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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 26 1973
<br />COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED)
<br />Guthrie asked if this would end as of December 31, 1973, and Mr. Gallagher indicated that it would.
<br />Miss Guthrie asked about the equipment for this, and Mr. Gallagher indicated that the equipment
<br />previously was rented. He indicated that the funding for the second year would be $53,000.00, and
<br />the equipment would be for general office equipment, such as desks, typewriters, dictaphone, etc.
<br />Miss Guthrie indicated that she thought there was surplus equipment in the building and wondered
<br />why this equipment could not be used. Mr. Gallagher indicated that he had checked with the city
<br />officials and he thought there was no equipment available. Miss Guthrie indicated that the equip-
<br />ment was owned by the county, and she suggested that Mr. Gallagher contact the county officials to
<br />see if he could use this equipment. She asked what would happen to those persons whose homes
<br />would be demolished because they were considered substandard. Mr. Gallagher indicated that the
<br />buildings to be demolished would be all vacant buildings. Miss Guthrie indicated that it was her
<br />understanding that the cost of tearing down these buildings was taken to the property owners and
<br />she asked how much money was brought in. She also questioned the need for the survey in the Fire
<br />Department, expressing her views that she felt the firemen within the department would be better
<br />able to make suggestions and recommendations. She also indicated that the Civic Planning Associati
<br />was in agreement with the addition of the police recruits; however, she indicated that even with th
<br />addition of 200 policemen, the crime problem would not be solved. She mentioned a program on local
<br />television featuring crime prevention and indicated that the series was very good and she hoped
<br />that everyone would watch it. Mr. Gallagher indicated that arrangements have been made with Mr.
<br />Charles Lennon, Executive Director of the Department of Redevelopment, to increase the number of
<br />inspectors under Mr. Steed in the Substandard Building Department. He expressed hope that they
<br />would be able to inspect census tract by census tract. He indicated that additional expenses in
<br />supplies would be incurred. Miss Guthrie asked why the Department of Redevelopment was paying for
<br />inspectors in the Engineering Department. She thought that should be checked into. Mr. William J.
<br />Richardson, Director of the Department of Public Works, indicated that the inspectors in the
<br />Engineering Department have nothing to do with the building inspection. These men are solely for
<br />inspection of public works matters that are primarily funded through the Redevelopment Department.
<br />Mr. Charles Lennon, Executive Director of the Department of Redevelopment, indicated that his
<br />department has, under the federal assisted code enforcement programs, inspectors under the federal
<br />grant who do house -to -house inspecting. He mentioned that his department, in effect, does have a
<br />portion of the Building Department. It was his contention that the city should have only one group
<br />of inspectors, and he indicated that combination of the inspections was being seriously considered
<br />and, as soon as space was available, they would be combined. Miss Guthrie asked if they would be
<br />transferred over and paid out of Redevelopment, and Mr. Lennon indicated that they would be. Miss
<br />Guthrie questioned the additional $25,000.00 in the substandard building program. Mr. Lennon
<br />indicated that there was no cost for the inspectors and that the cost was for the tearing down of
<br />the buildings. Miss Guthrie asked if the work would be carried on and followed through better than
<br />was done in the past. Mr. Lennon indicated that everyone in the City of South Bend was under the
<br />local code enforcement. Miss Guthrie expressed her concern and reservations on the police overtime
<br />She wondered if favortism would play an important part on the policemen picked to work the overtime
<br />She asked how these men would be chosen. Mr. Gallagher indicated that, to appropriate any parcel o
<br />these funds, would not give the department the opportunity to effect the crime rate. He guaranteed
<br />there would be no favortism in selecting the men for the overtime. He indicated he would prefer to
<br />see it as professionals putting in overtime, and it would be accomplished on a rotating basis. Mis
<br />Guthrie expressed her faith and confidence in the South Bend Police Department; however, she felt
<br />that some of these funds should be held in abeyance. She made reference to the March 24, 1973,
<br />letter of the Civic Planning Association in which certain comments and suggestions were made to the
<br />Council members. She then asked about the salary for the director of the computer center. Mr.
<br />Gallagher indicated that this would be for one year at $10,500.00 with fringe benefits at $1,500.00'
<br />Miss Guthrie indicated that at onetime, she thought this individual had to be a police officer for
<br />security purposes. Mr. Gallagher indicated that there is an FBI regulation that a sworn person
<br />must be used; however, this additional person employed would be primarly to research, digest the
<br />material and act as a liaison with the community. He indicated that a sworn person would still be
<br />on duty at all times. Miss Guthrie questioned the availability of a good programmer at that rate,
<br />and Mr. Gallagher felt a qualified person could be located and employed at that rate. He mentioned
<br />dedication to one's job and felt that a dedicated individual would accept the job. Miss Guthrie
<br />indicated that, one of the reasons for this computer center program, was participation of all the
<br />communities. She asked if there wouldn't be some sort of a record that could feed into the compute
<br />rather than having to employ a full -time programmer. Mr. Gallagher indicated that it involved local
<br />information and the Police Department must feed into the computer in order to obtain this local
<br />information. He also indicated that the local computer can store all this information, and he
<br />indicated that 81.2% of all police calls are non -crime calls. Mr. Gallagher indicated that he was
<br />not aware of a study being made on the "down" time on the police cars when Miss Guthrie questioned
<br />this. Police Chief Urban indicated that the time has been cut to about half. Miss Guthrie felt
<br />that Mr. Gallagher should have mileage, and she suggested that perhaps he be furnished a car. She
<br />also indicated that she was shocked to learn that there is no screening in the police cars, and she
<br />Ifelt this was a very important item and screening should be installed as soon as possible.
<br />Mrs. Frederick Mutzl, President of the St. Joseph County Fair Tax Association, indicated to
<br />Council that many of the association's questions had been answered; however, she did wonder
<br />three fire trucks were not being paid off. Mr. Gallagher explained that the money was kept
<br />savings at the present time and it was earning more than the city would save by paying off
<br />trucks at this time.
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<br />Mr. Carl Zwierzynski, President of the South Bend Firefighters Local No. 362, expressed the fire-
<br />fighters' view of the proposed survey to be conducted within the Fire Department. He indicated
<br />that such a survey was opposed by the members. He indicated that the National Loss Institute does
<br />not set fire insurance rates and that the record of that company is the reduction of manpower
<br />within the department. He mentioned that the city is expanding, and with future annexations, how
<br />could a reduction in the fire force be explained. He felt the money could be put to better use.
<br />He felt that with the hiring of the Safety Director at $15,000.00 and the Fire Chief at $15,000.00,
<br />another $17,000.00 would be wasted to conduct a study to show these competent people how to run
<br />their department. He also indicated that if such a survey was needed for future stations due to
<br />annexations, the men should be allowed to work with the Area Plan Commission or the American
<br />Insurance Associates. He mentioned that a survey was conducted in South Bend nine years ago, and
<br />since then, the department has gone backwards. He also indicated that the survey was conducted
<br />before most of the high rise buildings were constructed in the South Bend area. He indicated that
<br />$17,000.00 was the salary of a firefighter or policeman for two years. It was also one -third the
<br />price of a fire truck, the price of two police cars and would take care of $1,000.00 of equipment
<br />for each fire truck in the city. He concluded by urging the Council to think progressively and vot(
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