07-24-72 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 24, 1972 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) be used at Station 10 so they do not need that amount of money for a tanker and are asking for the transfer to the repair parts account so that they can carry on their maintenance program. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, said that everyone wants the Fire Department equipment to be in top shapes but,from now on, any funds to be spent will have to be by reduction of another budgeted item to conserve the balance in the General Fund. She asked Chief Bland if this would be depleting the Motor Equipment Fund too much and if he thought they would be able to carry on until the end of the year. Chief Bland said that he would hate to make a projection that the funds would last. This transfer would leave a $13,000 balance in the account. Councilman Kopczynski asked Chief Bland to specify what major parts he expects to buy. Chief Bland said that they will have to put a new block in a ladder truck and overhaul Engine 4 which has a severe oil leak. He stressed that these are not nuts and bolts purchases but major repair items. Councilman Miller asked Chief Bland if, in the light of what known repairs are needed, more money should be transferred at this time. Chief Bland said that there will be another resolution presented to the Council within the next few weeks. He said they are trying to look realistically at the problem of what will be needed for the rest of the year. Councilman Szymkowiak made a motion that the ordinarc e go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Taylor, and carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,500.00 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO ACCOUNT W -37, "OTHER SUPPLIES" IN THE RADIO DEPARTMENT BUDGET, SAID ACCOUNT BEING WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard thereon. Mr. William J. Richardson, Director of Public Works, explained that the Communications Department does contract maintenance work for the Community School Corporation and the Water Utilities Department. $2693 is now due in Accounts Receivable from them. When this money is received, it will be put into the General Fund. Councilman Nemeth said that all department heads received a letter early this year asking that all requests for transfers and additional appropriations be accompanied by a letter of explanation, attached to the ordinance and filed with the City Clerk. He said that since there was no letter attached to this ordinance, he would move that any action on this ordinance be delayed until a written explanation was received. Councilman Parent seconded the motion and it was carried. Miss Guthrie said that the city cannot afford any additional appropriations for the balance of the year. She said that there must be a balance on hand January 1, 1973 to carry over until the city gets miscellaneous income. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $97,500 FROM THE LOCAL ROAD AND STREET FUND TO THE ACCOUNT "SERVICES CONTRACTUAL" WITHIN THE LOCAL ROAD AND STREET FUND. This being the time heretofore sec for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard thereon. Mr. William Richardson, Director of Public Works, explained that this is a project for four- laning Rendix Drive from Lincolnway West north to the South Shore tracks. 75% of this money will come from our Local Road and Street Fund account held in Indianapolis which is from the 7th and 8th cents of the gasoline tax. The city's share will come from the Cumulative Capital Improvement Fund. Councilman Miller asked if this work would include the intersection of Lincolnway West and Bendix Drive. Mr. Richardson replied that the intersection wqs not part of the project. The State Highway Department is resurfacing Lincolnway West from Bendix Drive east to LaSalle Street. The intersection of Bendix, Lincolnway and Ardmore Trail, will be done some time in 1973. Councilman Kopczynski made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. Motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FIXING MAXIMUM SALARIES AND WAGES OF APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA FOR THE YEAR 1973. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard thereon. Mayor Miller gave a presentation for the ordinance and said that department heads were present and would be glad to answer any questions. He said they had made adjustments for some employees and tried to give fair compen- sation for the work performed. They are recommending a 5.5% increase for all salaries under $8000 a year, a $300 increase for those making $8000 to $14,999 and no increase on salaries over $15,000. They feel these recommendations are a fair increase for city employees, based on the cost of living increases and urge the Council to follow these recommendations. He said they are open to suggestions from the Council. Mr. Kenneth Buhle, of the Teamsters Union, read a state- ment urging that the Council accept the Administration's proposal for a 5.5% increase in wages. He said that there are inequities between the private sector of business and public employees and said he hoped that this Council would not further relegate its employees of the city to second class status. Mrs. Pat Forhan, 838 North Main Street, President of the Women's Political Caucus, urged the Council to pass the Mayor's proposed 5.5% increase. She said it has been rumored that the Council is going to make drastic cuts in the categories of Secretaries, Stenog- raphers and Clerks salaries. She said that the Women's Political Caucus objects to singling out the categories involving women employees for these cuts. She said this will widen the disparity between men and women in salaries and asked that the Council narrow it instead. She then dis- played a chart showing the many inequities between salaries of men and women. Mrs. Frederick Mutzl, 320 Parkovash, a member of the Fair Tax Association, said that the Council members have a copy of the letter the Association sent to members of the previous Council at last year's meeting on salaries. The Association is recommending a 3% increase in salaries. She said that since the State Legislature did not provide for property tax relief, we cannot afford any more increase. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, read a letter from the organization opposing a 5.5% increase. She said that actual figures of the increase in wages would really amount to 7.4 %. She recommended that the Council keep the maximum increase to 3 %. Miss Fanny Grunwald, 227 S. Francis Street, said that those on a fixed income must also face the increase in the cost of living with no increase in income. She said that the number of people living in South Bend who are on a fixed income is increasing and that they are trying to keep their homes and keep them repaired. Mrs. Janet Allen., 125 W. Marion Street, said that the salary ordinance was confusing because of changes in classification and title and changes from hourly to weekly wages. She said that with the change in administration and the new people who have come in, they should not have the same increase in