10-10-16 Personnel and Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Aladean DeRose, City Attorney, stated the title does not typically reflect those changes. Secondly, there is a line in the statement of intent that says there are minor updates included. Councilmember Dr. Varner asked if golf courses would be included in recreation, and if it should be spelled out. Councilmember Broden also requested that pools be included. Committeemember White asked that the golf courses be included. Committeemember Voorde moved to add the golf courses to the language of Bill No. 64 -16, Committeemember Ferlic seconded, and it carried by a voice vote of four (4) ayes. Committeemember Ferlic motioned to send Bill No. 64 -16 as amended favorably to the full Council, it was seconded by Committeemember Williams- Preston, and it carried by a voice vote of four (4) ayes. Bill No. 56 -16: 2017 Common Council Salary Tim Scott, 711 Forest Avenue, we're proposing a two percent (2 %) raise for the Common Council, which will increase the salary to $19,030. No one from the public spoke in favor of the bill. Those wishing to speak in opposition: Jim Bognar, 807 West Washington Street, believes that the two percent (2 %) increase is too low. He finds that in 2015, the City of South Bend had 1,704 employees, and the public has the right to vote on eleven (11) positions, and individuals only have the ability to influence six (6) of those positions. In an effort to look positive, the mayor, clerk and council are diminishing their worth. The City of South Bend in 2013 spent over $3 million on not - for - profit support. It is people that we believe are important, jobs that we thought were significant. We rely on these people and have to be able to continue to pay them. We have to look at where we are and where we are going. Mr. Bognar asked how we are going to empower the next generation of elected officials. There has been an explosion of work that the council, clerk, and mayor and their staff does, but they haven't moved forward on salary increases. If you want people to come in to public service, you are going to have to pay more. It is an easy target for the media, and they do a poor job of reporting it. He is concerned for all of the elected positions. It should not be tied to the employees that are hired, because anyone can run for your positions, and we need to incentivize people to come in. While I reject the two percent (2 %),1 believe it should be more, and I would also like to attach that to the Mayor's Office and the Clerk's as well. Councilmember Scott stated that he ran for this position as a calling to service to his City, and he will vote against this. He does not believe they should get an increase. He acknowledged that if they stay at the same rate, five (5) years down the road it will not have kept pace. He appreciates everyone's input on it. C