HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-08 Health and Public Safety & Personnel and FinanceHEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY &
PERSONNEL AND FINANCE OCTOBER 2, 2008
Committee Members Present: Karen L. White, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety;
Ann Puzzello, Vice-Chairperson Health and Public Safety; Henry Davis; Don Brubaker,
Citizen Member, Health and Public Safety; Tom LaFountain, Chairperson, Personnel &
Finance; Oliver Davis, Member Personnel & Finance; Roger Hamburg, Citizen Member
Personnel & Finance; Jim Kapsa, SBCSC, Interim-Superintendent; Jamie Loo, Mayor
Luecke, Catherine Fanello, Chief Boykins, Tom Bodnar, 20 Crossing Guards
Agenda: School Crossing Guards
Karen White opened the meeting by explaining this was a joint committee meeting
intended to bring all relevant parties together to discuss an issue affecting the entire
community. Most importantly, assuring the safety of school children walking to school.
Currently this service is provided by 30 school crossing guards at a cost of roughly half a
million dollars a year. These dollars are a part of the SBPD budget and were feared cut
due to revenue shortfalls due to the anticipated fallout from HEA 1001. Karen's
comments echoed by Tom LaFountain focused on efforts initiated by the Council to bring
everyone together to find a solution that assures the safety of the kids and one the city can
afford. Both Karen and Tom emphasized the need to partner with the SBCSC to find a
solution. To that end Karen introduced Jim Kapsa, Superintendent of the South Bend
Community School Corporation (SBCSC) who expressed a willingness to help find an
answer.
Karen then introduced Kathy Cekanski-Farrand who spoke to the Council's limited role
beyond budget approval. She then recounted a brief history of the city's relationship with
the crossing guards. In addition.she cited funds that may be available through INDOT to
help cover the cost of training and equipment for crossing guards. These funds have been
applied for; but cannot be used for payroll.
Mayor Luecke described the '09 Budget proposal as a base-line budget reflecting '08
revenues & expenses even though that information has yet been confirmed by the State.
Should alternative dollars not e found he suggested the guards could not be funded in
2010. SBPD Chief Darryl Boykins assured kids would be safe going to and from school
even though cuts might be necessary.
SBCSC Interim-Superintendent Jim Kapsa said he was sensitive to the City's dollars
woes. He said children's safety was the number one goal. To that end he initiated "what
if' meetings with all principals. He said each school situation was different possibly
requiring different solutions.
Councilmember Puzzello urged all parties to work together. She said the ideal solution
was to keep the crossing guards.
Citizen Member of the Personnel & Finance Committee, Roger Hamburg emphasized the
safety concerns noting guards were a must in some areas. He said the guards served as
guardian angels for the kids.
City Controller Catherine Fanello spoke to the difficult of finding a financial solution
without revenue projections from the State.
Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand and Chief Darryl Boykins said they were looking into how
crossing guard's services were provided in other Indiana cities.
Karen White then opened the meeting to public comment. In succession, 10 crossing
guards spoke to their concern for the safety of the children. They each briefly spoke of
the dangerous conditions in heavily trafficked areas made worse by inclement weather,
darkness, and distracted drivers. They challenged the Mayor and Council to assign their
stated safety concerns for the kids a higher priority in the budget.
Councilmember LaFountain succinctly stated, "it all comes down to money."
Bringing the meeting to a close Karen White said all options would be considered. She
set the next meeting for Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the joint committees, Chairperson's
White and LaFountain adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
J
Karen L. White, Chairperson, Health & Public Safety
Tom L~ountain, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance