02-13-12 Common Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2012 Mayor Buttigieg stated that he hopes for the opportunity to prove Councilmember Varner wrong. He stated that he is trying to fill the Public Works Director position and it is very difficult because the prior Director was one of the top 5 in the country. He stated that what this bill does is allow him the head room to get a qualified candidate. Mayor Buttigieg stated that he understands Councilmember Varner’s concerns and stated that it is frustrating to be promised savings and not have the results come through. Councilmember Fred Ferlic stated that he fully endorses the Mayor’s proposal. He stated that for too long our city has not had a business model, a way of doing business. He stated that in the era of globalization we need business models. He stated that the Mayor can provide the metrics to fulfill his goals he needs to hire the best people to do the job and achieve those goals. Councilmember Valerie Schey stated that it might be worth examining the opportunity to put a performance based incentive program in place for the City’s Department Heads with measurable outcomes and measurable metrics. She stated that she thinks that would be a positive thing moving forward. Mayor Buttigieg welcomed Councilmember Schey’s suggestion and looks forward to working with the Council during the budget process and this is something that they can explore. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that in the newspaper he was quoted as saying that he was against this proposal, however, he may have implied that but he did not say that. He stated that he has some great deal of concern so he is here tonight with an open mind as a Councilmember. He stated that after talking with his constituents many of them were very unhappy with this proposal. He stated that one of his constituents stated that he could not understand someone receiving a pay raise when they were just coming in door. Councilmember Henry Davis asked the Mayor how long has he been recruiting for these positions. Mayor Buttigieg stated since the day he was elected. Councilmember Henry Davis asked the Mayor if he has exhausted all avenues in trying to find people for these positions at the current salary level. Mayor Buttigieg stated that they have reached a plateau. In order to attract the kinds of qualified and experienced candidates he would like to attract to apply or among those who did apply in order to get some of the most qualified that he would like to employ to come were are going to need to offer more competitive pay. Councilmember Henry Davis asked Mayor Buttigieg where he is looking for these candidates, locally, regionally, or nationally. Mayor Buttigieg stated that this is a national search. He stated that he relies on everything from people approaching us, to us reaching out in the community, which is where he first looked because he does believe it is important for South Bend residents to hold these jobs, but also outside the community, if that is where they can find qualified people. He stated that he does unfortunately talk to some people nationally who seem like they could bring a terrific amount of experience and qualification to the job only to be in the rather embarrassing position of having to tell them when the conversation comes to pay that South Bend pays them less to do the same job that they are already doing currently with less responsibility in a smaller community. He stated that he is less concerned with someone getting a pay raise coming in the door than making sure that we are not asking people to take an unreasonably big pay cut just to come work for us. Councilmember Henry Davis asked Mayor Buttigieg why he used some of the cities like Anderson, Bloomington, Evansville, and Ft. Wayne as examples of comparison and not Gary. 10