09-22-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 Councilmember Varner made a motion to hear the substitute version of this bill. Councilmember LaFountain seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember White, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety Committee and Tom LaFountain, Chairperson, Personnel and Finance Committee, reported that these committee’s held a joint Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and it was the consensus of the committees to send this substitute bill to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Dieter disclosed that he is a member of the South Bend Police Department and that after discussion with Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand it was determined that there is no conflict of interest. Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Agent, advised that as the agent for the Council she has been in negotiations with the FOP #36. She stated that she was honored to be part of a City Advisory Team that was made up of five (5) Councilmember’s (Tom LaFountain, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee, Karen L. White, Chairperson, Health & Public Safety Committee, Oliver Davis, Ann Puzzello, Vice-Chairperson, Health & Public Safety Committee, Henry Davis, Member of the Personnel & Finance Committee), along with members from the City Administration as well as the Police Department. Ms. Cekanski-Farrand stated that the City Council is required to take action in setting annual salaries for the Police Department by September 30, 2008. The proposed substitute bill would bring the City of South Bend in compliance with that state law. The joint City Advisory Team reached a one (1) year salary and monetary fringe benefit package with the FOP Team, who is represented this evening by Scott Ruszkowski, President FOP #36, who will be giving later this evening comments as to the ratification process that the FOP went through. She noted that the one-year agreement does several things. The salary before the Council tonight would eliminate the operations safe neighborhoods program which has been in existence for the City of South Bend for several years. The programs allowed officers are given a modest amount if they live in designated high crime areas of the City. Both the Fire Department and well as the Police Department were asked to review all current programs to see if any of those should be reprogrammed, modified or cease and in this case they agreed to discontinue that program and use those monies to help fund their overall wage and benefit increases. In this particular case, it funds the increase that they are recommended for the uniform allowance of two-hundred dollars ($200.00.) Ms. Cekanski-Farrand stated that they also recommend modest increases in the longevity program which has been on the books for several years. They made recommendations with regard to shift incentive as well as seniority shift incentive so that there are more senior officers on the midnight and afternoon shifts along with the younger officers. Overall the sworn members of the police department would receive a base salary increase of 2.2%, which if the Council passes this evening it would take effect January 1, 2009. All of the other monetary fringe benefit would be frozen at their current rates. She stated that as the Agent working with Chuck Leone as the Agent for the Board of Public Safety and the entire team, it was indeed a very educational and productive process that they went through with Mr. Leo Blackwell who was the agent for the FOP and Mr. Ruszkowski and the other members of the FOP. She welcomed any of the other Councilmember’s or Members of the City Administration to give comments and would be pleased to answer any questions that the Council may have. She added one item for both the Police and Fire. Ms. Cekanski-Farrand noted that they gave an ongoing commitment to both teams representing the unions that they would continue the lines of communication after final passage by the Council this evening, with regard to working collaboratively on any new ordinances or adjustments in fees that are currently being charged for public safety services or new areas that perhaps fees maybe warranted to help off-set the unknown of HB 1001. She stated that they have also made the commitment that they will continue to have meetings with the State Senators and State Representatives the luncheon meetings that were held in the past that were very productive and also with the County Commissioners and County Council Members. She stated that the FOP was very open to that and in fact Mr. Blackwell and Mr. Ruszkowski offered to work with the team if any lobbying has to take place and the state level for any alternative funding sources. 4