Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-17-00 Council Meeting MinutesSPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 17, 2000 Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, met in the Council Chambers of the County -City Building on Thursday, August 17, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Council President Charlotte Pfeifer and the Invocation and Pledge to the Flag were given. ROLL CALL Present: James Aranowski 1" District Charlotte Pfeifer 2nd District Roland Kelly 3rd District Karl King 4th District David Varner 5th District Andrew Ujdak Oh District Sean Coleman At -Large Absent: Al `Buddy" Kirsits At -Large Karen L. White At -Large SPECIAL BUSINESS Vice - President President Chairperson, Committee of the Whole APPOINTMENT TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Councilmember Varner announced that Mr. Richard P. Morrison, 5740 Hawkins Court, South Bend, Indiana, has been selected to serve as the Council's Republican appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. Members of the Council congratulated Mr. Morrison on his appointment. 2001 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS Councilmember Aranowski reminded everyone that the Personnel and Finance Committee will begin 20001 budget hearings on Monday, August 21, 2000. RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 7:03 p.m. Councilmember Coleman made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Kelly seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. Chairman Uj dak presiding. BILL NO. 59 -00 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY AND MONETARY FRINGE BENEFITS OF FIREFIGHTERS OF THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Councilmember Aranowski reported that the Personnel and Finance Committee along with the Health and Public Safety Committee met on this bill and due to the fact that the two (2) committees did not know what the vote total for the ratification was at that time, the bill is being sent to the Council with no recommendation at this time. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski- Farrand noted for the record that Councilmember Kirsits is out of the City and will not be in attendance tonight. However, he was advised that he would have been able to be involved in discussions concerning this matter but in light of the fact that he is a member of the Fire Department he would not have been able to vote on the matter. Additionally, Councilmember White is in a meeting and plans to be in attendance at approximately 8:00 p.m. and hopefully will be in attendance for the vote on this matter. Attorney Cekanski- Farrand made the presentation for this bill. She noted that for this project she is an agent of the City Council and the Board of Public Safety as well as the City spokesperson. She SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 17.2000 stated that she did not know which presentation to make in light of the results of the vote by firefighters. Therefore, she called upon Mr. Leon Stein, President, Local #362, Firefighters Association to advise the Council on the outcome of the vote. Mr. Stein informed the Council that .in February they gave the Council a presentation on their staffing and the ranking in the state among other cities for a pension base. In 1999, the City of South Bend was ranked ninety -three (93) out of one hundred four (104). In the year 2000, the City was ranked ninety (90) out of one hundred seven (107). For years the pension base has been low in South Bend. It was felt that the Council did address their needs for the pension base. However, there are other areas in contract language that they still have a few problems with. He noted that the membership had concerns about insurance for retirees and the out of pocket for the preferred provider as well as concerns about holiday pay. Mr. Stein thanked the Council for negotiating with the firefighers and informed the Council that a small per cent of the firefighers abstained from voting but that the contract was ratified with a majority voting to ratify the contract under protest. They felt some of the issues were not clear in the language to be voting on and there are still some grey areas that need to be addressed. Council Attorney Cekanski- Farrand advised that she is making the presentation on behalf of the Council, the negotiating team which consisted of Councilmembers Aranowski, Ujdak, White and Kelly as well Cathy Roemer, City Controller, Tom Bodnar, Attorney for the Board of Public Safety and Attorney Cheryl Greene. She noted that since the mid 1980's the City has been using a joint format of using a City negotiating team to represent the Board of Public Safety who deal with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the working conditions of the Police and Fire Department, the City Council who address monetary issues, the City administration who provides goal setting, and the fire department administration. Attorney Cekanski- Farrand gave a brief overview of the process which began in February of this year to begin their strategy with regard to goal setting. Many questions were raised to where they would like to see the Fire Department in the next several years. They reviewed the last session which was held in 1996 and compared that to where the department is this year. Many executive sessions were held. Three goals were set out. One, to have a multi- year agreement with four (4) years being suggested. Second, to establish competitive wages which were affordable by the City and third to address pension base. Attorney Cekanski- Farrand also noted that the Collective Bargaining Agreement will be acted upon separately by the Board of Public Safety. Mayor Stephen Luecke commended and thanked both teams for their work and long hours and for the successful agreement that has been reached. He noted that he believes that the best agreement is reached at the negotiating table and he believes that the process that the City went through exemplifies that. He commended the Council for their strong first position in the negotiations that showed where the City wanted to go with this matter. The package begins to make improvements immediately for the firefighers and in particular in the pension base by increasing the pension base amount in four (4) years more than what done in the previously fourteen (14) years. He noted that he realizes that it is very difficult process for all involved and he recommended favorable approval of the ordinance. Councilmember Aranowski noted that as a member of the team and chairperson of the Personnel and Finance Committee he would like to thank the firefighers negotiating team. He noted that their overall goal was to provide public safety in this community as well as for the safety of the firefighters and good wages. The number one goal was the pension base as well as parity. Another issue was that the firefighers wanted the Common Council to become very active in the negotiations. Those three goals were met. The Council knows the financial position of the City and they recognize the sacrifices the firefighers have made over a number of years. He stated that the City was aggressive and put out a very good package that would move the firefighters into better pay over the next four (4) years. Councilmember Aranowski noted that the Collective Bargaining Agreement language was addressed in issues of safety and shift strength. SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 17.2000 Councilmember Varner noted that Mr. Stein made it clear to the Council that the pension base was a priority issue and it is easier when people are straight forward and make those points obvious in the initial stages. Councilmember Kelly stated that he is pleased that the situation has been resolved . He noted that the City team wanted to do the best job it could in increasing the pension base and providing a good contract for the firefighers. He stated that the firefighers deserve to be treated as well as the City possibly can. The City bargained hard but always bargained in good faith. He thanked Mr. Leon Stein and Mr. Fred Jaronik and the entire negotiating team. Council President Pfeifer thanked everyone who participated especially the Council team. She thanked them for working hard and keeping good communication with the Council. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Mike Damian, 1648 North Wellington, South Bend, Indiana, a member of Firefighters Local #362 informed the Council that he has a letter from Firefighter Mark Catanzarite who is on duty this evening. Mr. Damian read the letter from Mr. Catanzarite. He noted that the firefighers have paid their dues, they have gone too long without and they have made sacrifices in their personal lives. They realize that the increase in the pension base is one of the most significant increases ever. However, asking the rank and file to fund a portion of these raises with increases in insurance costs and decreases in holiday pay seems unfair. He proposed that the Council pass an amendment to give increases in the years 2002 and 2003 to the ranks of engineer and captain. Mr. Fred Jaronik, Vice - President, Local #362 thanked the Council for remembering the firefighters that preceded him and all the active members that are now retired. He hoped that they could revisit some of the things in the language as it is right now because some things are not aligning properly. There was no one else present wishing to speak to the Council in favor of this bill and there was no one present wishing to speak to the Council in opposition to this bill. Councilmember Ujdak thanked members of both teams. He stated that he has a great appreciation for and what the firefighers do as great public servants. He further stated that the City stepped forward and did the right thing and is on the right path. The two (2) issues that have been discussed that were important are the pension base and everyone was united on that front. The other issue was shift strength and the issue of public safety. ' The Health and Public Safety Committee is pledging itself to monitor that on a monthly basis to make sure that they are staffing the department at the appropriate levels. Councilmember Ujdak offered an open door at all times from the committee to the members of the union and the department to keep discussions going. In conclusion, Councilmember Ujdak thanked Council Attorney Cekanski- Farrand for her efforts as well as Mr. Stein and Mr. Jaronik and the rest of the team. Therefore, Councilmember Aranowski made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Kelly seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. RISE AND REPORT Councilmember Coleman made motion to rise and report to the full Council. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. ATTEST: SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 17, 2000 REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend reconvened in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the County -City Building at 7:45 p.m. Council President Charlotte Pfeifer presided with seven (7) members present. BILLS - THIRD READING ORDINANCE NO. 9127-00 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY AND MONETARY FRINGE BENEFITS OF FIREFIGHTERS OF THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 This bill had third reading. Councilmember Kelly made a motion to pass this bill. Councilmember Coleman seconded the motion which carried. The bill passed by a roll call vote of seven (7) ayes. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business to come before the Council at this time. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to come before the Council at this time. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, Council President Pfeifer adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m. ATTEST: ' ,/ ATTEST: \. � Charlotte Pfeifer, Presid t l 11