01-28-74 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 28, 1974 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $67,031.67 FROM THE CUMULATIVE SEWER BUILDING AND SINKING FUND TO THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT FUND AND TO THE CUMULATIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. 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, Manager of the Bureau of Design and Administration, made the presentation for the ordinance. He indicated that the ordinance was the result of the completion of the Kensington Farms sewer project and the amount reflected the city's share of the construction costs. He indicated that the Board of Public Works approved the project on December 18, 1972. He stated that engineering, under the Barrett Law, is paid out of the Cumulative Capital Improvement fund. This is used for local match on a great deal of roadwork The engineering should have been paid out of the Cumulative Sewer Building and Sinking Fund. Therefore, the city was attempting to reimburse the Cumulative Capital Improvement Fund in the amount of $8,800, with the amount of $58,231.67 going into the General Improvement Fund to help pay the contractor. He stated that the total cost was substantially below the original estimate. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, wondered if the fund now would be re- appropriated for other purposes. Mr. Michael Vance, Fiscal Officer, Bureau of Wastewater, indicated that Barrett Law payments usually come out of the improvement funds. He stated that the grand total was $134,000 and $67,000 of that was appropriated or charged against the residents. The remaining amount was to be paid by the city. Councilman Szymkowiak made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $14,297.00 FROM THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANT COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GENERAL REVENUE SHARING, FOR VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF LAW. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. James Roemer, City Attorney, made the presen tation for the ordinance. He indicated that the legal intern program was a continuation of the program which was appropriated for in 1973 by the Council. He felt the program had worked very well and was quite successful. He briefly explained the program, indicating that he has employed three legal interns working - approximately 75 hours a week and a part -time secretary working 20 hou a week. He indicated that the interns are only paid for the hours they actually work, and no vacation or sick leave is given to the four individuals. He stated that last year he had requeste $5,000; however, the intern program had not started until the middle of 1973. He also stated that he wanted to raise the hourly rate from $2.50 to $3.00 in order to be competitive with other inter programs within the city. He concluded by stating that the interns did much of the administration type work and research and relieved his work load a great deal. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, questioned the increase in the hourly rate. She wondered if the secretary also was receiving an increase. She felt that, if the interns were given an increase, the secretary should also be treated the same. Mr. Roemer admitted that he did not know what the part -time secretary was earning and that Mr. Johr Walsh had made that decision and set the salary as set forth in the classification of the city employees. He indicated that his part -time secretary was satisfied with her wages. Mr. Maurice Cohen, 725 East Eckman, wondered why the ordinance appropriating $14,297 and the following ordinanc for $5,991.27 would not have been incorporated together. Mr. Roemer indicated that the next item on the agenda concerned the position of Deputy City Attorney and the two programs were entirely different. Council President Nemeth wondered if the interns received credit as far as schooling was concerned. Mr. Roemer indicated that the interns do not. Council President Nemeth asked about the number of interns working, and Mr. Roemer answered that he had three law student interns and two government interns who are not paid. Council President Nemeth asked if the program had not originally been started as a summer -type program, and Mr. Roemer indicated that it was not; however it had been initiated during the summer months of 1973. Council President Nemeth wondered if the department was under - budgeted, and Mr. Roemer indicated that it was not. He stated that there was a great deal of administrative work that probably should not be given to the deputies because of the vast amount of work already being given them. He stated that this type of work could be handled by the interns. Council President Nemeth indicated that he had some reservations about using revenue sharing funds for the program. He indicated that the amount was being practically tripled this year. Mr. Roemer indicated that this was a decision that the Council would have to make; however, he pointed out that the work load and number of lawsuits have been increased greatly. Councilman Kopczynski wondered why Mr. Roemer had indicated that the Council had initiated the program, and Mr. Roemer indicated that he had said the Council had approved the appropriation for the program. Councilman Kopczynski wondered about the tax rate if the revenue sharing appropriations were someday taken from the taxpayers. Councilman Szymkowiak also wondered what would happen if the revenue sharing funds were not available, and Mr. Roemer indicated that the work would not get done without the help of the interns. He stated that, if that was the case he would be forced to come before the Council with a request to increase his staff. He indicated that perhaps in a few years, this intern program would not be feasible. Councilman Parent stated that the Council is also faced with a great work load, and he was of the opinion that the work loac in the Legal Department had increased. He expressed concern about the use of revenue sharing fund! for the program. He suggested that the city start thinking about the re- vamping within the Law Department for full -time attorneys. Councilman Serge asked about the number of deputies on the staff, and Mr. Roemer indicated that there was a total of seven attorneys in the department on the payroll. Councilman Miller wondered why the appropriation was not listed in the printout sheets. Mr. Walter Lantz, Deputy City Controller, indicated that there was an amount of $5,000 listed but it could be another title. Councilman Miller indicated that he had found the listing and that $43 was spent over the $5,000 appropriation. Council President Nemeth made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council without a recommenda- tion at this time, pending the report to be given by the City Attorney in the Council portion of the meeting, seconded by Councilman Horvath. The motion carried.