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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13-04 Health & Public Safety --==wealth end Public Safer Committee Committee Wort The September 13, 2004 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by its Chairperson,Council Member Ann Puzzello at 4:00 p.m. Persons in attendance included Council Members: White, Kelly,Puzzello,Kelly, Varner, Dieter, Pfeifter, Kuspa and Kirsits; Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, Community & Economic Development Executive Director Sharon Kendall, Building Commissioner Don Fozo, City Controller Frederick B. 011ett III, Fire Chief Robert X. Quinn III, Assistant Fire Chief of Operations James Lopez, Assistant Chief of Services Richard Switalski, Battalion Chief for Special Operations Greg Metzger, Engineer Ken Marks, Lieutenant/Paramedic Todd Skwarcan, City Clerk City Clerk John Voorde, City Attorney Charles S. Leone, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member Puzzello noted that a request has been received to continue Bill No. 04-102 which would acknowledge the adoption of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to the September 27, 2004 Council meeting. Council Member Dieter made a motion to that effect which was seconded by Council Member Kelly. The motion passed. Council Member Puzzello then called for a presentation on Bill No. 57-04 which would appropriate $146,000 within the Haz Mat Fund# 289 for the purchase of various equipment for the haz mat team. Fire Chief Robert obert X. Quinn III noted that Assistant Fire Chief of Operations James Lopez and Battalion Chief for Special Operations Greg Metzger were present on this agenda item. Chief Lopez stated that Battallion Chief Greg Metzger will be making future presentations when this fund is involved. He noted that $140,000 of this appropriation are from a grant from the State of Indiana through homeland securities operations. The monies would be used to purchase various equipment for the haz mat team which will be part of the State of Indiana's Region # 2 response team. He noted that an additional. $6,000 would be used to purchase the equipment which is needed to finish the inside of the new haz mat and tactical team trailers, all of which are listed on the handout attached to the ordinance(copy attached). In response to a question from Council Member Dieter, Chief Lopez noted that they would be stored at 701 West Sample. Engineer Ken Marks,President of Fire Local No. 362 spoke in favor of the bill. Assistant Chief of Services Richard Switalski noted that they are working with Luther Taylor at the state level regarding SEMA, and he has acknowledged that if any of our firefighters are injured while performing services as part of the Region#2 Response Team, that the State of Indiana would pay for such costs. Following discussion, Council Member Kelly made a motion, seconded by Council Member Dieter that Bill No. 57-04 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. Health and Public Safety Committee Meeting of September 7,2004 Page 1 eplth emf Piddle Safety Committee Council Member Puzzello then called for a presentation on Substitute Bill No. 51-04 which would fix the annual pay and monetary fringe benefits of firefighters of the South Bend Fire Department for calendar year 2005. Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,the agent and Chief Negotiator for the South Bend Common Council made the presentation. She noted that two (2) housekeeping matters are addressed on the two (2) pages which set forth the amendments. More specifically on page 6, Section VIII, paragraph c addressing inspectors and instructors and on page 8, Section VIII, paragraph j addressing the $50.00 additional amount which fire pensioners who are not members of the Union must pay each month for medical insurance, noting that the exact language is set forth in the letter and in the substitute pages of the Bill. She noted that Chief Quinn and Assistant Chief Switalski have seen the language and believe it helps clarify the ordinance in the areas addressed. She noted that the Fire Negotiating Team which had Council Members Dieter, Kelly, Kuspa and Puzzello on it achieved all of the goals established by the Council with regard to parity and stayed within the financial goals which were outlined. She stated that she would have a powerpoint presentation this evening which would address that further. The proposed ordinance would also create an E a 'h Tuition n T n R i n duc o o a mburseme t Program"on page 8, Section IX of the proposed ordinance, for the fire department which was also a high priority for some of the Council members. Ms. Cekanski-Farrand commended the City Negotiating Team and the Firefighters Negotiating Team for their hard-work and professionalism which led to a successful conclusion. City Attorney Charles S. Leone stated that he sent today a letter requesting that the ordinance be amended to delete all of the language on page 2, Section I, paragraph d addressing service year requirements. He stated that he believes that the language,although included in past fire salary ordinances, may impair the ability to the labor-management committee to address rank restructuring. He added that much of the ordinance goes beyond annual compensation. He noted that the language reflects current practices. Council President White asked Mr. Leone discussed his amendment with the city negotiating team. Mr. Leone stated that he had not. Council Member Kelly stated that he could not support this amendment in light of the lateness of it being brought to the Council. He added that he thought "we had fought thru our differences". Council Member Dieter stated that he agreed with Council Member Kelly and could not support the new amendment. Fire Chief Robert X. Quinn III spoke in favor of the Substitute Bill, and thanked the negotiating team,the Administration and the Council for a successful negotiating process. Health and Public Safety Committee Meeting of September 7,2004 Page 2 deal aid Public Safety Committee Ken Marks, President of the Firefighters Local No. 362 spoke in favor of the Substitute Bill. He stated that the negotiations went quite smoothly and that the membership of Local No, 362 supports it overwhelmingly. Mayor Luecke spoke in favor of the Substitute Bill and was glad that it came to a successful conclusion. Following discussion, Council Member Kelly made a motion, seconded by Council Member Dieter that Substitute Bill No. 51-04 be recommended favorably to the Council. The motion passed. Council Member Puzzello then called for a presentation on Bill No. 04-101 which is a resolution which would approve and ratify the collective bargaining agreement between the Board of Public Safety and the South Bend Firefighters Association. City Attorney Charles S. Leone made the presentation. He noted that during the negotiations that there were discussions to have a resolution for the Council to review and formally ratify the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which the Board of Public Safety approved on September 1,2004. Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, agent for the Council, stated that this practice would be consistent with what other 2nd class cities have done for many years of approving CBA's related to the fire and police departments because of the many monetary items which are addressed in those documents. Fire Chief Quinn spoke in favor of the CBA noting that it addressing alot of issues. Lieutenant/Paramedic Todd Skwarcan a member of the Firefighters Negotiating Team spoke in favor of the resolution and thanked the city negotiating team members for all of their efforts. Thomas (Chip) Lewis, the attorney for the Firefighters Local No. 362 joined the committee meeting at this point and spoke in favor of the resolution. He noted that good hard work by both negotiating teams resulted in a good package. He stetted that the firefighters are looking forward to having the Council approve the salaries and the entire package. Council Member Al "Buddy" Kirsits noted for the record that he is a member of the South Bend Fire Department, as well as an elected member of the Council. Based on the legal opinion of the Council Attorney, Council Member Kirsits stated that he has been advised that he may participate in the discussions of the fire documents pending before the Council and vote on them upon proper disclosure. He noted further that he also has on record a Uniform Conflict of Interest form which he has properly filed with the required offices. Based on all of this information, the Council Attorney has determined that he does not have a major conflict of interest. Health and Public Safety Committee Meeting of September 7,2004 Page 3 will aid Public Safely Committee Following discussion, Council Member Dieter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kellly that Bill No. 04-101 be recommended favorably to Council. There being no further business to come before the Committee, Council Member Puzzello adjourned the meeting at 4:23 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Council Member Ann Pnzzello, Chairperson Health and Public Safety Committee KCF:kmf Attachments Health and Public Safety Committee Meeting of September 7,2004 Page 4