08-12-13 CommonCouncil Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 12, 2013 This bill had first reading. Councilmember Scott made a motion to refer this bill to the Personnel & Finance Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on August 26, 2013. Councilmember Schey seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO. 42-13 FIRST READING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CERTAIN DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY SERVICES OPERATIONS IN 2013 OF $6,074,038 FROM EMS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND (#288) This bill had first reading. Councilmember Scott made a motion to refer this bill to the Personnel & Finance Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on August 26, 2013. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. UNFINISHED BUSINESS BILL NO. 13-54 A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR A DATA CENTER LOCATED AT 1400 E. ANGELA Councilmember Scott made a motion made a motion to refer this bill to the Community Investment Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on August 26, 2013. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Henry Davis: I wanted to publicly thank the South Bend Police Department for their attention to the matter that I have or am living through right now. The South Bend Police Department and in essence as a Department but, there were two in particular gentlemen that have or obviously three that have been absolutely been very helpful throughout this process of the death threats that I have received. Death threats that I have received and they have handle the situation these two gentlemen with great maturity and professionalism along with some of the officer’s that have been able to and I have noticed through the neighborhood quiet frequently actually as of right now, I do pay attention to my neighborhood quite a bit and so I have seen a bit more police presence in the area as well. But one thing that I wanted to touch upon as it relates to that issue and not only it being about me. I think that we have an opportunity to really talk about fairness, bullying and also the Democratic process as it stands. The Reverend King who talked about freedom of speech and being able to speak freely in our country as it being an asset and a tool for all American citizens. And as of right now due to a lot of my political stances perhaps or my opinions about matters of this city at times I feel like you know those things happen or are like an attack based upon the stances that I have made. Me as an elected representative and official and serving in this capacity I feel like that is my job. I’m elected in a Republic government style government. We have individuals who vote each of us in whether it’s District, City-Wide, etc. and because it is a Republic, they asked us to speak their concerns while we are here at this board. Usually some of the things could be potentially personal however, most of my nay votes and stances have been because of what I have got from the people that I represent and serve that pay me my wages so I actually work for them. So when we really begin to talk about our duty on Council and more specifically my duty fairness is an issue and obviously it goes into bullying if you don’t fit the mold or the order of the day. In which I think that it goes against everything that this country was founded upon, everything that our forefathers and founding fathers put into the government that we chose or that we live up under. The Federal Government speaks against this as well; they have laws for fairness as well that why 18