HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/03/1936 Board of Public Safety Minutes �� '
���TING ��ugus t 3, 1936
Regular meeting of�he Board of Public Safety cras held on LIonday,
August 3, 1936 at 9: 00 �. ILi. xll members ��:ere present.
P��inutes of previous meeting vdere read and approved.
Requisitions in the Police �epartment numbers 91 to 99 tivere
approved. Claims of the various departments from the follov�ing
_ suppliers in 'the amount of y�722.92 vrere approved an d ordered paid.
Ind. nell Telephone Co. �5.75 R. L. Sensenich, P�l. D. �9.00
BermanTs Sport Goods Store 90.16 Simon Brothers, Inc . 5.75
ryr �ter Co. 14.07 Grand Trunk ti`testern R.R. .60
Office Ln�ineers, Inc . 6.95 TL�Sanhat�an Rubber P;ifg. Div. 465.50
Berman' s Sport Goods Store 23.86 So. Bend �°�hole. Drug Co. 5.10
Recreation Equipment Co. 14.00 Peltz-Kaufer Co. , Inc . 3.50
No. Ind. �ublic Service Co. 34.32 So. Bend �lectric Co. 3.43
Schrader Service 10.40 So. Bend Electric Co. 29.03
�L�CTRIC�_L DEPARTI�IENT - P:�r. C�ualls present:
� T:Tatters pertaining to the operation of the Electrical. Department
tivere discussed yaith I�:ir. �ualls and he stated he ��as investi�a�ing the
cost of suggested traffic signal equipment at ��estern Avenue and
ti'�alnut Street and ��ould have his detailed report at the next Board
P,�ieeting.
ti�J�IGHTS & �iEASURES DEPr1RTT��NT - i�ir. Burns present:
l.lr. Burns submitted his report for the past ireek, shoy�ing 309
inspections to have been made durin� the y�eek. This report is on
file in the office_ of the Board of Public Safety.
FIRE DEPARTP:TENT - Chief I�reeh absent:
The Board personally examined rireman Ldv�ard Tohulka. iiis reason
for not havin� been present at the previous noard �;ieetin; z�ras that it
ti��as his day to report for duty. �f'ter examination as to his fitness
to continue in the service of the South Bend Fire De�artment, he a�reed
to submit to a further check by Pension Physician, Dr. R. L. Sensenich.
The Cleritti,as instructed to have hirn report to the Physician and request
a report of his condition f or the next meeting.
The Board, upon regular motion seeonded and carried,appoin�ed
Louis Szabo and i�nthony fi. Przybysz as members of ttie Fire Department
effective August 16th, subject to physical examination by the Police
and i+ire Physician and the Pension Physician, under regular probation
for the first six rnontns and subject to assi�nment of duties by the
Chief of the r ire Department .
�nton Sroda having been notified to appear before the Board of
Public Safety and found not present and there bein�; no one present to
plead for said �nton Sroda, the Board nolr proceeds �rith discussion of
charges filed by Charles Rupe , Assistant rire Chief, setting forth by
a�'fidavit reasons �rhy i�nton Sroda should be placed on the pension roll
of the rire Department of the City of South Bend on account of physical
disability. �'Jitnesses ��ere then exar.�ined as folloc*�s: George 0. Thurn,
Clerk o�' tne Board of Public ��orks and Safety, and Dr. Roscoe L.
Sensenich, Pension Physician of the Fire Department.
Ptiir. Hunter: ti'That is your name?
Dr. Sensenich: Roscoe L. Sensenich.
t�Tr. Hunter: �re you a physician and sur�eon practicing in the City
of South Bend, Indiana?
Dr. Sensenich: Yes.
P:�r. Hunter: �-1o�r long? .
Dr. Sensenich: Since 1907.
T:;r. hunter: You have had considerable college trainin� in prepar-
ation for your ��ork as a practicing physician and
surgeon`?
Dr. Sensenich: I have had the usual traini�o required for practicin�
physician and sur�eon and have also studied at various
tilnes in �uro�e.
T�iir. Hunter: i'rhat college are you a �raduate of`?
Dr. Sensenich: Rush i,iedical Colle�e of Chiea�o.
38 �
�
rJlr. Hunter: Hotiv long have you been the physician for the Pension �
rund of the Fire Department? �
Dr. Sensenich: For a nutnber of years. `
I��r. Hun.ter: In �he course of this employment as Pension Uoctor ti�ere
you asked by the Board of Public Safety to exa�ine one
Anton Sroda?
Dr. Sensenich: I caas.
I�ir. Hunter: llo you have a record of when you examined Anton Sroda?
Dr. Sensenich: I have.
i�;ir. Hunter: d'dhen?
Dr. Sensenich: July 24, 1936.
?:ir. Hunter: Did you make a medical� examination of xnton Sroda at
that time?
Dr. Sensenich: I did.
t,ir. hunter: In your office?
Dr. Sensenich: In my office.
T�ir. I3unter: �is a result of that examination vdhat physical defects
did you find?
Dr. Sensenieh: The outstanding thing about the physieal exarnination
vlas his hi�h blood pressure and of such a efiaract�er as
to have a physical effect due to his a�;e, he being 64
years old. his vision tiras very much impaired.� There
��as also a very great enlargernent of the ri�ht testicle
�hich he stated e�isted for rnany years. This �rill
probably not be a source of great dama�e. There were
varicose veins in both legs, a sli�,h� deformity of an
old leg fracture. These v��ere the principle things.
l,,ir. Hunter: l�s a result of the findings ti^ahieh you have just dis-
closed do you believe that knton Sroda is physically
qualified to reinain on the active roll of the Fire
Departmen�?
Dr. Sensenich: I do not. �
I::r. Hunter: Do you believe i��ir. Sroda is so physically defective
that it vrould be dan�erous to keep him in the active
tivork of the Fire Department?
Dr. Sensenieh: I do. �
�:�.r. hunter: That is all
Pdr. Hunter: 1`+hat is your name?
Itiir. Thurn: Geor�e 0. Thurn.
I�r�r. Hunter: '�lhat is your official title as a City employee?
Pf�r. Thurn: Clerk of the Board of Public udorks and Safety.
I't;r. Hunter: In this capacity do you have in charge the records of
the South Bend Fire Department?
T�ir. Thurn: I do.
iTr. F�unter: According to these records is �nton Sroda a member of
the Fire . Department?
I�y7r. Thurn: Ye s.
r��r. Hunter: 'b��hen tiras he appointed to the department?
PvTr. Thurn: January 19, 1902.
T,ir. nunter: Ho��� long has he been on the department?
P�Tr. Thurn: 34 years and 6 rnonths.
T��ir. hunter: According to the regulations oi' the �ire Department
Pension r'und is Anton Sroda novr eligible for pension?
T��Tr. Thurn: He is. �
i�,lr. �iunter: That is all.
l�lfred Lentz havin� been notified to appear before the Board of
Publie Safety and found not present and there bein� no one present to
plead for said j�ilfred.:Lentz �he Baard now proceeds tivith discussion of
charges filed by Charles Rupe , Assistant �'ire Chi_ef , setting forth by
affidavit reasons t�rhy 1'ilfred Lentz should be placed on the pension roll
of the �'ire Department of the City of South Bend on account of physical
disability. ��ritnesses ti=�ere then examined as zolloti�s: Geor��,e U. Thurn,
Clerk of the Boar d of �ublic 4�orks and Safety, and Dr. �oscoe L.
Sensenich, i'ension Physician of the Fire Departr�ent.
��Ir. hunter: iuhat is your name?
Dr. Sensenich: �oscoe L. Sensenich.
T:�:r. hunter: xre you a �<n;�sician and surgeon practicin� in the City
of South Bend, Indiana?
Dr. Sensenich: Yes.
l�ir. Hunter: Ho�r long?
Dr. Sensenich: Since 1907.
�� '
P:Ir. Hun�er; You have nad considerable colle�e training in prepar-
ation for your tiaork as a practicin� physician and
sur�eon?
Dr. Sensenich: I have had the usual trainin� reouired for practicing
physician and surgeon and have also studied at various
�imes in �urope.
%:�r. Hunter: drhat college are you a jraduate of?
Dr. Sensenich: Rush I�iedical College of Chicago.
IMir. Hunter: Hovr lonb have you been the physician for the Pension
I'und of the Fire Departrnent?
Dr. Sensenich: F�or a nwnber of years.
I.Zr. Hunter: In the course of this employment as �'ension Doctor were
you asked by the Board of Public Safety to examine one
��.lfred Zentz?
Dr. Sensenich: I ��as.
P:ir. Hunter: Do you have a record of ��hen you exa�nined l�lfred Lentz2
Dr._ Sensenich: I have.
I.ir. Hunter: 1Jhen?
Dr. Sensenich: July 24, 1936.
T,��r. Hunter: Did you make .a medical exa.nination of hlf'red Lentz at
that time?
Dr. Sensenich: I did.
�;:r. Iiunter: In your office?
Dr. Sensenich: In my office.
i;ir. Hunter: As a result of that examination v�hat physical deficiency
did you find in regard to said xlfred Lentz?
Dr. Sensenich: P�Ir. Lentz zr�as found to have a very high blood pressure
of some years standing, but recently r�uch hi�her. He
ti�aas under treatment for this 7 or 8 years a�o. ��t the
present tilne his blood pressure vlas Systolic 200,
Diastolic 100. In addition to that the urine tiras
strongly positive for sugar. This, I understand, has
been knor�n to f:ir. Lentz. Those �Tere the principal
findings either one o� rahich ti�ould be sufficient to
disqualify hira f'or active service on the r ire Depart-
�ent, having considered also his a;;e ���nich he reported
to be 66 years.
i:�r. Hunter: Then in your opinion you v�ithout reservation reco�ni�end
that �,;r. Alfred s�entz be placed on the pension roll of
the i+ire Departtr�ent b3r reason of these specific
disqualifications.
Dr. Sensenich: Yes.
i�r;r. iiunter: Tnat is all.
r�ir. Hunter: '►7hat is your name?
��1r. Thurn: George 0. Thurn.
i:ir. �:unter: • �Ihat is your official title as a City employee.
i,1r. Thurn: Clerk of the Board of Public ��Jorks and Safety.
I.ir. Hunter: In this capacity do you have in charge the records
of the South �end iire Department?
I;Tr. Thurn: I do.
��r. Hunter: xccordino to these records is �ilfred Lentz a member of
the Fire Department?
i.ir. Thurn: Ye s. .
i.:r. Hunter: ��ihen z�ras he appointed to the depart�ent?
I;ir. Thurn: Deeember 21, 1894.
i,ir. Hunter: Ho�, lon� has he been on the department?
I:ir. Thurn: 42 years 7 :�onths.
T:Tr. Hunter: xccording to the re�ulations of tne Fire �epartznent
Pension Fund is nlfred Lentz novr eli�ible for pension?
T:1r. Thurn: . Fe i s.
i��ir. I:unter: That is all.
Upon considerin� the foregoin� evidence , tiie Board upon motion
made by i:Ir. Anderson, seconded by j,:r. `;1ood���ard and regularly earried
decided that this evidence be taken under advisement for one ti�eek for
� further consideration and that Alfred Lentz and tlnton Sroda be
notified to appear before the Board at its ne_�t regular r.ieetin� on
ivionday, August lOth, to m.ake objection to their being placed upon
pension in the rire Department of the City of South Bend.
The Board reeeived resignation as a memUer of the Fire llepartment
of ��nton Sroda as of ku�ust l, 1936. This, by re�ular motion seconded
�o �
�..�
and carried S�aas accepted and the Clerk of the Board tiras instructed ��
to retain �nton Sroda on the payroll until �u�;ust 15th, the last t�T�o �;j
d�ee�s to be considered his vacation for the year. �
The follo��ing applications for position on the Fire llepartment
�1ere received and ordered placed on file: Stephen Goralski , F�obert
Lav�erence .�llbert, ti?allace Ray Lim:-nerman, Frank Janko�vski and Julius
�'iecnorovaski . -
POLTCE D�PARTrJ,�NT - �ssistant Chief Diedrich present:
T?r. �ualls present: .
P�;onthly report of the Bureau of �ccident Preven�ion for July
raas submitted to the Board and a copy furnished each member of the .
Board. This is also on file in the office of the Board of I�ublie .
Safety. �
Special police commissions �ere issued to the following ti��hile. in
the employ of the Bendix Corporation: Arthur rerm, �rnest TvTahan,
�'�nkor rinderson, �. Ho�vard Bode and I.�. D. Shaffer.
Application for re-instatement on the Police Department of James
Perry �ras received and ordered placed on file.
Continuation certificate on surety bond of Casimir Zuzny rras
approved by the Board. � .
The matter of radio and alarm systein �vas discussed and the
Assistant Chief' suggested that sorle change be made in the personnel
unless the service can be improved. A thorou�h discussion of this
matter ���as had and it ��as decided that the Board confirm its former
instruetions �hat i�Ir. Qualls, Superintendent of the Electrical llepart-
ment, is also Chief of the Radio and �larm Station and that all
activities of that department be taken up ti�rith him. The Secretary iaras
also instructed, upon regular motion by l�ir. Anderson, seconded by
i,Tr. ��'+oodtivard and earried, to varite to the Chiefs of the Fire and Yolice
�epartments and to the members of the Alarm atation, giving copy of
the letter to Llr. �ualls, that the I3oard considers i:�r. �,ualls the
head of the �epartz�ent and that he is held responsible for its satis-
factory operation, that he is authorized to arrange tlie ��JOrk of the
detiartment to obtain the best service for the Police and Fire Depart-
ments. The follovring letter v�as v+ritten to the Chief of the �'ire
Department, Chief of the Police Department and to the menlbers of the
Alarm 5tation:
"The Board of Public Safety at its meeting on �vionday, August 3rd,
again confirrned its decision made i�pr.il 29 , 1935 that I�ir. �ualls,
Superin�tendent of the Llectrical Departr�ent , is the Chief' of the Radio
and xlarm Station and that any matters to be taken up for consideration
of the Board of Public Saf ety shall be submitted throu�h i��Tr. �ualls.
This letter is �rritten so that you may thorou�hly understand that
�:,r. �ualls is held responsible for the proper operation of the nlarm -
Station and he shall direct its operation and make assi�ntnents to
operators as in his best jud�rsent is for the interest of the departr,lent
and the City in general. �
The Board requests that all interested vaill cooperate to tne
fullest extent, so that the most efficient service y��ill be rendered."
In the matter of further physical examination by Police Pension
Dr. R. L. �ensenieh of Officers Sam I�oczorotvski , Frank '►�endo�rski , .
Valentine Delinski , I'rank T'erger and J. C. Bloom, it ti�as discovered
that through error the letter directed to them by the Clerk of the
Board of Safety on July 28th, instructing theM to report to Dr.
Sensenich, sliotired date of October lst instead of Au�ust lst , and none
of the of�'icexs havin� appeared f or examina�ion another co�munication
�yas directecl to these officers to appear durin� tne week of xugust 8th,
so that report of examination may be had by the Board f or its next
meeting on xugust lOth.
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 A. �,1.
l
Chairman
ATTEST: _Clerk