08-28-72 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 28, 1972 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) east neighborhood, new subdivisions, etc. Mrs. Conchita Washington questioned the amount in H361 Official Records. Mrs'. Noble explained that this was to purchase official minute record books and this amount would buy two books, one for the Board of Works and one for the Board of Safety. OFFICE OF DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY - Mr. Nemeth said the Council is proposing cutting PP213 Travel- ing Expense to 0, PP23 Instructional Publication to $150, PP72 Equipment to 0. Miss Guthrie said that this is a new department and questioned whether there is a need for both a Safety Director and an Employees Safety Coordinator. Mr. Richardson explained that there is a differ- ence in the two categories. The Safety Director is a Department Head. The Employees Safety Coordinator is presently a position in.the Board of Works. His job is to enforce safety rules and regulations in conformity with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. He also explained that the amount in Instructional Publications is the total price for the OSHA publication which will be needed. It is mandatory that all employers follow the OSHA guidelines for safety of employees whether they are federal, municipal or private industry employers. Miss Guthrie questioned Police Chief Seals about the 9 recruits listed in the Department of Safety budget and asked what the difference is between a recruit and an officer in training. Chief Seals said that the recruit program gives the city a probationary capability. Under police pension laws, an-officer on the police department budget is not on a probationary basis. The recruit program does give the city this probationary capability that is needed. Chief Seals said this does not change the total department number; there are 231 men in the police department budget and in the Board of Safety for a total of 240. Mrs. Wlodarski recommended that Equipment and Office Equip- ment be eliminated from this budget and that equipment be used from other sources for the Safety Department. She said that the city has added 189 positions, that the Mayor has two aides who are not shown in the budget and that an investigation should be made of persons who are being paid out of Water Works funds. Mr. Barcome said that the Mayor does not have two aides. He said that there are not 189 additional positions but that there have been 189 changes in person- nel in the new administration. He said that only three city employees receive remuneration from the Water Works and they are the City Controller, Attorney and Engineer. There was some discus- sion on the number of recruits hired and how they are paid after the nine -month probationary period is over and they go on the department. Chief Seals said that usually retirements on the department allow for the remaining salaries. MORRIS CIVIC AUDITORIUM - No changes proposed. Mrs. Washington said that there is no return on this investment to taxpayers and that this is keeping a white elephant on the city tax rate. Mr. Floyd Jessup, Manager of the Morris Civic Auditorium, said that the Auditorium is 1.7 cents on the tax rate and is the only such public facility the city has. He said they have renovated the air conditioning system and are hoping to increase the use of the Auditorium and perhaps bring in summer stock next year. Mrs. Wlodarski said that the auditorium should be returned to the estate from which it was derived and the city should consider priorities first. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT - Mr. Nemeth said the Council is proposing cutting L726 Other Equipment to $500. Miss Guthrie said that even with the changes from the Engineering Department to the Board of Safety, the budget is up $27,000. Mr. Richardson said that there will be a $61,760 reimbursement from the Department of Redevelopment to pay for engineers to work on downtown renewal projects and that this will amount to a reduction in the budget. Miss Guthrie said it should be noted that Mr. Richardson is receiving no salary increase. Mrs. Wlodarski recommended that the position of Bureau Manager be eliminated and a reappraisal be made of Engineering Aides. Mr. Richardson said that the position of Bureau Manager is the Traffic Engineer and is a very important job as this is one of the busiest departments in the city. He said the Engineering Aides questioned are men with 12 years and 5 years experience. Councilman Kopczynski moved for a ten minute recess, seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. The motion carried and the meeting recessed at 10:20 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:45 p.m. BUILDING DEPARTMENT - Mr. Nemeth said the Council is proposing cutting the Inspector I's from five to four, M213 Traveling Expenses to $1000, M55 Subscriptions andDues to $100, and M725 Office Equipment to 0. Mrs. Wlodarski recommended that the top salaries in this department be eliminated until such time as apparently inept persons are replaced. She said that problems which have arisen with the American Bank Building, Associates Family Center Building, the parking garages, and the modifications which are necessary in the Municipal Services Facility, indicate that the Department has not been doing its job. Mrs. Washington questioned the need for traveling expenses in this budget. Miss Guthriesaid that there has been a substantial reduction in this budget. Sub - standard Buildings have been taken out of the Building Department budget and there is an additional reduction of about $11,000. Mr. Forrest West, Building Com- missioner, said that his Department has been run in a competent and professional manner. He questioned the advisability of reducing the inspection force. He said the travel expense is necessary to allow inspectors to attend schools and conferences. Councilman Miller asked Mr. West about the two vacancies now existing in the department and Mr. West said it is difficult to obtain personnel at the salary offered. CITY CEMETERIES DEPARTMENT - Mr. Nemeth said the Council proposes to cut Temporary Help to 2,432 hours at $5,472 and N261 Trimming to 0. Mrs. Wlodarski recommended that the hours for Equipment Operator I and II be cut and the hours of temporary help reviewed, and the Other Equipment item be deleted. Mr. Stanley Leszczynski, Sexton of the Cemeteries, said that the Other Equipment item is mainly for lawnmowers. They must cut the grass every six days and the Lawnmowers must be repaired and replaced. Mr. Richardson said that, over the last nine years, the City Cemetery has averaged 51 burials per year and Bowman Cemetery 9 per year. They are running above average this year. Councilman Serge asked if the digging was done by hand and Mr. Richardson replied that it was. POLICE DEPARTMENT - Mr. Nemeth said the Council proposes cutting the number of Sergeants to 78, raising the number of Corporals to 64; cutting P213 Traveling Expense to $3,500; P23 Instruction to $4,000; P252 Repair of Equipment to $20,000; P323 Tires and Tubes to $5,000; P361 Photograph- ing Supplies to $3,000; P:265 Other Contractual Services to $113,000; P37 Other Supplies to $6,500; P54 Clothing Allowance to $80,000; P722 Motor Equipment to $90,000; P724 Radio Equipment to $6,550; P725 Office Equipment to $6,750; and P726 Other Equipment to $5,000. Miss Guthrie asked if the changes in the number of rank positions would affect the total number of men on the department. Chief Seals said that he would have to take a close look at the total figures. Miss Guthrie said that the 20 year service bonus pay plan has merit and will be of benefit to the department if it encourages experienced officers to stay on the department. She said her