Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-12-10 Personnel & Finance Committee_ ~ 1 Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting 2010 South Bend Common Council The July 12, 2010 meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee of the South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Vice-Chairperson Council Member Karen L. White at 4:10 p.m. in the Council's Informal Meeting Room, 4th Floor of the County-City Building. Persons in attendance included Council Members: Dieter, Puzzello, Varner, Rouse, Kirsits, Henry Davis, Jr., and White; Rita Kopola, Marty- Wolfson, Catherine Toppel, Dr. John J. Dillon, Gregg Zientara, Mayor Stephen Luecke, Catherine Pittman, Public Works Director Gary Gilot, P.E., ,and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member White noted that the committee members include Council Member Tom LaFountain who is currently on vacation, Council Member Oliver Davis who is attending is Mother's funeral, Dr. Varner, and herself. Council Member White expressed her deepest sympathy to Council Member Oliver Davisand his family. She added that each Bill will have a presentation and public hearing but in light of a quorum not being present that all Bills will be sent to the Common Council without recommendation. Bil{ No. 30-10 Amending the Human Rights Ordinance Council Member White stated that the Council has received a letter dated July 8, 2010 from Council Members Puzzello and Kirsits requesting that Bill No. 30-10 be continued until July 26th (copy attached). Council Member Puzzello stated that she believes that it is very important for every member of the Council to be present and heard on this Bill. Since Council Member Oliver Davis has put so much time into the Bill, they believe that it should be continued until be is present. Council Member White stated that the Bill will be sent to Council without recommendation. Bill No. 35-10 Amending the 2010 Non-Bargaining Employee's Salary Ordinance City Controller Gregg Zientara with offices of the 12th Floor of the County-City Building made the formal presentation. He stated that last September he filed a salary ordinance for non- bargaining employees. After that filing, his office discovered that the new Energy Director position was not included in the attachment. Anew attachment was prepared and filed which included it. Recently, he was reviewing the ordinance in light of the wage adjustments which are being made this month and discovered that four (4) positions were omitted namely the Director of Code Enforcement, Director of Administrative Services, Director of Administrative Services for Parks and Director of Central Services, all of which are full-time positions. This Bill would correct those omissions and formally amend Bill No. 9959-09. No one from the public spoke in favor or in opposition to the Bill. July 12, 2010 Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 Council Member White stated that the Bill will be sent to the Council without recommendation. Miscellaneous Business: Council Member Henry Davis, Jr., inquired about how each of the city departments and bureaus will be measured in light of the upcoming budget requests for 2011. He stated that there should be measureable outcomes for each department. He noted that he has had challenging response to questions which he has made to various departments, and he believes that it boils down to communications. He suggested that when the Council is requested to allocate dollars for a department and appropriate money for their operations, that there should be measureable outcomes for all operations of the city. Currently there is no recourse when a citizen calls and cited the many calls he has received about the lack of lawns at vacant properties being cut in a timely and efficient manner. Council Member White stated that the budget process is the time for the Council to make inquiry as to whether departmental goals stated last year have been achieved. She noted that the issue is one of measureable outcomes and that there must be a sense of accountability of our tax dollars. Council Member White suggested that all suggestions for improving the budget review process be sent to Council Member Tom LaFountain, the Chairperson of the Personnel and Finance Committee. The Council Attorney added that the Annual Reports which are required by City Code are to address whether the goals and objectives of each department are being achieved. Those reports are required to be filed in the Spring of each year so that the Council has the opportunity to review them before the budget process begins. If goals and objectives are not being met, the Council then has the chance to adjust budgets to better address those objectives. She noted however that the Council only has the authority to cut budget amounts during the budget review, but may request the Mayor to adjust line-items upward. She added that this year, many of the Annual Reports were significantly shorter and less detailed that in the past. Council Member White stated that these concerns would be forwarded to the Committee Chair. There being no further business to come before the Committee, Council Member White adjourned the Committee meeting at 4:18 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~Cl.`'`."'~ Council Member Karen L. White, Vice-Chairperson Personnel and Finance Committee Attachments SpU TIC b~ °4 '~``'~''~'''~''~° City of South Bend U \~~~ i% d ~\ '~~x J ~. -; a Common Council N 1865 ~ 441 County-City Building . 227 W. Jefferson Blvd South Bend, Indiana 46601-1830 Derek D. Dieter President Oliver J. Davis Vice-President Ann Puzzello Chairperson, Committee of the Whole Derek D. Dieter First District Henry Davis, Jr. Second District Thomas LaFountain Third District Ann Puzzello Fourth District David Varner Fifth District Oliver J. Davis Sixth District Al "Buddy' Kirsits At Large Timothy A. Rouse At Large Karen L. White At Large July 8, 2010 Derek D. Dieter, President South Bend Common Council 4`h Floor County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard South Bend, Indiana 46601 ~'~ F ~~> 2 ~l~ (574) 235-9321 Fax (574) 235-9173 TDD (574) 235-5567 http: //www. so uthbendin. gov Re: ill No. 30-10 - Am Code Chapter 2 Article 9, Addressing E loyment Fairne Dear President Dieter: In light of the entire Council not being present at the July 12, 2010, we respectfully ask that Bill No. 30-10 be continued until the July 26, 2010 Meeting of the Council. Respectfully Submitted, Z!d?~ ~'/l Zil~l Ann Puzzello, 4~' Dist 'ct ouncil Member 1J Al "Buddy" Kirsits, Council Member at Large