01-13-36 Council Meeting Minutes

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MINUTES Be it Remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, met in the Council Chambers in the City Hall, on January 13th, 1936, at the hour of 7:45 o'clock P. M. for their regular meeting. All Members were present except Councilmen Hull, Chambers and Kerner. President Fish presided. Councilman James moved that the reading of the minutes be dispensed with. Councilman Biernregen seconded the motion. COIVfUNICAT TON : CITY OF SOUTH BEND'' INDIANA Office of the Mayor George W. Freyermuth Mayor December 31, 1935 To the.employees of the City of South Bend: At this time the Mayor wishes to express his appreciation of and satisfaction in the excellent cooPeration that -has been given by all-- depertmer__ts of the City during this first year of our administration. We have worked together-for--the best interests of the community, and it has bee a pleasure to be surrounded by loyal and efficient helpers. The Mayor wishes each and every employee of the City a most happy and prosperous New Year. Very truly yours, George W. Freyermuth Mayor of South Bend Councilman Moved that it be made part ofthe record. Councilman James seconded the motion. ,,,COMMUNICATION: City of South Bend City Half. - South Bend, Indiana PAUL A. BURKHARDT Investigptions 416 - Chamber of- Commerce Building Buffalo, 11. Y January 3, 1936 Attention: President of the Council Gentlemen: With our Government withdrawing direct relief, it will be essential that all Municipalities guard against excess relief costs-and relief chiselers. The - writer harp devised -a plan and system which, when installed, will save your city many thousand of dollars. Such a Bureau:is now being supervised by the undersigned at Buffalo, N. Y., employ - ing relief workers for the purpose of checking relief clients' activities. According to relief and city officials, it is the,most effective set -up of its kind in the country. Thru our efforts, from May 15, 1935 to Dec.,15, 1935, (seven months) we have turned 445 cases over to the Legal Department for restitution . About 75% of these cases were Plso permanently remcv ed from relief rolls; the other- 254 voluntarily divorced themselves from relief rolls, but had been previously drelwing relief fraudulently. In practically all cases, in addition to being off relief rolls, they agreed to make restitution, rather than have fraud charges pressed egs.inst them. Same restitution cases run as high as $2000.00 but the average figures shoi $95.0-0 per case. In addition to the restitution figure, credit is also given this Office for the 75% re- moved from relief rolls at an average of $35.00 Der month per family for twelve-months each. 19-0 persons were removed from work relief thru the investigation of this Office. These were cases where a member of a. family was on work relief, concealing information regarding other members of the family employed in private industry. The average work relief wage here is $12.00 per week for fifty -two weeks. 422 Cases - Families removed from Home outright chiselers , and had concealed figure is used here. Relief Rolls. These are persons this Office found to be some income. The $35.00 per month for thirteen months 436 Cases - Family budgets reduced and revised. These clients had been reporting incorrect earn ings to their visitors. Savings in this average $3.00 per week,per femily'for 52 weekd. In addition to the above figures, our Office is now being used to clear all applications for re- lief and from Sept. 18, 1935,-to Dec. 15, 1935, out of 4,9 &9- applicants for relief, 9-59 were rejected due to our findings. The total savings hased on statistical records will amount to more than a, million_ dollars annual- ly. This should be interesting to every community, and can be accomplished at a very small cost in fact, the cost to the Buffalo Bureau will be not more then $35,000.00-annually. This cost being practically all for clerical help furnished from local relief rools. Smaller cities would be in proportion. The following people are acquainted with the results obtained here, and I would suggest you con - tact them for further references. Samuel Botsford, Executive secretary, Buffalo Chamber of Commerce. Harry E.. Burber, Industrial Rel2tions Manager, Buffalo Chambers of Commerce. Francis J. Downing, Western New York Director, W. P. A., 01ty Hall, Buffalo, N.Y. Daniel W. Stree�er, Director, E.R.B., City Hall, Buffalo, N.Y., L. E. Dowling, irector, Home Relief, CityHall, Buffalo, N.Y.