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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 22, 1973
<br />COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED)
<br />policemen and firemen are allowed to reside outside the city. Those at present living outside the
<br />city have not violated any law by doing so. He further went on to say that the questions, as he
<br />sees them, would be whether or not this would be an unreasonable restriction upon a person's free-
<br />dom and also, what ramifications federal and state funding would have on such an ordinance. He
<br />felt that, because of the questions that have been raised, the approach would be to take a request
<br />to the Attorney General for an advisory opinion, however, he also indicated that even if a favorab E
<br />opinion would come from the Attorney General, it would only be advisory and the courts might
<br />possibly rule otherwise. He indicated that he would request an opinion if the Council desired
<br />this, however, he mentioned that an answer might not be received for quite some time. Mr. David
<br />Wells, City Engineering Department, asked if state law exempted police and firemen, and City
<br />Attorney Sweeney indicated that, even if the ordinance was passed this date, the state law would
<br />take precedence if there was a conflict.
<br />Councilman Nemeth indicated that the city would be looking at the qualifications of an individual
<br />as its first concern, and he felt it would be narrow minded to include residency within the city
<br />in the qualifications. Councilman Parent agreed with Councilman Nemeth and further indicated that
<br />the city would be looking for a qualified work force first. Of course, anyone residing in the cit
<br />who was qualified would be considered for the position first. He asked what would happen to those
<br />people who perhaps wanted to build a retirement home outside the city and live there a few years
<br />before retirment. He felt that this restriction would discourage competition. Councilman Serge
<br />asked what would happen in the event three men take the necessary test to become cadets on the
<br />police force and the only one to pass the exam resided outside the city. Councilman Newburn
<br />indicated that if the ordinance was passed, only those living within the city would be eligible
<br />to take the test. Councilman Horvath asked about the number of employees in other departments
<br />residing outside the city, and Councilman Newburn indicated that he had been promised a list of
<br />employees and had never received it. The matter of the five -year residency requirement by state
<br />law again was briefly touched upon. Councilman Szymkowiak indicated that he was a great believer
<br />of hiring local people but he expressed his concern about the state licensed people. He made a
<br />motion to send the ordinance back to committee for review and the possibility of adopting a
<br />resolution that would be more suitable for establishing a policy, seconded by Councilman Parent.
<br />There being no call for the question, Councilman Miller then made a motion to take the ordinance
<br />to the Council with no recommendation, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. The motion carried.
<br />(Councilman Newburn opposed.)
<br />There being no further business to come before the Committee of the Whole, Councilman Taylor made
<br />a motion to rise and report to the Council, seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carried.
<br />ATTEST:
<br />CITY CLERK
<br />REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED
<br />Be it remembered that the regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of South Bend,
<br />Indiana, reconvened in the Council Chambers at 9:07 p.m., Council President Peter J. Nemeth
<br />presiding.
<br />REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES
<br />Your committee on the inspection and supervision of the minutes would respectfully report that
<br />they have inspected the minutes of the January 8, 1973, regular meeting of the Council and found
<br />them correct. They, therefore, recommend that the same be approved.
<br />s/ Peter J. Nemeth
<br />s/ Terry S. Miller
<br />Councilman Horvath made a motion that the report be accepted as read and placed on file and the
<br />minutes be approved, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried.
<br />REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
<br />Councilman Parent made a motion to waive the reading of the Report of the Committee of the Whole,
<br />seconded by Councilman Miller. The motion carried by a roll call vote of nine ayes (Councilmen
<br />Serge, Szymkowiak, Miller, Parent, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Newburn and Nemeth).
<br />CITIZEN REQUESTS - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
<br />Mrs. Louise Rozek, 624 North Birdsell, expressed her concern about the drug problem that she
<br />exposed at the School Board meeting recently. She mentioned that it is now a city -wide problem
<br />and that she has received sick telephone calls from these drug users. Some of the people calling
<br />her had asked her how she could "knock it" if she had never tried it. The Drug Abuse Center had
<br />told her that, after all, it is only a mild intoxication. In October, she tried to solve this
<br />problem in the area schools. This is not only a problem at Central but in the other schools, as
<br />well. She was concerned and worried about this, and she did not know where the answer would lie.
<br />Crime has risen in the city and county, and the officers agree that drugs is the reason for this
<br />increase. She felt narcotics was the main problem and she asked the Council for their help. It
<br />is a growing problem and it is involving the children, she had indicated. She also mentioned that
<br />many people are aware of the problem but are afraid to bring it out in the open, however, she
<br />believed that an answer must be found and she was willing to suffer the consequences. She
<br />expressed concern for her children rather than herself. Mrs. Rozek felt the problem was with the
<br />pushers even though she was told by the Police Department that they are interested in the supplier!,
<br />She indicated that she had received calls from many parents whose children were on drugs but they
<br />did not know how to handle the situation. She felt that help should be given to the children.
<br />She also mentioned that this problem involves the elementary schools, as well as the high schools.
<br />Mrs. Rozek mentioned that she would like to get an appointment with the Mayor and Chief of Police.
<br />Council President Nemeth indicated that he could refer this matter to the Committee on Public
<br />Safety with the hopes that they could come up with a solution to the problem. He assured Mrs.
<br />Rozek that if there was anything the Council could do, they would certainly do so, however, he
<br />also mentioned that the courts and prosecutors were here for that purpose. Mrs. Rozek indicated
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