09-12-05 Personnel & Finance and Health & Public Safety

Home Browse Search

Joint Meeting of the Personnel&finance Committee and the Health&Public Safety Committee 2005 South Bend Common Council The September 12, 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 4:55 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Pfeifer, Kelly, Puzzello, Dieter, Varner, Kuspa, White and Rouse; Mayor Stephen Luecke, City Controller M. Catherine Fanello, City Attorney Charles Leone, Public Works Director Gary Gilot, Community and Economic Development Executive Director Sharon Kendall, City Clerk John Voorde, Rita Kopola, CED Citizen Member Martha Lewis, City Clerk John Voorde and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member White called for a presentation on two (2) bills, namely Bill No. 50-05 which would establish annual pay and monetary fringe benefits for members of the South Bend Fire Department and Bill No. 51-05 which would establish annual pay and monetary fringe benefits for members of the South Bend Police Department. Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, the Council's Agent/Negotiator reported that the negotiations with the negotiating teams for the union's representing the sworn members of the South Bend Police Department and the South Bend Fire Department are ongoing. In order to protect the integrity of the negotiating process and in keeping with the news blackout, financial details have not been made public. On behalf of the City's Advisory Negotiating Team, Mrs. Cekanski-Farrand requested that a Special Common Council Meeting be set for next Monday, September 19th. That date is suggested in order to allow the maximum amount of time possible for the negotiating teams to continue their mission in light of the Indiana state law deadline which calls for final action on such salary ordinances for public safety members"prior to September 20th". She noted that the team also suggested that Executive Sessions be called in light of the possible new financial information reported late last week in the newspaper; with two (2) such executive meeting having been called for later this afternoon and on Wednesday. There was no public input on either Bill. Following discussion, Dr. Varner made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kuspa that the joint Committee recommend that a Special Common Council meeting be called for Monday, September 19,2005 at 5:30 p.m. The motion passed. Council Member Rouse then made a motion, seconded by Dr. Varner that Bill Nos. 50-05 and 51-05 be continued until September 19th. The motion passed. September 12 Joint Committee Meeting of the Health&Public Safety Committee and the Personnel&Finance Committe-Page 1-