07-23-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING -TTTT.Y 23 1973 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF POLICEMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1974. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Police Chief Robert Urban made the presentation for the ordinance. He explained that the 1974 raise for personnel within the department and civilian employees would amount to $200. He indicated that the department had employed 254 active police officers, 36 cadets, 26 civil employees, 5 meter maids and 61 crossing guards for a total of 383 employees. He concluded by indicating that the increase for salaries would amount to $76,600. Mr. Maurice Cohen, 725 East Eckman, indicated that he could not understand the $200 increase in the salaries. He mentioned that Gary, Indiana, was able to give their employees a 12% increase and Mishawaka employees received a $400 increase. He mentioned that it was proposed that some city officials receive a $2,000 increase and the dedicated policemen only get $200 and risk their lives (daily. He indicated that this did not make any sense. He stated that the $200 would not even absorb the cost of living. He felt the money was available and should be given in increased salary and he stated that $30,000 for one particular office could be divided among the Police Department employees. He stated that the demand upon the men was very great and the price for food and other items was the same for the policemen and the officials and the policemen do not have their cars furnished. Mrs. Ann Wlodarski, 1869 Riverside Drive, indicated that she was a member of the St. Joseph County Fair Tax Association and a retired property owner and she desired to speak as a retired property owner. Her suggestion was to eliminate the Department of Safety and divide those funds among the policemen who are needed to protect the citizens and their homes. She felt the policemen were badly needed and there were not enough men. She concluded by indicating that the crime situation has not decreased since the creation of the Department of Safety. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, quoted from a letter of the Board of Directors of the Civic Planning Association, which board recommended that all full -time executiv and employees be treated similar and receive the $200 increase with part -time employees receiving an increase proportionate to their hours of work. She presented the letter to the City Clerk. Councilman Horvath indicated that the Council had received the proposed budget for consideration, and the Council's only power was to cut salaries and not raise them. He indicated that the Council had been informed that the money was not available for higher increases. He regretted that. Councilman Serge indicated that he hoped the policemen and new recruits would appreciate the Council's position. He indicated that it could only work from the proposals given to it. He could not understand why South Bend could not come up with a better increase in salaries. He felt the services would be rendered if the police officers were happy. Councilman Szymkowiak indicated that he sympathized with the firemen and policemen and other city workers; however, the city's tax base was frozen and there was nothing the Council could do. He indicated that he would like to see the employees get paid a living wage. Councilman Parent indicated that the Council did not know how much money they had to work with because the assessment on properties was not known. He stated that, if the federal revenue sharing funds were not available, the situation would be worse. He concluded that the councilmen agreed that the $200 was a ridiculous figure; however, at the present time, it was all that could be given. Councilman Miller made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Horvath. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF FIREMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1974. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Council President Nemeth indicated that the raise for the firemen was the same figure as in the ordinance for the policemen. He indicated that no presentation was necessary and, if the Council requested an explanation, it would ask for it. Mr. Carl Zwierzynski, President of the Local Fire Fighters, indicated that the cost of living was up about 8 %. He stated that the Wage Committee for the Fire Fighters proposed a 5.5% raise and the proposed ordinance only reflects a 2% raise. He mentioned disparity in pay, and stated that he could not understand why there was disparity between the policemen and firemen. Regarding Councilman Horvath's statement about the Council not having the power to raise the salaries, Mr. Zwierzynski indicated that one year ago, the Council had raised some wages. Mr. Maurice Cohen, 725 East Eckman, indicated that the Council could have raised the proposals before they were incorporated into the ordinance and filed. He stated that sympathy on the part of the councilmen would not give the policemen or firemen one penny. He talked briefly on the increases in the price of food and other goods. Mr. John Nelson, 915 Emerson Avenue, indicated that he was chairman of the wage committee and last year, he had been promised that disparity between the policemen and firemen would end. He wondered what had happened to that promise. Mr. Paul Bognar, 805 West Washington Avenue, indicated that the Council did have the power to change the ordinance if desired Mr. George Scallions, 610 California Avenue, indicated that he has worked for nine years for the Street Department and started at $1.65 an hour. He indicated that, if it was not for the Police and Fire Departments, there would not be a city; however, he also indicated that the Street Department was needed to plow and clear and maintain the streets in order for the policemen and firemen to do their jobs. He indicated that the Street Department employees work very hard in all kinds of weather and he could not understand why some officials should be entitled to a $2,000 increase and the rest of the employees only entitled to $200. He pleaded with the Council that it help the workers. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 West Marion Street, wondered why the policemen and firemen were getting the "small end of the line ". She felt it was because there was so many of them. She felt they had been neglected over the years. She stated that it was the duty of the Council to set the salaries for the policemen and firemen and the duty of the administration was to advise. She felt the inequities would be eliminated if this was done. She felt the policemen and firemen should be encouraged as much as possible and that the city could not afford to have them the lowest paid. Dr. Helen Calvin, 103 South Eddy, indicated that what the city needed was good employees who could feed themselves and would not have to beg. She felt all the money that was being sent to Washington was not necessary. She stated that now the city had to beg to get some of that money back. She felt local government should stand up to the people in Washington because something had to be done. Mr. Dennis DeBuysser, 1221 East Victoria, wondered if the Council could legally raise the salaries, if revenue sharing funds still existed and had to be used in 1973 or if they could be used to raise the salaries. He felt that much of the revenue sharing money was going into accounts where it was not needed. Chairman Newburn indicated that the answer to Mr. DeBuysser's questions was "yes ". Mr. DeBuysser indicated that he hoped the revenue sharing funds could be used for that purpose. Council President Nemeth indicated that he wanted to clarify the right of the