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Be it remembered that the members of the Common Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers in the" City
<br />Hall, Monday December 9, 1940, at 9:37 P.M. All members were present and President J. M. McCarthy presided. The
<br />reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was waived.
<br />COMMUNICATION
<br />ST. JOSEPH COUNTY BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL
<br />December 9, 1940
<br />TO THE COIMAON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
<br />GREETINGS:
<br />The St. Joseph County Building Trades Council asks to place before you for consideration, the following resolution,
<br />that
<br />WHEREAS: In 1937 we, as a.part of the American Federation of Labor, were happy to assist in the study and-adoption
<br />of the Wagner - Steagall Act by the United Slates Congress,.which act was designed to improve housing conditions in
<br />the country as a whole; and,
<br />WHEREAS: In that same year we were happy to lend our support in the study and adoption of an enabling actin the
<br />Indiana house of legislature, which made the benefits of the .Wagner- Steagall Act available to the various communi-
<br />ties-within our own state; and,
<br />WHEREAS: In 1937 and through the intervening years we have discerned the need for the improvement of .housing condi-
<br />tions within our own city, and have been happy to assist with the benefit of our studies, the council, through its
<br />very able committee of Mr. Jordan, Mr. Hull, and Mr. Richardson, and with whose findings we are in accord. Therefore
<br />BE IT RESOLVED: That we do hereby plead with you, genelemen of the Council, to comply with your committees request
<br />that our Mayor, in whom we place the utmost confidence, shall be authorized to appoint a bona -fide committee of
<br />representative citizens to make a comprehensive study of the housing problems of our own city.
<br />(SEAL) EDWIN TURNOCK, President
<br />per J. W. Gillen
<br />This communication was unanimously accepted to be placed on file.
<br />COM1MUNICATION
<br />RESOLUTION
<br />WHEREAS: Studebaker Local Union #5, UAW -CIO, has been among the leaders of the fight to force recognition of the
<br />need for a building program to provide low -rent, modern homes for the low -paid citizens of South Bend, and
<br />WHEREAS: The most capable and well - informed spokesman for.Studebaker Local Union #5, UAW -CIO, has been Clarence•E.
<br />Keller, who has made a comprehensive and thorough study of the housing situation and the methods of obtaining and
<br />using Federal aid to relieve the housing distress, and
<br />WHEREAS: The Common Council of the City of South Bend, ecting upon the recommendation of a special committee set up
<br />to make a preliminary study of the housing shortage, has ordered the Mayor of South Bend to set up a committee to
<br />make a final study and recommendation to said Common Council, and
<br />WHEREAS: Studebaker Local #5, UAW -CI.O, as the largest civic organization in South Bend, is certainly entitled to
<br />representation on tote Committee- to be appointed by the Mayor, therefore be it.
<br />RESOLVED: That Studebaker Local #5, UAW -CIO, in regular meeting this 22-nd day of November, 1940, do urge the
<br />Honorable Mayor of the City of South Bend to appoint Clarence E. Keller to serve on the Committee ordered by the
<br />Common Council, and be it finally
<br />RESOLVED: That copies of this resolution be furnished the Honorable I&yor of South Bend, and the Common Council of
<br />South Bend, Clarence E. Keller and the press.
<br />R. E. Shattuck - F.S.
<br />(SE& International Union
<br />United Automobile Workers of America - Local No.5
<br />Communication accepted and placed on file by unanimous consent.
<br />COMUUNICATION
<br />CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
<br />OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
<br />December 9 -1940
<br />Honorable Common Council
<br />City of South Bend
<br />Indiana
<br />Gentlemen:
<br />At your last meeting a motion was passed directing the City Attorney to draft "a resolution instructing the Mayor to
<br />appoint a Committee to investigate housing conditions in South Bend, and to report to your Honorable Body on or be-
<br />fore February lst the result of their finding.
<br />I have maintained a hands -off policy in the matter of housing at all times, because I did not wish to be misunder-
<br />stood, nor did I wish to influence the Council in their final decision. However, I feel that the appointment of the
<br />Committee, such as you recommend in your resolution, will serve no useful purpose; first, because if an;investiga-
<br />tion is made by this Committee, and it should be determined a housing authority should be appointed, another survey
<br />would have to be made for the use of the authority and the functions of the authority would be delayed two or three
<br />months.
<br />In the second place, the first duties of an authority, if it is decided that one should be appointed, is to make a
<br />survey to determine whether or not there is need of a housing program, and if it is determined, after such a survey,
<br />there is no need of such housing program, theihnetions of the authority are terminated at that point.
<br />Therefore, it is my opinion that if it is your desire to have a survey made to determine the housing conditions in
<br />the City of South Bend, then the Committee, whose appointment you ask, should be appointed with the understanding
<br />that if their survey indicates the need of a housing program, and it is the decision of your Body t hat a housing
<br />authority should be established, then they automatically become the housing authority for the City of South Bend.
<br />Sincerely yours,
<br />J. I. PAVEY - Mayor of South Bend
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