11-06-08 Personnel and Finance Committee

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/- `^~~ .I ~x.J' J ~ ~~ Personnel and Finance Committee 2008 South Bend Common Council The November 6, 2008 meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee of the South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Thomas LaFountain at 5:10 p.m. in the Council's Informa{ Meeting Room Persons in attendance included Council Members Varner, Rouse, White, Henry Davis, La Fountain, Puzzello, Dieter and Oliver Davis; City Controller M. Catherine Fanello, Public Works Director Gary Gilot, Assistant Fire Chief Mark Nowicki, Police Chief Boykins, Director of Fiscal Management for the Police Department Don Plnckert, City Attorney Charles Leone, Building Commissioner Charles Bulot, Building Department Fiscal Officer Rebecca K. Neese, Morris Performing Arts Center Accounting Manager Marika Hegedus, Tom Price, Lynn Coleman, MaryAnn Myers, Mlkki Dobski, members of the news media and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member LaFountain noted that this Committee meeting was called so that the Council Members could ask more questions about the proposed 2009 baseline civil city budget. Council Member Henry Davis, Jr., noted that he is interested in learning more about the streamlining efforts taken by the various departments. He noted that he has talked with Mr. Gilot on many of the services which are outsourced by his department. Council Member Davis stated that he is not saying that departments are not being efficient but rather he wants each department to address how they can be better. City Controller M. Catherine Fanello stated that in her twelve (12) years in government, she has used consultants. Often, government cannot afford to keep such persons on staff, due to lag times and payroll. ~ She noted that she is looking at outsourcing more in the Administration Finance, and in particular she is looking at payroll and IT. She noted that training for Information and Technology is ongoing and expensive. Public Works Director Gary Gilot stated that his department is "doing a lot more with less". He noted that since 2000, his department has reduced staff from 400 to 350. He now has five (5) professional engineers on staff, with two of those individuals being "engineers in training". The department does use outside "project engineers" on more complex, multi- disciplinary designs so that the city would not be exposed to potential liability. He would be interested in adding engineers to his staff over time. Council President Rouse stated that he too has similar concerns as Council Member Davis with some constituents believing that there may be double-dipping going on. He noted that Jerry Niezgodski has inquired on several occasions about this and also noted that there is a perception that per capita South Bend is not in line with other communities based on information with the DLGF.