Urgining the City Administration to reconsider its plan to eliminate all health and life insurance benefits for the school crossing guards

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RESOLUTION NO. % �9 - ?'I A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, URGING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO RECONSIDER ITS PLAN TO ELIMINATE ALL HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS WHICH IT PRESENTLY PROVIDES FOR THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS WHEREAS, the Common.Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, recognizes that Indiana State law allows the Mayor to reduce an administrative line -item budget during a calendar year, without Common Council approval; and WHEREAS, the Council has reviewed in detail the Mayor's plan to eliminate all health and life insurance benefits which the City presently provides for the School Crossing Guards; and WHEREAS, 58 of the 62 School Crossing Guards presently are receiving these insurance benefits for an annual cost to the City of approximately $31,000; and WHEREAS, the Council believes that to take away benefits from only one group of city employees without analyzing all other city employee benefit programs is unfair; and WHEREAS, the Council notes with pride that many of the School Crossing Guards have dedicated more than thirty (30) years of their lives to their jobs; and that they hold unique positions "requiring a considerable.amount . of time and travel despite their part -time status;an( WHEREAS, the Common Council believes that a more positive approach to reviewing budgetary needs should be cooperatively explored.. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana: SECTION I. The Common Council formally requests the City Administration to reconsider its proposed plan to eliminate all health and life insurance benefits for the School Crossing Guards. SECTION II. The Common Council believes that the City Administration's proposed�-plari:is:unfair at present ;'when applied to employees who have dedicated their lives to public safety and service to this Community. SECTION III. The Common Council recommends that the 62 School Crossing Guards be grandfathered from the elimination of health and life insurance benefits, and that the policy be considered for new guards which may be hired in the future. SECTION IV. The Council requests the City Administration to begin a study of the costs of all benefits such as PERF, and Health and Life Insurance of all City Employees so that these figures will be available when the Common Council reviews the City Budget for 1982. SECTION V. The Council requests the City Administration to work with the Council to develop positive approaches in these tight budgetar) times which would not impair employee morale, working conditions, or service; and specifically requeststhe City Administration to further explore the possible use of monies from the Transportation Fund from the School Corporation.