07-31-72 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING JULY 31, 1972 Council President said that the first item of business on the agenda was the Second Reading on an ORDINANCE amending the Refuse Ordinance of the City of South Bend, Indiana. Councilman Parent said that he would object to the second reading of the ordinance because of lack of time. He said that, since the ordinance is already set for public hearing on August 14th, he would like to move to set the second reading of the ordinance for August 14th the same time as the public hearing. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kopczynski and carried. ORDINANCES, FIRST AND SECOND READING ORDINANCE 5415 -72 AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF POLICEMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1973 This ordinance had first reading by title and second reading in full. Councilman Newburn moved to amend the Ordinance as follows: In Section II: Education Incentive to be paid must be for courses related to police work. Credit hours used toward incentive pay must be completed with a passing grade. Councilman Parent seconded the motion and it carried. Councilman Parent moved to amend the ordinance as follows: In Section II: For time spent in court appearances and overtime work - $5.00 per hour as determined by the Chief of Police. Councilman Kopczynski seconded the motion. Councilman Nemeth asked if this means the Chief would also determine the pay per hour. Councilman Newburn said that would remain at $5.00 per hour. Councilman Nemeth said that adding the clause to the end of the sentence might make the meaning unclear. Councilman Parent then said he would withdraw his original motion and propose another amendment as follows: For time spent in court appearances and overtime work, as determined by the Chief of Police, $5.00 per hour. Councilman Kopczynski seconded the motion to amend and it carried. Councilman Nemeth said the chair would entertain a motion to delay action on this ordinance until completion of the first and second reading on the Firemen's Pay Ordinance, so moved by Councilman Parent, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. Motion carried. ORDINANCE 5416 -72 AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF FIREMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1973. This Ordinance was given first reading by title and second reading in full. Councilman Parent made a motion that the amount in Section II, Line Six, for regularly assigned scuba divers be changed to $225 per year. Councilman Taylor seconded the motion and it carried. Councilman Taylor made a motion that the Council suspend the rules and hold public hearings on both these ordinances and third reading at this time. Councilman Horvath seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously. A public hearing was held on these ordinances at this time. Council President Nemeth asked Vice President-Szymkowiak to assume the chair. Mr. Nemeth then made a presentation for the two ordinances. The ordinances propose a 5.5% across the board pay increase for police and firemen. There have been amendments made tonight in regard to pay for scuba divers and restrictions on educational incentive pay. Also, the Chief of Police is to determine what constitutes court appearance and overtime work on the part of a police officer at the rate of pay of $5.00 per hour. The police pay ordinance does include a clause providing a $100 per month bonus for service after 20 years on the department, subject to the recommendation of the Board of Public Safety. Mr. Nemeth said that the Chiefs of both Departments were present to answer questions and that he would also be glad to try to answer any questions. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, said that her organization had recommended that all pay increases be held to 3 %. She said it is their opinion that the 5.5% guidelines must include all fringe benefits and asked if these had been included in the computation. Private John Nelson, Chairman of the Fire Department Wage Committee, said that they had applied to the pay board for a waiver and perhaps the city had received an answer to that request. Deputy City Controller Charles Watkins said that, to his knowledge, they had not received any information on this matter. Councilman Nemeth said that the changes recommended as far as the bonus is concerned would cost the city less money, because a retired policeman would receive $4000 plus dollars per year. Councilman Parent said that the 5.5% increase was based on last year's salary which included the fringe benefits, so they were not exceeding the guidelines. Mr. Carl Zwierzynski, President of the South Bend Firefighter's Association, Local 362, AFL -CIO, spoke representing members of his organization. He said that the 5.5% increase is not equal to a cost of living increase because the men won't get the increase until January, 1973. He asked why the clothing allowance for the Police Department is $300 and for the Fire Department only $250. He asked why the $100 monthly bonus was offered only to policemen who stay on the job after 20 years service. He said that a firefighter with 20 years experience, who has done his job well, has earned this also. He said that this only widens the disparity that exists between the departments now. He said you are dealing with a problem of morale when you continue with a greater disparity. He said that they had invited a Councilman to bring his colleagues to one of the fire stations to gain some infor- mation about the department but no one showed up. Fire Chief Jack R. Bland spoke to the Council on the subject of disparity. He said that in the mid- 1960's, as Chairman of the Fire Department Wage Committee, he fought the first fight against disparity between the two departments. At that time, it was non - existent but not it is broaden- ing every year. He said he fails to see the reasoning that a firefighter doing his work well is, for some reason or other, of less value than a man who carries a gun and enforces the law. The South Bend community is affected by both police work and fire work. It is difficult to under- stand why one is of greater value than the other. The men are concerned with the reason for the existence and elongation of any disparity between the two departments. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 W. Marion Street, said that she is disturbed by this disparity between the departments, also. She said that it started out in one classification and now exists in four classifications. A fire- fighter first class is paid less than a policeman first class. She also asked whether the increase for scuba divers also included the drivers. She said that if you elect to pay a policeman a $100 bonus for staying on after 20 years of service, he might be earning mare than a Division Chief. Mr. Nelson questioned the rate of overtime pay for holidays and said that for a policeman working eight hours it amounts to $4.00 per hour and for a fire fighter, working twenty -four hours, it amounts to $1.21 per hour. Council President Nemeth resumed the chair and thanked Vice President Szymkowiak for conducting that portion of the meeting. The Council then proceeded with their portion of the public hearing. Councilman Serge asked Chief Bland how long a firefighter remains on duty when he is recalled. Chief Bland said that the recall lasts as long as the fire exists or until the Chief releases the men. Councilman Serge asked the Chief why there are more firemen than policemen in,.-South Bend. Chief Bland said that the methodology of fire fighting has changed considerably. We now have a 26 -story building in South Bend. The new high rise buildings are out of range of the tallest aerials, requiring a great deal of manpower to haul hose and equipment to extinguish fires. Chief Bland said that twelve men were dropped from the 1970 budget. He said the city is having more fires with more severe destruction and the need is for personnel. Councilman Serge asked