07-23-12 Personal & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE July 23, 2012 4:05 P.M. Committee Members Present: Karen White, Gavin Ferlic, Dr. David Varner, Henry Davis Citizen Members Present: Tammy McNally, Juliane James Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Oliver Davis, Valerie Schey, Others Present: Kathy Cekanski - Farrand, Kevin Allen, Aladean DeRose, Catherine Toppel, Mike Schmuhl, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Mark Neal, Gary Gilot, Mike Mecham Agenda: Bill No. 20 -12 — Whistleblower Protection Bill No. 26 -12 — Salaries & Wages Bill No. 30 -12 — Appropriation — Clean -Up Fund Committee Chairperson Karen White opened the hearing with three bills on the agenda. The first Bill No. 20 -12 would supplement the Code to afford assurance to all City Employees they would not be retaliated against for reporting any wrong doing of another city employee. This bill is commonly referred to as providing "whistle - blower" protection. As one of the primary sponsors along with Councilmember Tim Scott; Henry Davis made a brief presentation noting recent events on the police department where retaliation was reported by a police officer prompted the bill. The bill itself was first drafted by Council Attorney Cekanski- Farrand who said it was modeled after working with City Attorney Aladean DeRose and the city's Human Resources Department, the bill was amended to its present form. Henry Davis, Tim Scott, and Gavin Ferlic all thanked those involved with the revisions for their collaboration. Ultimately Councilmember Gavin Ferlic motioned for a favorable recommendation to full Council. Councilmember David Varner seconded and all voted to support, as amended. Bill No. 26 -12 presented by the Mayor was as he described a first step toward a comprehensive plan to address the problem of youth violence in the city. The Mayor billed it as a down payment on a comprehensive plan. The Mayor said we cannot arrest our way out of youth violence. He intends to start by creating a full -time position called the Director of Youth Engagement. It is actually the enhancement of the responsibilities and commensurate pay for a position currently working out of the Martin Luther King Center. Many Council questions and comments followed. Valerie Schey said she understood the problem of youth violence; but giving a position a 25% pay increase in light of police and fire pay increased being to restricted was a problem. The Mayor responded saying it was actually cost - saving in that it consolidates two positions into one. Henry Davis said recent violent incidents were not perpetrated by youth, but by adults. He felt the Mayor and Council needed to assess the whole youth situation and develop a comprehensive plan to engage the city's youth to develop positive paths to personal development. With encouragement and support so many young people need hopes and dreams can be realized and violence rejected. Derek Dieter, learning the newly created position would not be advertised and in fact was already filled by the current MLK director, expressed concern that this person would be overloaded. David Varner asked if the request was FTE neutral? Would other support positions be requested? Oliver Davis focused on the need for a police chief with experience addressing youth violence.