03-10-75 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 10, 1975 REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) March 9, 1975 Mr. Walter T. Kopczynski Chairman - Administration and Finance Committee Councilman - Sixth District 441 County -City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 Dear Councilman Kopczynski: I am in receipt of your letter dated March 3, 1975, concerning the employees list and vendor list. As in the past, the Council will receive a copy of the employees list which will be filed in the City Clerk's Office. However, I have several reserva- tions concerning your request for a copy of the computerized vendors list. As you are aware, any vendor contracting with public agencies can be wrongfully subjected to pressures, both political and otherwise, in their business. They can be harrassed by charitable and social groups if the list gets into their hands and is used for their solicitation purposes. For these reasons, I have not allowed the vendors list to be given to any charitable group or to the Civic Center Authority to be used in the current fund drive for the Century Center. I must also point out that the only reason such a list exists is to provide proper coding for data input in our financial reporting system as it is now computerized. Therefore, I must ask that you initiate a formal request through the Common Council body for this particular list. I must also ask that in your request you state what the list is to be used for and what your particular interest in the list consists of. If these requests are fulfilled, and the Common Council formally asked the City Administration to put a copy of the vendors list in the City Clerk's Office, I will do so. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Very sincerely, s/ James V. Barcome Controller JVB:md Director - Administration and Finance cc: Mayor Jerry J. Miller Walter Lantz, Chief Deputy Controller All Council Members Councilman Kopczynski stated that, in 1973, a list of the vendors was furnished the Clerk's Office Mr. Barcome disagreed with that statement. Councilman Kopczynski stated that he was requesting this information as chairman of the Finance Committee and this was part of his duties as chairman. Mr. Barcome stated that, if the Council desired this information, he would furnish it upon a forma request from the Council. Councilman Kopczynski produced the copy of the vendor list he had obtained in 1973. He then made a motion that the Controller furnish the Council with the names of employees and vendors in order to reconcile the city budget, as per Mr. Barcome's request. Councilman Miller stated that the employee list had been provided. He stated that Councilman Kopczynski was now requesting the list of the vendors and amounts paid to them in 1974. He seconded the motion to request a vendor list showing the total amounts disbursed to them. There was a question on the motion, and Councilman Kopczynski re- stated his motion: That the Controller furnish the Council with all the names of employees and vendors that the city paid wages or did business with and the amount of money paid to each. Councilman Nemeth suggested that the motion refer to the computer printout and Councilman Kopczynski agreed. Councilman Miller seconded the re- stated motion. He then stated that Mr. Barcome had indicated in his letter that the vendor list was used only for the purpose of proper coding for data input in the city's financial reporti system. He asked if Mr. Barcome would deny that the vendor list was used in order to solicit fund for the Mayor's testimonial dinner recently held. Mr. Barcome stated that the vendor list had not been used. Many people were solicited for the testimonial by Mr. Liss. Over the years, several lists of different people have been compiled on an individual basis; however, no particular list was used for political activities. Councilman Miller indicated that the list was needed to determine a reasonable balance of city funds being disbursed with the various vendors in the city. He felt this was a part of the review by the Claims Committee. Council President Parent stated that this information was available through a study of the claims. He made a motion to amend the original motion to include that the information be placed on file in the City Clerk's Office, seconded by Councilman Miller. There was a call for the question, and the amendment to the motio carried. The motion, as amended, then carried. Council President Parent indicated that the Mayor had recommended four persons to the Fair Campaig Practices Commission. He indicated that those four individuals were Irving Smith, Dorothy Scheer, Gordon Medlock and Louvenia Cain. He read a brief biographical sketch of each individual pro- posed. Councilman Newburn made a motion to approve the names as proposed by Mayor Miller, seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. Councilman Nemeth wondered if there would be a conflict of interests concerning Mr. Smith as he was serving on the Democratic Central Committee and was now being appointed to the Fair Campaign Practices Commission. Mr. James Barcome, City Controller, indicated that a city committee would be appointed after the primary. He was sure that Mr. Smith would not be a member of that committee. He stated that Mr. Smith would not have anything to do with finances. Councilman Nemeth stated that the county chairman checks matters with the Central Committee and this dealt with the campaign. He maintained there would be a conflict of interests. He questioned whether or not this would be fair to all democratic candidates. Councilman Serge stated that the Election Board was a very respectable organization. He could not understand why the board was not appointed. Mr. Barcome stated that the County Election Board had expressed the desire not to serve as the Fair Campaign Practices Commission. Councilman Newburn made a motion to close debate, seconded by Councilman Serge. The motion carried, with Council President Parent objecting. He indicated that he had wished to make a few comments. There was a call for the