01-05-10 South Bend Common Council Elects New Officers for 2010

Home Browse Search

tt ~. - ~f T ~~ F. ~T - ~ ._;_,, .: s t South Bend Common Council NEWS RELEASE January s, zalMo, ~a:aa a.am~, South Bend Common Council Elects ®fficers for 2010 Contact.' Derek D. Dieter, Council President 532-2200 or 235-5982 At last evening's Organizational Meeting of the South Bend Common Council, 1St District Council Member Derek D. Dieter was unanimously re-elected to be the Council President for calendar year 2010. President Dieter has served as 15t District Council Member since 2004; authored the anti-noise and stun gun ordinances, and the scrap metal ordinance along with Council Members Puzzello and White; and maintains ahot-line for loud music/loud noise complaints from citizens. Dieter created the "lst District Youth of the Month" award; the "15~ District Citizen of the Month" award where residents of the District are publicly honored for their service and leadership to the community; and created the "Business of the Month" with several hundred awards being given. 6"' District Council Member Oliver J. Davis was re-elected as Vice-President, Vice-President Davis served as the Council's Vice-President in 2009 and also will continue as the Utilities Committee Chairperson. 4`~' District Council Member Ann Puzzello was unanimously re-elected Committee of the Whole Chairperson and will conduct all hearings on proposed ordinances which come before the Council this year. Council Member Puzzello is serving her 5t~' term on the South Bend Common Council; having served as Council President in 1989 and in 1993; and will continue as Parks and Recreation Committee Chairperson. President Dieter noted last evening that the other Committee Chairpersons will remain in effect throughout the 2010 calendar year, namely: Council Member at Large Timothy A. Rouse heading the Community & Economic Development Committee and the Residential Neighborl~oods Committee, 2"~ District Council Member Henry Davis, Jr., heading the Community Relations Committee, Council Member at Large Karen L. White heading the Health and Public Safety Committee, s~~" District Council Member Dr. David Varner heading the Information and Technology Committee and the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee, 3~d District Council Member Thomas LaFountain heading the Personnel and Finance Committee, and Council Member at Large Al "Buddy" Kirsits heading the Zoning and Annexation Committee. President Dieter sees the city budget as the Council's top priority, along with overseeing all city departments to assure that city services are being maintained and upgraded where passible. The Council will also continue to share ideas with the City Administration to explore all options to ensure that all TIF and redevelopment monies are used for top priority projects, during these tough economic times Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand was re-appointed as Council Attorney for 2010 which will mark her 36th year of service to the Common Council. -30-