07-08-74 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETIN REGULAR MEETING - RECONVENED (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF POLICEMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1975. This ordinance had first reading. Councilman Taylor made a motion to set the ordinance for public hearing and second reading on July 22, 1974, seconded by Councilman Miller. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF FIREMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1975 (1). This ordinance had first reading. Councilman Taylor made a motion to set the ordinance for public hearing and second reading on July 22, 1974, seconded by Councilman Miller. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF FIREMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1975 (2). This ordinance had first reading. Councilman Taylor made a motion to set the ordinance for public hearing and second reading on July 22, 1974, seconded by Councilman Miller. The motion carried, and Council President Nemeth stated that it had been indicated by the press that the firemen have been opposed to the ordinance because it represented a percentage increase; however, he stated tha he understood it was an across - the -board increase. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Mr. Phil Barkley, Chairman of the Clay, German and Portage Anti - Annexation Committee, presented a letter to the Council regarding the northwest annexation. He asked that the letter be read into t record, as follows: July 8, 1974 Members of the Common Council South Bend, Indiana Gentlemen: You have received various proposals from your city administration for annexation of lands north and west of South Bend. We have studied each proposal in depth and submitted cost estimates which vary from those submitted to you by your staff. Each time a proposal for annexation is submitted, it requires a lot of time and effort for you and your staff, as well as the committee we represent. Many problems exist which should be studied in depth, such as: Revenue Sharing - a 5 -year program, 2 years to go Fire protection - isolated pockets left in townships Removal of homes in line with airport easements Substandard housing in some areas to be removed City street maintenance versus County road maintenance People problem - .6 persons per acre Impounded funds - creates a hardship on city residents No known firm commitments for building in area Tax law changes on investments We request further study on these items mentioned plus numerous others not mentioned. We want the city and the area to grow in an orderly, systematic and profitable way so as not to create a burden on any of the taxpayers. Finally, we place the burden of decision with you as representatives of the people of South Bend, hopefully your decision will be not to annex at this time, but should you decide to annex the responsibility for stopping all city growth to the north and west of South Bend is yours pending the natural course of action. Sincerely, s/ Phillip D. Barkley He stated that the amendments made by the Council on the annexation were very substantial and represented an entirely new ordinance, in his opinion. He felt the new ordinance would provide a loss to the city, and he urged that the Council reconsider its motion to pass the amended ordinance Miss Virginia Guthrie, Consultant and member of the Board of Directors of the Civic Planning Association, talked about the procedure that the Council utilized when amending ordinances. She stated that, very recently in the past few months, certain amendments have been made to ordinances which were major amendments and no consideration was given to the citizens for their comments on th amendments. She felt that, in the case when an ordinance is amended to a great extent, the ordinan e should be continued to the next meeting in order that a public hearing could be held on the propose amendments. Councilman Miller indicated to Miss Guthrie that, if the Council makes known its decis on prior to the public hearing, then the Council is open for criticism. He felt that it becomes an issue of "who talks last on a subject ". He referred to the annexation ordinance, stating that the ordinance was amended as a compromise of the two annexation ordinances which had public hearing in March, and he could see no reason why another public hearing should be held on the ordinance. Mr. James Brien, Secretary of the South Bend Fire Fighter's Association, asked for a clarification on Council President Nemeth's statement about the across - the -board increases in the proposed salary ordinance. Council President Nemeth stated that it was his understanding that all the increases were the same other than the pension category. Councilman Miller explained that the amounts were evened out as an adjustment and, in every case, it ranged from $650 to $750, except in the case of a Fireman or Fireman in Training. 1 1