09-19-05 Personnel & Finance and Health & Public Safety

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r r Joint Meeting of the Personnel&Finance Committee and the Health&Public Safety Committee 2005 South Bend Common Council The September 19, 2005 joint meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee and the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order by Health and Public Safety Committee Chairperson, Council Member Karen L. White at 5:02 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Pfeifer, Puzzello, Dieter, Varner, Kuspa, White, Kirsits, and Rouse; Mayor Stephen Luecke, City Controller M. Catherine Fanello, City Attorney Charles Leone, Fire Chief Luther Taylor, Assistant Fire Chief Rick Switalski, Police Chief Thomas Fautz,Division Chief Rick Kilgore,Fire Union Lodge # 36 President Ken Marks, Ben Noell, Thomas "Chip" Lewis III, Fire Union Spokesperson; City Clerk John Voorde, members of the news media and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member White noted that two (2) bills are pending before the Committees namely Substitute Bill No. 50-05 which would establish annual pay and monetary fringe benefits for members of the South Bend Fire Department and Substitute Bill No. 51-05 which would establish annual pay and monetary fringe benefits for members of the South Bend Police Department(copies attached). Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, the Council's Agent/Negotiator, reported that Substitute Bill No. 50-05 would implement the City's last, best and final offer of September 1, 2005 which was tentatively agreed to by the Fire Union Negotiating Team on that date. That offer reflects a 2% increase in 2006, a 2.5% increase in 2007 and a 3.5% increase in 2008, all of which would be across the board for all ranks of sworn firefighters. She added that the City Advisory Negotiating Team and the Fire Union Negotiating Team met on September 15, 2005 and discussed an"If Ratified" offer which if approved would have placed an additional 1% increase effective July 1,2006,which would then be compounded in the base increases in 2007 and 2008. In light of the package not being ratified, the September 1st last, best and final offer is set forth in the proposed ordinance. She further added that in 2007, a one-time amount of$13,500 would be added to the station allowance which would be divided equally among the fire stations. Fire Chief Luther Taylor thanked both Negotiating Teams for their "good efforts" and hard work. Chief Taylor stated that we must move ahead positively and requested that the ordinance be approved by the Council. Mayor Stephen Luecke commended both Negotiating Teams. The Mayor noted that the City is faced with many challenges in light of escalating gasoline costs and natural fuel increases; and health insurance increases. He stated that he would support this financial package. Fire Union Spokesperson Thomas "Chip" Lewis, III stated that both Negotiating Teams worked very hard, however the end result does not reflect that hard work. He believes that both sides "went that extra mile" and were creative. He stated that he supports the ordinance as a result of the efforts made. September 19,2005 Joint Committee Meeting of the Health&Public Safety Committee and the Personnel&Finance Committe-Page I-