HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-13-12 Personnel & Finance Committeek*6 PERSONNEL AND FINANCE FEBRUARY 13, 2012
Committee Members Present: Karen White, Gavin Ferlic, David Varner,
Henry Davis, Jr.
Other Council Members Present: Derek Dieter, Tim Scott; Dr. Fred Ferlic, Oliver Davis;
Valerie Schey
Others Present: Huey Schobey, Kathy Cekanski - Farrand, Kevin Allen,
Mark Neal, Mayor Pete, Mike Schmuhl, Phil St. Clair,
Chief Cox, Chief Boykins, Catherine Toppel, Dennis
Andres, Gary Gilot
Agenda: Bill No. 84 -11 — Create Tech Park Fund #439
Bill No. 01 -12 — Salary Adjustments
Bill No. 12 -11 — MILK Day as Holiday
Interview Redevelopment Commission
Bill No. 84 -11 Creates a Tech Park Fund #439
Committee Chair Karen White began the hearing noting a full committee in attendance Karen
proceeded to ask City Controller Mark Neal to present the bill. Mark Neal explained that state law
requires a special fund be created to receive and disburse money for use in tech parks. In that
South Bend established Innovation and Ignition Parks the fund is required to follow. The only
self- imposed requirement added to the bill was a status report of the fund activity to be filed
quarterly with the Council.
With that agreed upon Councilmember Varner moved for favorable recommendation.
Councilmember Gavin Ferlic seconded and all affirmed.
Bill No. 12 -11 Designating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday as a City Holiday
Both Councilmember's Oliver and Henry Davis co- sponsored this bill with Oliver making the
formal presentation. He said to honor Dr. King the City should designate the day as a holiday,
something already done by the federal and county governments. He said the City currently
grants 9 holidays plus one floating day to be used at the employee's discretion. The proposed
action would add 1 making 10 designated and 1 floating.
Councilmember Dr. Fred Ferlic suggested the City already gives more holidays that typical in the
private sector. He felt the economic impact should be measured. Councilmember Henry Davis
felt honoring Dr. King super ceded consideration of dollar costs.
During the public portion Huey Schobey said the designation was long overdue.
Councilmember Gavin Ferlic moved the recommendation to full Council be favorable.
Councilmember Henry Davis seconded and all supported. It should be noted the final authority to
name holidays rests with the Board of Public Works. The bill asks the Board of Public Works to
do so.
Bill No. 01 -12 Proposed Salary Adjustments
Chairperson White recognized Mayor Pete Buttigieg who made the presentation. The bill
sponsored by the Mayor would raise the maximum salaries of the administrative staff in 2012.
The Mayor said these caps were necessary for the City to be competitive when trying to recruit
the best and brightest candidates for these positions. He explained a comparative review of
salary levels both within and out of state revealed the salaries in the current ordinance were too
low to be able to compete for the best. Duties of several positions were to be re- vamped and no
one in the Mayor's Office would get an increase. The Mayor also indicated the increases would
total only $90K plus a $200K salary contingency already set aside by the last Council for 2012.
Before Council discussion Councilmember Henry Davis wanted to correct an impression he may
have given earlier in the week that he was opposed to the increases. In the Council portion that
followed several Councilmember's expressed concerns about the timing of the increases, the
effect the increases may have on pending police /fire wage negotiations, and the validity of the
current salaries being uncompetitive.
In the interests of time the Council forwarded the bill without recommendation. Interviews with
applicants for the Redevelopment Commission were also deferred until 6:00 p.m.
Councilmember White recessed the Committee at 5:40 p.m.
Attachments (3)
Respectfully Submitted,
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Karen L. White, Chairperson
Personnel and Finance Committee