01-08-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 8, 1973 ORDINANCE (CONTINUED) explanation of this budget. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, said that this is the first budget they have seen on the operation of the Parking Garages. She said her organization feels Mr. Hull has done an outstanding job in his first year. She then asked how payments for Retirement and Social Security are made since they are not includ in the budget. Mr. Nagy said that in the past these items were paid out of the General Fund and they are following that practice. Miss Guthrie then asked how the income was estimated and if it was only from the garages. Mr. Charles Watkins, Deputy City Controller, said that the estimate was predicated on past experience and was from the garages and flat lots only. There was a dis- cussion on the janitorial services at the garages. Councilman Miller asked if the wages in the budget were set previously or were being set tonight. Mr. Nagy replied that the salaries were being set by this ordinance tonight. Councilman Kopczynski moved that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AND FMC CORPORATION, ENVIRONMENTAL EQUIPMENT DIVISION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, FOR THE PURCHASE OF A MODEL 36A COMMINUTOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,964.00. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Louis Rague, Superintendent of the Wastewater Treatment Plan, made the presentation for the ordinance. Mr. Rague said that speci- fications for this comminutor were approved by the Engineering Department and they advertised for bids. The received only one bid and Board approval to enter into the contract. Mr. Vernon Forsgren then presented a slide program showing what the new piece of equipment is and how it must be installed. Councilman Taylor questioned Mr. Rague about the number of companies notified since only one bid was received. Mr. Rague said that there are only two companies who manufactur this equipment and the other company cannot supply this communitor to fit the channel. In a discussion about the price, Mr. Rague said that a comminutor purchased earlier last year cost $13,000 and this bid was for $13,964, an 8% increase in price. Mr. Forsgren said that he had talked with a representative of the company who told him that they were slow in incorporating several changes in the equipment and this cost a large amount of money and resulted in a sudden jump in price. There was a discussion as to whether this price increase exceeded the federal guidelines for prices and Councilman Nemeth asked Mr. Charles A. Sweeney, Jr., City Attorney, what the effect would be if the Council changed the amount in the ordinance. Mr. Sweeney said that you would not have a contract if you did that and they would not deliver the goods. Councilman Miller asked what fund this was paid from and if it would be wise to buy two comminutors now so that there would not be another price jump when they needed another one. Mr. Rague said that this purchase would be paid from the Depreciation Fund and that he did not have the balance in that fund at hand. Councilman Miller commented that the Council has never had a budget from the Wastewater Department. Councilman Taylor asked Mr. Rague and Mr. Sweeney if the city could be placed in any kind of a bind if action was delayed on this ordinance until January 22nd. Mr. Sweeney replied that there would be no legal problem. Councilman Miller then made a motion that the public hearing be continued until January 22, 1973, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $48,000 FROM THE CUMULATIVE SEWER BUILDING AND SINKING FUND FOR PROJECT CS4 -1973 - NORTHEAST STORM SEWER DEVELOPMENT. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. David Wells, Assistant City Engineer, made the presentation for the ordinance. Mr. Wells said that in 1969, the Indiana Stream Pollution Control Board mandated the City of South Bend to begin a program that would control pollution from sewers by July, 1977. One phase of this effort was a study made of the Northeast area of the city on the feasibility of separating storm and sanitary sewers in the Northeast area which is bounded by McKinley, Ironwood, Juday Creek and Hickory Road. Some work has been started in this area. In 1970, two retention basins were built. This ordinance is asking for initial funds for Project CS4, the Northeast Sewer Separation Program. This particular fund covers two areas - McKinley Terrace and the North Ironwood, Edison, South Bend Avenue area. Both areas have a severe problem with raw sewage coming from the manholes during storms. Mr. Wells said they would greatly encourage Council passage of this ordinance. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, said they would be interested in knowing the balance in the Cumulative Sewer Building and Sinking Fund. She said funds are appropriated for various projects and then unused balances cannot be released until the completion of the project. Councilman Parent moved that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Miller. The motion carried. There being a motion to carried. ATTEST: no further business to come before the Committee of the Whole, Councilman Horvath mad rise and report to the Council, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion CITY CLERK REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED Be it remembered that the regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of South Bend, India reconvened in the Council Chambers at 9:25 p.m., Council President Peter J. Nemeth presiding.