02-12-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING-- FEBRUARY .,-3-973 I REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Councilman Newburn made a motion to waive the reading of the Report of the Committee of the Whole seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried by a roll call vote of eight ayes (Councilmen Szymkowiak, Miller, Parent, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath, Newburn and Nemeth), and one absent (Councilman Serge). CITIZEN REQUESTS - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS At this time, Dr. John Kromkowski, Director of the Human Resources and Economic Development Department, gave a brief oral report to the Council regarding the activities of his department. He indicated that other cabinet officials are interested in this form of public communication, and he commended the Council on its reorganization of its newly established committees to reflect the cabinet form of government. He suggested that monthly meetings should be held with each Council committee and its cognate cabinet official, after which Dr. Kromkowski briefly identified the six primary areas of the Human Resources and Economic Development responsibility, as follows: The first being the Division of Human Relations and Resources which dealt with A.C.T.I.O.N., Inc. Human Relations and Fair Employment Practices Commission, Labor Bureau, Youth Services Bureau, Senior Citizens Bureau and Model Cities. The second being the Division of Housing, Conservation and Community Renewal which dealt with the Housing Authority, Redevelopment Authority and the Bureau of Conservation and Historic Preservation. The third division was the Division of Health and Welfare; the fourth was the Division of Planning, Research and Statistics; the fifth was the Division of Economic Development which dealt with the Economic Development Commission; and the sixth division was the Division of State and Federal Programs. He indicated that each of the above agencies meet with him every Monday morning. Dr. Kromkowski then briefly outlined the activities of his department during the first quarter of existence, indicating that tours of administrative offices and council chambers have begun; the consolidation of the Department of Labor programs is now national and regional policy; his department is now experiencing the beginning of a national crisis percipitated by drastic cutbacks in domestic funding which is being felt most in the housing industry with the cutback of the 235 Program; the Intern Program has been started with 15 students from Notre Dame, 12 from St. Mary's and 5 from Indiana Universi with the prospect of developing an expanded program in conjunction with I.U. programs in Public Affairs and Environmental Science. He also indicated that there was amounting interest in ethni development and mentioned the upcoming Black History Week and the Kopernik Quintencenary Celebration to be held February 18 through March 3. Council President Nemeth thanked Dr. Kromkowski for his informative speech. Councilman Kopczynski asked Dr. Kromkowski how the cut- back of federal funding would affect his time, and Dr. Kromkowski indicated that this cutback would not affect his time as these cutbacks would devolve into the Mayor's office. Councilman Kopczynski asked if this cutback of funds would enable more work done on other projects, and Dr. Kromkowski answered that the array of federal programs within the city would have minimal contact with him. He mentioned that funds are available through O.E.O., the Department of Labor and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Councilman Kopczynski asked if the federal monies would be the same amount, and Dr. Kromkowski indicated that there would be a reduction of federal spending and evaluation of the national dollar which would test the local governments. Mrs. Lee Swan, 2022 Swygart, indicated that she had a few questions that she wanted to address to Councilman Taylor regarding the article in the Tribune on his comments for increasing the police force. Councilman Taylor indicated that he had done some reading on a project called "Project Stress" out of Detroit, which involved the hiring of additional policemen. He mentioned that another city that has decreased its crime rate because of additional policemen was St. Louis, and he mentioned that they attributed this to the increase of 50 policemen. Mrs. Swan indicated that, according to the FBI, crime has decreased in many cities that have kept their police force at the same number. She felt that the decrease in crime in'these cities was not because of an increase in the city's police force. She used Washington, D.C. as an example and read portions of the newspaper article dealing with Washington, D.C. She asked Councilman Taylor what had transpired in Washington, and Councilman Taylor answered that there had been a decrease in the crime rate. Mrs. Swan disagreed with this statement and indicated that there has not been a decrease in crime despite the increase of the police force. She briefly mentioned revenue sharinc funds and felt the City of South Bend should not hire additional policemen. Councilman Taylor informed Mrs. Swan that he was sending additional information to the Tribune on his stand, and he thanked her for her comments. He informed the Council that he had had an opportunity to talk to a couple of Senator Bayh's assistants. According to the assistants, they say there has been a definite decrease in crime in Washington, D.C. Part of this was due to additional manpower, however, part of it was also due to additional street lighting. Decreasing the crime is a many facet thing and involves more than just increased police forces. He mentioned that the national recommendations of the FBI in the 1930's came out as 1.8 policemen per thousand population. He reminded the Council that that was in 1930 and this was 1972. He also indicated that the Council should keep in mind the many additional people who live just outside the city boundaries. They are a part of the crime picture in South Bend even though they are not included in the city's population figure. Mrs. Swan asked if there was an increase in the police force since last year, and Councilman Taylor indicated that the city was at 228 now. Mrs. Swan mentioned that Patrick Gallagher, the city's Safety Director, had stated there was a decrease in the force. She ' wondered what was happening to the increase in the police force if this was the case. She felt that, before additional men are hired, the city should take one step at a time. Fanny Grunwald, 227 South Frances Street, indicated that she wanted to comment on the district meetings on revenue sharing being held in the city. She felt that the reasons the people were not attending the meetings were because they have not been well enough informed of the meetings in advance and they are afraid to go out at night. She suggested that the Tribune publish these meetings and all other meetings in one certain place in the newspaper because she felt they would be easier to spot. She also suggested that the Council make a ruling that notices of such meetings should be published in one certain area of the newspaper and then notify the Tribune of the Council's decision. Councilman Szymkowiak mentioned that the press has been very kind to him and the Council. He then mentioned that his district meeting on revenue sharing was to be held on February 14, 1973. Mrs. Constance Green, 3217 West Dunham, indicated that she wanted to comment on the crime rate. She mentioned that on January 27 or 28, there appeared an article in the Tribune on crime statis- tics, in which article the Police Chief had stated that the reason that the crime rate was so higl was because of the black people. She felt that Chief Seals should be made accountable for that