10-24-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2016 position and other non - elected City executive positions. Currently the City Clerk salary is the lowest paid executive level position in the City of South Bend, the average City Director makes an average of $10,000 more than that of the Clerk's position and the average department head makes approximately $30,000 more. This request to increase the salary level is to place it in a competitive range that respects the overall responsibility of this position. Clerk Fowler stated she will not allow personal attacks to compromise her view of this office. She stated her vision is that we will not and cannot retreat from researching innovative advances to serve the City Council, Mayor's Office, and most importantly the members of the public. An example of that innovative thinking can be found in the 2017 Amnesty Program. She stated she must consider the future of this position, it is her job to make sure highly qualified individuals will seek this public office. The direction this office has taken will continue. She stated she is so proud of the highly talented staff in the Clerk's Office and their deep dedication to public service. Finally, this proposal is about the value of the position and not the person. It is an executive level position which has been historically underfunded and treated as an employee position rather than an elected office. Clerk Fowler thanked the Council for their time and asked for their favorable consideration. There were no questions from the Council. Those from the public wishing to speak in favor of the bill: Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street South Bend, stated he is a part of a watchdog group that tries to keep up with city government and educate the public. He stated when he saw the personal attacks on the City Clerk, he was very upset. Later on the various other salary increases came out in the South Bend Tribune, which he stated he tries not to read because it depresses him. He stated he agrees with Clerk Fowler not because of her skin color or anything else, she actually lives the job. He stated when he goes to the Clerk's Office, they have anything he would want about the City and are very friendly and helpful. If her workers are doing a good job, that means she is doing a good job. Mr. Brown stated he believes the City is fiscally fit to approve this budget and the Administration has confirmed that. He stated the Council is the governmental body of our City, if the people do not do their jobs properly then we can revisit the raises. The City will go on, the funding is there, let's go on and focus on something bigger. Dominique Granger, Colony Drive South Bend, stated people are raising some important issues about the pay increases that are critical to consider when making these considerations. The City Clerk position is not the only salary increase under consideration. We are told these salaries are required to be competitive in the job market and to retain top talent. As for the concern of the Clerk's salary specifically, she stated she conducted research for information for the pay of department heads throughout the City Administration. The Clerk's current salary is $59,000 which is the lowest paid of all department heads. The average department head salary is around $95,000. The next lowest department head salary is $79,000. That is a $20,000 difference. Amongst other duties, the City Clerk's position is also the head of an entire department. There is not much difference between he Clerk's responsibilities and that of other department heads within the City. With more pay increases comes greater responsibilities. The new level of pay is certainly not extravagant and will put the position in line with similar positions. The Mayor's diversity and inclusion initiative is about making sure we are living our values when it comes to equal pay. South Bend is a city plagued with poverty. True change starts with what we do within our City government first. She stated Councilmember Voorde is an honorable and great man who has served our City well but his opposition may not consider that as an elderly single citizen he may have not considered the position versus the responsibilities and the overall pay. Let's not put a face nor a time frame on the issue of the raise but rather look more broadly at the issue of the salary indifferences, the responsibilities, and pay equality. Gerry Fry, 401 West Madison, stated he is really happy the Police and Teamsters have had successful negotiations but it is important to keep in mind those entities have had negotiations for a very long time. When it is time to start negotiation bargaining for positions like the Clerk's, it is safe to say that negotiation hasn't taken effect going backwards. He stated he doesn't like that the Council is comparing percentage increases because a two percent (2 %) raise on a poor salary and a two percent (2 %) raise on a really solid salary that has been negotiated for a quite a 22