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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2016 by a roll call vote of six (6) ayes and three nays (Councilmember Dr. David Varner, Councilmembers Oliver Davis, and Councilmember Regina Williams- Preston). At 10:15 p.m., Councilmember Regina Williams- Preston made a motion to adjourn for five (5) minutes. Councilmember Tim Scott seconded the motion which carried by a roll call vote of nine (9) ayes. The Committee of the Whole reconvened at 10:20 p.m. 57 -16 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, SETTING THE ANNUAL SALARY FOR THE SOUTH BEND CITY CLERK FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2017 Councilmember Karen White, Chair of the Personnel and Finance Committee, reported that they met and send this bill forward with a favorable recommendation. Kareemah Fowler, South Bend City Clerk with offices on the 4th Floor of the County -City Building, served as the presenter and petitioner for this bill. This is a substitute bill submitted for the Council's consideration that sets the salary for the South Bend City Clerk for the 2017 Calendar year. The amount requested has been amended to begin the process of bringing the current salary to parity with the average city director salary. This is a more appropriate threshold than a city department head salary. As the Clerk salary stands, it is slightly more than City Clerks in some peer cities, yet under the average director salary for the City of South Bend. In the absence of a comprehensive salary study, a fair comparison with peer cities is difficult to establish based on the varying degree of municipal clerk responsibilities and duties. The amount requested for $69,500 brings the salary to parity with city directors and aligned with the median salary of peer cities. She stated she is committed to ensuring that the salary of the City Clerk is a fair reflection of the value that this office represents. Councilmember Randy Kelly made a motion to accept the substitute ordinance. Councilmember Karen White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Clerk Fowler continued by stating that requesting a salary adjustment is a difficult decision. Anytime someone is asked to place a monetary value on a job, it can be very uncomfortable. The spotlight shines even brighter on all elected officials. She stated she does not take this request lightly and to simply consider a pay raise would be to diminish the value of both the Office of the City Clerk and its dedicated staff. As a longtime public servant, Clerk Fowler stated she is very aware of the need to respect both public trust and tax payer dollars. This decision should be based solely on the position of the City Clerk and not about personality. If one looks at the organizational chart of our City, the Office of the City Clerk is one third (1/3) of the foundation of our government. It not only serves our citizens, it is the fabric that mends the connection between the other two thirds (2/3) of our government. The City Clerk is a full -time elected position along with the Mayor. Clerk Fowler stated the Clerk's salary is historically underfunded because the way that the Clerk salary is set. Over the last decade, the salary increases have been connected to the general percent of yearly raises for City employees who have detailed job descriptions and certain levels of both education and experience. Since the City Clerk is an elected position, there are very few requirements needed to become City Clerk. This elected nature of the job and the unique way it is funded has worked against proper increases for several decades. The position represent one third (1/3) of all City govermment, yet based on the 2015 City payroll data, thirty -one percent (31 %) of all City positions are funded or have the ability to raise above the pay level of the City Clerk. The 2017 salary adjustment would bring the position into parity with other executive level positions within our City. Clerk Fowler presented a chart which showed the percentage increase in salary for the position over the past forty -four (44) year period. From the 1990s forward, increases have been flat and sometimes a decrease has been issued. Clerk Fowler's entire presentation is on file with the City Clerk's Office. The presentation included two (2) other graphs which provide levels of compensation based upon other Indiana cities, and the disparity between the City Clerk's 21