br />OF THE
<br />COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND
<br />The undersigned members of the South Bend Common Council, consisting a majority
<br />of said body, hereby utterly and totally condemn the statements made by
<br />Councilman -at -Large Al E. Paszek in his telephone interview with the South Bend
<br />Tribune Reporter, James Wensists on June 23, 1986.
<br />WITNESSETH:
<br />WHEREAS, The South Bend Common Council, the Legislative Branch of the City of
<br />South Bend, hereby confirms its relief in human dignity and the equality of all
<br />persons regardless of their race, color, sex, handicap, creed, national origin or
<br />ancestry.
<br />WHEREAS, the South Bend Common Council, hereby reaffirms its belief that it is,
<br />and should be, the public policy of the City of South Bend to provide to all of its
<br />citizens equal opportunity for education, employment, housing, and all other things
<br />which our Constitution guarantees in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
<br />WHEREAS, the South Bend Common Council recognizes that it faces the greatest
<br />challenge that it has ever faced before in the history of our City;
<br />WHEREAS, THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THAT:
<br />"We live in a free and open society; that is where our strength and
<br />greatness lies. We do not hide our faults behind a wall; we do not try to
<br />bury our mistakes; we do not conceal incidents, even though they are
<br />shameful..."
<br />WHEREAS, the South Bend Common Council recognizes that countless individuals
<br />have given their lives "to carry out a dream to try to end the divisions that have
<br />existed so deeply in our Country" and have worked to "develop wisdom, compassion,
<br />and a sense of justice toward those who still suffer, whether they be white or
<br />black ", rich or poor, aged or youth.
<br />WHEREAS, the remarks of one of our members have set off a tidal wave throughout
<br />our Community which has shook its very core; a
<br />WHEREAS, Councilman Paszek's failure to provide either an explanation or an
<br />apology in a timely fashion has further compounded the hurt; and
<br />WHEREAS, that since the members of the Common Council represent the entire
<br />Community and all citizens regardless of their age, wealth, race, ethnic background,
<br />or sex, the Council must be keenly aware of the needs and desires of the persons it
<br />serves in this capacity of public trust.
<br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
<br />INDIANA, as follows:
<br />SECTION i. The South Bend Common council must ask our colleague,
<br />Councilman -at -Large Al E. Paszek to accept the findings of the Council Rules
<br />Committee, and therefore PUBLICLY CENSURES him for his remarks made on June 23,
<br />1986.
<br />SECTION II. The South Bend Common Council acknowledges the need to heal the
<br />wounds in our Community created by the statements of Councilman
<br />Paszek.
<br />SECTION III. The South Bend Common Council encourages all South Bend
<br />residents to reflect upon this incident so that we can begin anew, today,
<br />to rededicate our lives to the high ideals of respect for all individuals
<br />and the opportunity to "right wrongs" when pursuing justice and freedom.
<br />/s/ Joseph T. Serge
<br />Member of the Common Council
<br />/s/ Thomas Zakrzewski
<br />Member of the Common Council
<br />/s /Beverlie J. Beck
<br />Member of the Common Council
<br />/s/ Robert G. Taylor
<br />Member of the Common Council
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