01-13-75 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 13, 1975 ji REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) RESOLUTION NO. 466 -75 (CONTINUED) NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana: SECTION I. That the resolution adopted by the Board of Public Works of the City of South Bend on the 6th day of January, 1975, finding that the hereinafter described real estate is not necessary to the public use and is no longer needed and is not set aside by the State of Indiana or the City of South Bend for public purposes, and further finding that the valuation of each parcel of real estate is established in the amount set forth after each parcel, is hereby approved and confirmed. SECTION II. The real estate hereinafter described is now ordered sold to the Department of Redevelopment of the City of South Bend for the sum of Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00), and said real estate is described as follows: Parcel No. Legal Description 66 -34 Lot numbered 48 in Elder City of South Bend and as plat thereof in Plat Book Office of the Recorder of Indiana. Price Place, now within the $800.00 shown on the recorded 5, Page 13, in the St. Joseph County, SECTION III. This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council and its approval by the Mayor. s/ Walter T. Kopczynski Member of the Common Council A public hearing was held at this time on the resolution. Mr. Robert Parker, Chief Deputy City Attorney, explained that the Board of Public Works had adopted a resolution authorizing the sale by the city to the Department of Redevelopment of one tract of real estate for the sum of $800. He stated that this piece of property was not included in the prior resolution adopted in December because the title was not clear at that time. There were no questions or comments. Councilman Serge made a motion to adopt the resolution, seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. The resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of nine ayes (Councilmen Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Parent, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Newburn and Nemeth). RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND TO GRANT THE PRESS PERMISSION TO ATTEND COUNCIL CAUCUSES. A public hearing was held at this time on the resolution. Councilman Kopczynski indicated that he had proposed the resolution because he felt the press had a right to be aware of the caucuses of the Council. He felt this had been a matter of controversy more than once in the past, and he felt the press could better inform the public on the issues before the Council if they could be allowed to attend Council caucus sessions. He referred to a letter he had received from the Council President wherein it was stated that "it has always been the personal prerogative of any one councilman to ask members of the press and media not to attend any particular Council caucus ". He stated that he had looked up the meaning of the word "prerogative" and in some dictionaries it meant "the right reserved for kingship ". He stated that none of the councilmen were kings, and he felt the resolution should be adopted. Councilman Szymkowiak made a motion to adopt the resolution, seconded by Councilman Nemeth. Councilman Newburn felt that each councilman should have the opportunity to really express himself on certain controversial matters, and he felt it was not necessary for the press to cover meetings of that nature. Councilman Taylor indicated that he would later make a motion to strike the resolution. Councilman Serge felt some of the caucuses should be private and that each councilman should be allowed to speak without the press being present. Councilman Miller wondered if there was an attempt to make this a political internz Council point. He felt that, at times, the caucuses should not be made public if, for example, one specific individual was being discussed. He stated that the basic function of the Council was to arrive at decision openly, and he indicated that he generally supported the resolution with the understanding that the caucus meetings held by the Council referred to the whole Council and not committee meetings. He made a motion to amend the resolution to add the following phrase "sitting as a body" in Section I where it referred to meetings held by the Council. Councilman Serge seconded the motion. Councilman Newburn felt that certain caucuses should be private solely for the purpose of analyzing a specific issue. Councilman Horvath stated that he was not against having the press present at certain caucuses; however, he, too, felt some caucuses should be close( under certain circumstances. Councilman Nemeth felt the press was responsible and the public had the right to know what was being discussed because the Council was a public body and conducted public business. He stated that he would vote in favor of the resolution for "openess in government ". Councilman Taylor indicated that the resolution was prompted because of a closed caucus session held the prior week. He stated that, there was not a motion at that time to allow the press to attend. He felt the resolution was "political horseplay ". Councilman Serge again repeated what he had said earlier. Councilman Kopczynski indicated that, at one time, a vote was taken on whether or not the Council should allow the press to attend caucus meetings. He stated that, at the last caucus meeting, one certain individual would not allow the press to attend when, in the past, a motion had been made to allow the press to be present. He briefly referred to the Florida Sunshine Law and opened sessions for the press. Councilman Szymkowiak indicated that he had not been present at the caucus meeting because of illness; however, he stated that he would have allowed the press to be present if he had been present. Council President Parent stated that the resolution was an insult to the Council and to himself, in his opinion. He felt it was repre- sentative of the kind of leadership he abhored. He wondered how many times during the last three years the press had not been given complete information. He also wondered how many times the press had not been allowed to be present under Council President Nemeth. He felt the record of the Council was extremely good as far as open meetings. He also stated that he had been personally involved in opening various meetings to the public. He indicated that the resolution was complete: !1 FY P-1 J 111'.1-11