08-26-63 Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

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AUGUST Zb, 1963 Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, met in the Committee of the Whole in the Council Chambers on Monday, August 26, 1963, at 8 :12 P.M., with all members present. The meeting was called to cr der by Councilman T. W. Lehman, Chairman, who presided. COMMUNICATION Members of the Committee of the Whole South Bend Common Council South Bend, Indiana Gentlemen: August 22, 1963 First let us extend our sincere congratulations to you and the city administration for the successful preliminary public hearing and program of last Monday evening. In general we feel the administration made a diligent effort to keep budgets within bounds for, like the Council, it is aware of the heavy local tax burden. However we also feel there are some areas where additional savings can be made without materially reducing the effectiveness of the operation of city government. It is with this in mind that we make the following recommendations: A. General Fund: The elimination of the Election and Civil Defense budgets means an actual increase of $67,000.00 on comparable items. We suggest a minimum reduction of $14,000.00 as follows: Council Travel Allowance $ 300.00 Sewer Department Overtime 1,000.00 Building Department 1 new inspector 4,860.00 Cemetery Department 1 laborer 4,162.08 Electrical Department radios 990.00 Sanitation Department gasoline 3,000.00 Also that the Council recommend to the Morris Auditorium Board that the Manager's salary be reduced with the balance to come from the auditorium rentals on a commission basis. B. Street Department: The budget has a combined supervisor and Engineer. This is a step in the right direction and in line with previous suggestions. We would recommend, however, that future budgets separate these into two positions so as to free the time of the engineer for his specialized service. Perhaps also this 1964 budget could be revised, after January 1, to put more personnel into actual work on the streets. A further request is that the income for road oil program be increased to the budgeted amount of $10,000.00 or an increase of $6,500.00 in income. C. Park Department: Of the $258,413.11 net increase in civil city proposed expense 214,876.13 is for parks and recrea- tion, and park bonds. We request that the total Park Maintenance budget be reduced at least $68,000.00 to offset the increased bond and interest payements. Such itemse as lights at the Leepez tennis courts, boathouse, 2 -way radio and land acquisition are areas where reductions could be made without interfering with the necessary upkeep of the new golf course. D. Plan Commission and Urban Redevelopment budgets - the duplication of employees and increases point again to the need to combine these into one unit so that the master plan and various surveys already made can be coordinated under one director. With such coordination the need for consultant for community organization and research at a cost of $35,000. should be eliminated. The above are the major points we call to your attention for study and consideration prior to final action. Once again our congratulations on the preliminary hearing of last Monday evening. Very truly yours, SOUTH BEND CIVIC PLANNING ASSOCIATION, INC. /s/ Charles W. Hahn Charles W. Hahn, President The Clerk then read the title of the first item to be considered which is the Ordinance appropriating monies for the 1964 Budget for the Civil City of South Bend, Indiana, which reads as follows: AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING MONIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF ALL BUDGET - OPERATED DEPARTMENTS OF THE CIVIL CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 1964, and ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1964, INCLUD- ING DEPARTMENTS, FUNDS, AND COMMISSIONS FOR WHICH MONEY IS APPROPRIATED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, FROM FUNDS OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUNDS, OF SAID CITY, TO -WIT: STREET, TRAFFIC AND PARK DEPARTMENTS, FIREMEN'S PENSION AND POLICEMEN'S PENSION FUNDS, AND THE CITY PLAN AND URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AND FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES COMMISSION, BUILDING DEMOLITION, REPAIR AND CONTINGENT FUND, PARK DISTRICT FUND, GENERAL SINKING FUND, HOSPITAL FUND, ART ASSOCIATION FUND AND THE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT BOND FUND: PROVIDING THAT SUCH APPROPRIATIONS SHALL INCLUDE ALL OUTSTANDING CLAIMS AND OBLIGA- TIONS: FIXING THE SALARIES OF ALL CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES AND PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH: PROVIDING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT. Proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard thereon. Persons who were heard concerning various budgetary items were: Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Director of the South Bend Civic Planning Association; Mrs. Frederick Mutzl, 320 Parkovash; Richard Kirkham, 1118 Queen Street; Charles Hahn, 1619 East Colfax Avenue; Janet Allen, 125 West Marion Street. The Budget was read in full and each departmental appropriation was considered individually. OFFICE OF MAYOR Chairman Lehman asked if there was anyone present wishing to speak for or against this Department's Budget. There being no one wishing to speak, Councilman Kroll made a motion that the budget for the office of Mayor go to the Council as favorable. Councilman Ladewski seconded the motion. Motion carried.