2012 Annual Report - Personnel & Finance Committee

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2012 Personnel and Finance Committee Annual Report November 30,2012 Page 3 The Personnel and Finance Committee also held two (2) outreach public meetings — one held at the Robinson Center and the other held at the Charles Martin Youth Center, with.a good turnout of the public for each of these meetings. The hard-work and dedication of the Personnel and Finance Committee members, the Common Council, the Mayor, all department heads, and especially City Controller Mark Neal and Deputy City Controller John Murphy resulted in all budget ordinances being thoroughly vetted and passed by the state law deadline. The detailed review of annual civil city budgets, proposed appropriations and transfers requires a lot of time, effort, and patience, to assure that city priorities which are in the best interests of our community and its residents are being properly addressed. This is perhaps the most important duty of all of the many duties and responsibilities of the Council. A special word of thanks to all those who participated this year in this very exhausting task. As part of the Council duties under the state law, the Council also provided leadership in the successful labor negotiations with the City Advisory Negotiating Teams representing the Common Council, the City Administration and the Board of Public Safety. The teams negotiated with the Union Teams representing the South Bend Firefighter's Association Local No. 362 of the International Association of Firefighters AFL-CIO and the Fraternal Order of Police South Bend Lodge No. 36. The negotiating process was completed in professional and timely manners with both departments now having two- year agreements in place. The Committee made strides to achieve the majority of these priorities, however time did not permit to have an update on the block party regulations and much more time needs to be spent on highlighting City Plan. Both of these topics are recommended to be placed on the Committee's "To Do" list for 2013. I would like to again thank all of the Council Members, and especially the Citizen Members Tamara and Julaine who volunteered countless hours of their time as they served with me on the Personnel and Finance Committee this year. Ongoing discussing and tracking of the City of South Bend's financial goals and objectives against measureable outcomes is a tedious task. Nevertheless, the benefits to our entire community, if such goals are reached, would truly make our city a model 21st century city for other communities to emulate. Thank you very much. Respec submitted, Coun it Member Karen L. Whit , Chairperson Personnel and Finance Committee cc: Mayor Pete Buttigieg Mark Neal, City Controller John Murphy, Deputy City Controller