HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-26-87 Personnel & Finance Ohm in apart
PERBQJ EEL_ AND FINANCE COMMITTEE •
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The October 26, 1987 meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee was called
to order by its Chairman, Councilman Beverlie J. Beck, at 5:10 p.m. in the
Council informal meeting room.
Persons in attendance included: Councilmen: Serge, Braboy, Beck, Puzzello,
Taylor,' Zakrzewski, Voorde, Paszek, Barcome; Michael Vance, Assistant Chief
Ruzkowski, Sargeant Hayes, Jim Wensits, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand.
Councilman Beck noted that the Committee was to review Bill No. 91-87, which
will amend Chapter 4, Article 11 of the Municipal Code of the City of South
Bend, entitled "Licensing."
Mr. Michael Vance noted that one of the primary purposes of the bill was to
tighten the regulations governing second hand dealers. He noted that the
ordinance calls for increased record keeping requirements, longer retention
of property and more detailed identification purposes than in the past.
Mr. Vance noted that present were Sargeant Hayes, and Assistant Chief Ruz-
kowski, of the South Bend Police Department who would explain the need for the
ordinance.
Assistant Chief Ruzkowski noted that the City purchased a personal computer
system where weekly entries of second hand property are inputed. He noted
that there is a definite need to hold the property for a fourteen day period.
He stated that legitimate business men in this area can make a comfortable
living while retaining a fourteen day shelf life of such property. He noted
that in many cases, three I.D. 's and a thumb print are necessary based on the
value of the property. He stated that the police department could determine
within the two week period whether infact any of the merchandise had been sto-
len. Often times false serial numbers are put into the records. He further
stated that the police department had a "pawn life detail" check on each of the
dealers in this area. He stated that often times the records will indicate
that a zoning was taken in when infact it was a sharp. He further stated that
there may be opposition to the bill by the owner of Western Electric.
Councilman Braboy questioned whether some of the false information may infact
be that received by the owner, and it was indicated that that was correct.
Councilman Voorde noted that he had been contacted by several owners of second
hand clothing stores, with regard to the nroposed ordinance. He noted that he
had been in contact with the Legal Department, as well as the Council Attorney,
and specifically sighted page three, where consignment shops are excluded from
the detailed record keeping procedure.
Mr. Vance noted that the penalty section had been stiffened up substantially so
that there would infact be an incentive to comply with the ordinance provisions.
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if Personal and Finance Committee
Minutes/October 26, 1987
Page 2
Sargeant Hayes gave examples where merchandise was sold where .no verifi-
cation of the actual owner could be made by the police department. Now there
is no holding procedure and that often times the owners could not be written
up since they were "just within the guidelines".
It is also indicated that approximately eighteen hundred (1,800) items
are placed into the computer each.month.
Following further discussion, Councilman Barcome made a motion seconded
by Councilman Serge, that Bill No. 91-87 be recommended favorably to Council.
The motion passed unanimously.
Therebeing no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting
was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Councilman Beverlie J. Beck, Chairman
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