12-08-08 Personnel and Finance Committee

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PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE The December 8, 2008 meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee of the South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Chairperson, Tom LaFountain at 4:40 p.m. in the Council's Informal Meeting Room. Committee Members present: Oliver J. Davis; David Varner; AI "Buddy" Kirsits Other's Present: Councilmember's Puzzello, Henry Davis, and Rouse; Mayor Stephen Luecke; Catherine Fanello; Rita Kopala, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand; John Voorde AGENDA: BILL NOS. 79-08.80-08. 81-08.75-08. 76-08. 77-08, 78-08, 82-08 Chairperson, Tom LaFountain asked for a motion to hear Bill Nos. 79-08, 80-08 and the substitute version of Bill No. 81-08 together. On a motion by Councilmember Varner, seconded by Councilmember Oliver J. Davis, and affirmed by all the three bills were combined for public hearing purposes. Bill Nos. 79-08 and 80-08 as outlined by Catherine Fanello, City Controller are the result of a move to re-align duties and personnel in the Controller's Office. Oversight responsibilities for scrap metal/recycling licenses would shift from the Controller's Office to the City Clerk. The same goes for one-day event lawn parking permits. Bill No. 81-08 creates a loss recovery fund into which the $4.5 million dollars recently awarded the city in a ground pollution case be deposited. This fund would be non-reverting. Councilmember Tim Rouse asked if money could be borrowed from this fund and others with balances so that the city could lower the costs tied to tax anticipation warrants. Catherine Fanello enthusiastically responded yes, adding she would prepare a list of available funds. It was agreed a meeting to review the proposal would be held before year end. Councilmember Oliver J. Davis motioned, Councilmember Kirsits seconded all subsequently approved the call for a special meeting before the end of the year. (Subsequently, December 29, 2008 at 12:00 (noon) was set.) Bill Nos. 75-07, 76-08 and 78-08 which are year-end clean-up housekeeping type money transfer bills were heard together. Fanello briefly reviewed the purpose of the bills. On a motion by Councilmember Oliver J. Davis and a second by Councilmember Varner the bills were individually sent by unanimous consent of the Personnel & Finance Committee to Council with a favorable recommendation. Bill No. 77-08, an Appropriation for Operations of Century Center. This bill which had been deferred from its original November 10, 2008 hearing date to allow more time for consideration by Council was subsequently sent to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Bill No. 82-08, authorizing the issuance of new temporary loan tax anticipation time warrants was withdrawn at the request of the petitioner, the City Controller.