01-04-77 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 4, 1977 REGULAR MEETING Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend met in the Council Chambers of the County -City Building on Monday, January 4, 1977, at 7:00 p.m., Council President Roger 0. Parent presiding. The meeting was called to order and the Pledge to the Flag was given. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Council Members Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Taylor, Kopczynski, Adams, Dombrowski, Horvath and Parent. ABSENT: None Council Member Serge made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The motion carried. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend met in the Committee of the Who] on Monday, January 4, 1977, at 7:00 p.m., with nine members present. Chairman Frank Horvath pre- siding. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $18,000 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING, FOR VARIOUS CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF LAW. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and op- ponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Thomas Brunner, City Attorney, made the pre - sentation for the ordinance. He indicated the interns supplement the Deputy Attorneys' workload by researching questions of law, and also handle numerous citizen complaints and requests. He said that as a result of the interns' work, the deputy attorneys are able to spend their time on more complex matters. He said this program was essential if the Department of Law was to render competent service to the City. He said he was requesting this $18,000 from revenue sharing funds for 1977 to fund their salaries. He indicated this was the exact amount they operated on last yea l. Council Member Kopczynski made a motion to recommend this ordinance to the Council favorable, seco d- ed by Council Member Dombrowski. Council President Parent asked how many interns were on the pay- roll. Mr. Brunner indicated there were four paid out of revenue sharing and three who were funded out of Wastewater. Council President Parent asked if all the legal interns worked out of Mr. Brunner's department. He indicated they all worked out of the Legal Department. The motion car- ried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $300,048.00 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING, FOR OPERATIOI'N OF CENTURY CENTER, TO BE ADMINIS- TERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and op- ponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Walter Lantz, Chief Deputy Controller, made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated this was the operating budget for Century Center He asked for an amendment to the ordinance covering three line items. He asked that account 221.0 electric current be reduced from $125,000 to $87,000, account 223.0 heat, be increased from $2,284 to $40,000, and account 224.0 water, be increased from $360 to $644. He said this change would not exceed the total of the three line items. Council Member Kopczynski made a motion to amend the ordinance as requested by the Administration, seconded by Council President Parent. The motio carried. Mr. Lantz indicated that a portion of this budget was for the entire year, such as, salaries, heat, electric and water, and other line items are for two or three months that the Century Center will be -in operation. Mr. Gene Evans, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, questioned the $23,500 budgeted for promotion. He wanted to know what type of pro- motion was going to be made, and what were they promoting. Mr. Lantz indicated they would be promoting Century Center. He said this would cover the cost of brochures, booklets and other type of promotional material. Mr. Patrick McMahon, Director of the Department of Public Works, indicat d that.the promotion money would go toward different activities that must be promoted on a long -rang basis, such as, conventions which are usually reserved two years in advance. Mr. Evans indicated that this might be a duplication of work with the Convention Bureau. Mr. McMahon indicated that the Convention Bureau was going to continue with their efforts, however, they did not just pro- mote -the Century Center, but other facilities in the City. Council President Parent indicated tha the salary of the director was $20,916, but this salary was supplemented, and he wanted to know from what fund it would be supplemented. Mr. Lantz indicated that the salary was supplemented in the past, but he did not think there would be any supplement in the future from public funds. Council President Parent asked what salary the position was advertised. Council Member Miller in- dicated $20,916, with no intent to subsidize. Council Member Kopczynski indicated that he questio - ed whether it would be ethical for this salary to be supplemented from private funds, since it wou d be a conflict of interest._ He indicated he thought the Council should make it clear that there will be no supplement from private funds, and if that comes to pass he believed that person should be removed from that position. Council Member Miller indicated that if the person has a private interest in a sense this would be "moon- lighting" and the Council does not regulate this. Council Member Adams questioned the trash pickup at $1,900, and asked if this could be done by the City. Mr. Lantz indicated that figure was for the.entire year and was an estimate of the cost. He in- dicated that the ordinance would have to be amended to permit the City to handle the trash pickup since it only covers private residences. Council Member Adams indicated that the amount budgeted for elevator maintenance seemed low. Mr. Lantz indicated that this was a minimum service contract for three months. Council Member Serge indicated he felt they would not get a qualified building engineer at a salary of $15,000 per year. Mr. McMahon indicated they have received applications for the job. Council Member Kopczynski made a motion to recommend this ordinance, as amended, to the Council favorable, seconded by Council Member Serge. The motion carried.