03-27-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 27, 2006 NEW BUSINESS Council President Rouse stated that the April 24, 2006 meeting of the Council will be changed to April 27, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. He further noted that the committee meetings will still be scheduled for Monday, April 24, 2006, the times for those committee meetings will be announced at a later date. Councilmember Roland Kelly, stated that he is a member of the Area Plan Commission and that the Commission met last week and he has a report on file with the Office of the City Clerk. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Mr. Bill Eagen, 3402 Maple Lane, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he has been here before. The same subject, the question when is the South Bend Common Council going to do something about this matter of Sexual Orientation and the statute involving Human Rights. Mr. Eagen stated that he is a member of the South Bend Human Rights Commission, but he is here tonight on his own and not representing the Commission. The history goes back three years ago, Councilmember Pfeifer held a series of hearings throughout the City and in most cases the result was favorable, and again about eight or nine months ago the appropriate committee held a hearing on this. Mr. Eagen questioned the proper procedure after the committee holds a public hearing the next result should be an appearance before the Common Council. So far he stated that he has seen nothing from the Council. In January it was a national holiday, honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., much was said about the great work that he did and what he left for us. Many people present at that time including many people here indicated to him to carry on the work that he had done. Mr. Eagen suggested one way to do that is to take positive action on this matter of sexual orientation and the protection it deserves. So if you really believe what many of you said on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, he suggests the appropriate action would be very quick action amending the ordinance. Now several Cities’ in Indiana have already done it. So it is not particularly new, the people who honored Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday wish their lives, their property and their sacred honor. Some of them paid their lives to do what they are going to do. What the Council is being asked to do is uphold that category, you are not risking your lives, you are being asked to take a reasonable step to continue to work toward fair treatment of individuals. Now he thinks that the ultimate answer is not here, it is either in Indianapolis or Washington, but to get it actually going, we need a ground swell from the grassroots. Mr. Eagen stated that he hopes the Council sees fit to take action on this. Councilmember Kirsits advised that he has a report from the South Bend Water Works Director, John Stancati, listing how many residential users that are not currently using city services. Councilmember Kirsits stated that there are approximately 5,400 not using water. He noted that anyone who is interested in looking at the report may contact him. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, President Rouse adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. ATTEST: ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ John Voorde, City Clerk Timothy A. Rouse, President 14