10-28-13 Common Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING OCTOBERT 28, 2013 Councilmember Henry Davis Jr.: Point of clarity when we change the rules it’s for everyone, it’s not just for one individual. When you set the rules at the beginning of the message that what it stays at. It doesn’t revert back to what we normally do. So the point is when we make a motion, we make a vote; it stays at that level until that portion is over with. So everyone is still on six (6) minutes. Councilmember Varner: No, I think the Council Rules says three minutes and there special exceptions made in case of Mr. Cottrell. Councilmember Henry Davis Jr.: I made a motion, Oliver seconded and you all said aye. It’s at six (6) minutes. We just can’t arbitrarily changes the rules in middle of the game. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand: The request was for that one individual. Because the Council Rules provide per city code 3 minutes. Councilmember Henry Davis Jr.: So we can just increase time. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand: It takes a majority of the Council to amend your rules. For instances earlier in the meeting we had a motion to change the order when there was going to be a public hearing. Councilmember Henry Davis Jr.: I am aware of that, but, your right, so we in a hearing portion and folks come in for Privilege of the Floor. We can’t just revert back because one person wanting more or wanting less, it’s the same for everyone. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand: The Council has given notice by the person speaking that his statement would take approximately six (6) minutes. That was the purpose of extending the time. Council President Dieter: Thank you. Jerome Jones, 2413 Kenwood, South Bend, Indiana: I didn’t lose any time did I? I am a resident, graduated from Central High School in 1954. I am here tonight concerning the problem on Kenwood & Bertrand. I think that everyone is aware of the shooting a couple of nights ago. And I hear that they are going to do something about it, I have heard that so many times. Nothing has ever been done about it. The other thing that I want to talk about and mention that I think that the neighborhoods are the backbone of this city. I have been coming down to these City Council meetings off and on for 25 – 30 years, and when I am here I always mention sidewalks and curbs in our neighborhood. We don’t have the sidewalks and curbs that we should have. My wife and I own three (3) properties so we pay property tax. The other point that I have is the substation that’s been talked about downtown, I think that there is so many abandoned homes in certain neighborhoods why aren’t some of these abandoned homes used for substations, even if it’s just a temporary thing. It doesn’t cost the city anything, they own the property I assume, and I think that would be a good thing to do. Use them for a substation for the police. Thank you very much. Ardisha DeShawn Hogan, 1130 Chalfant Street, South Bend, Indiana: I want to speak with the City Council about an issue resulting from July 31, 2013. I was a former employee of General Sheet Metal Works, South Bend, upon me arriving at my employer on August 1, 2013; I was attack on my job. I have a CD here with the threat that the gentleman made to me and I also have protective orders that I tried to put in place prior to the situation occurring. It resulted in me in a felony case due to the matter that happened. I am just looking to get some assistance with resolving the matter without having to go to the full extent of the court system. If the Council could address that. Council President Dieter: Did you fill out a form. Mr. Hogan: Yes sir. 40