10/03/07 Health and Public Safety Committee Meeting

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~ea~th and P~b~ic a~~ty Cor~r~itt~~ Octnb~r 3, 2DD? ~~e Mr~ Bodnar stated that the process utilised by the fire department eras related to labor negotiatians and their labor~n~anagement tearr~. He stated that he believes that "it is unprecedented and open to legal attack". The ordinance route on promotions i a much better vuay to rove for~rard and "is much safer". Council Member Pfeifer stated that she vuas Hat talking about "street sense"a but u~as talking about "people skills' and officers v~ho have them and hair valuable they are. Council Member I~Uhite stated that many goad questions have been raised today and mucf~ more information i needed by the Committee noting that many people have questions about the proposed testing and v~ho ~vould be the raters, etc, Citizen Mer~ber Deborah Fleming requested copies of South Bend's police promotion ordinance vuhich it had in effect in the late ~ h`a's, as yell as copies of the Evansville and Fort Layne police promotion ordinances, Council Member Uvhite noted that she has repeatedly asked about recruitment efforts during annual budget hearings. She noted concern that because the rninarity population is so sr~all to begin pith there nay be an "adverse impact". She stressed the need far "ail officers at all levels to have the opportunity for advancement", She stated that there needs to be more time to lank at the Adr~inistration' proposal. In response to a question from the Council Attorney, Chief Fautz stated that he does not intend to hire a Merit Board Coordinator like the city had in the past and that IPSP, Inc vuauld handle such duties. Council Member III#hite stated that building relationships is critical, along Frith having relevant information. She Hated that similar issues are present at the upper-level ranks, Chief Fautz Hated thatthere are fourteen ~4~ people in the upper~level ranks. Juanita Dempsey, a member of the Board of Public Safety stated that she believes that individual officers "need to step up to the plate and meet the testing and training requirer~ents. Council Member vvhite thanked everyone far their input, She then stated that the next meeting on Bill lVo. 47-U~ v~ill be vvedneday, October 4, X007 at p,n~. Council Member 1lvhite also announced that the Youth Council gill be meeting t ~ pm an October ~ ~, ~Dg~ in the Council's lnforral Meeting Paam.