05-27-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 27, 2008 efficiently. Mr. Niezgodski questioned whether the city has really looked at each department to see where things can be cut. He stated that the disparity in numbers of employees per residents is really strong. He urged the Council to seriously take a look at this part of the budget. Mr. Niezgodski volunteered to sit down with the Council and share his information, he stated that it is nowhere scientific, but he has made calls to various cities to find out how many people work in each department and their functions. He noted that public safety is a whole different aspect and really is a given. He stated that you have to have police and fire. He noted that he saw a real difference when looking at all the administrative positions that the City has. Mr. Niezgodski stated that his second topic of concern is that the City still has an interim Economic Development Director for over a year now. He questioned when the City is going to have a full time Economic Development Director who does not get paycheck from the City and another source. Mr. Niezgodski stated that to the best of his knowledge Mr. Gibney still receives a paycheck from the South Bend Heritage Foundation. He understands that he filed the proper papers for the conflict of interest. But finds it very interesting that when Mr. Gibney became the interim Economic Development Director there have been programs devised for the abandoned and vacant houses in South Bend and South Bend Heritage has been a beneficiary of a lot of the money in those programs. Mr. Niezgodski stated that the City needs a full-time Economic Development Director and if Mr. Gibney is the person for the job who be it. Then Mr. Gibney needs to choose either South Bend Heritage or the City of South Bend, not both. Otherwise, the City of South Bend needs a full time Economic Development Director. He stated that if the City does not have enough money to attract the talent that is needed to fill this position, then cut a position somewhere in the City, and put that money toward the Economic Development Director and attract someone more worthy or has the skill set that is needed. With the development going on at Notre Dame, and South Bend is just now getting on board, were a Johnny come lately, in this new technology park. Other cities have been on board with their technology parks and South Bend needs to be going forward with this development and quickly. The Economic Development Director should have the skill set that knows, business, trade, globally, nationally and internationally. He stated that if Mr. Gibney has those skill sets then good, retain him, but he should work for the City of South Bend only. He stated that he knows that the Mayor appoints the position, but he urged the Council to put pressure on the Mayor to make this very important position one that is held by a person with two masters. COMMENTS FROM MR. RICHARD CHAMLISS REGARDING VACANT HOUSING Mr. Richard Chamliss, 1243 Van Buren, South Bend, Indiana, stated that the homes around his neighborhood are in dire need of repair. He asked the Council for their help in finding out what can be done to get them fixed up. Council President Timothy Rouse stated that this topic would be assigned to nd Councilmember Henry Davis, 2 District. Ms. Evie Barton, 903 Sherman Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she has an update on the property next door to her. She has good news and bad news, the good news is that Code Enforcement came and picked up those two large piles of debris in the backyard. She stated that she happened to be home and spoke with the workers about removing the large tree limb from her fence. They told her that they don’t have the equipment to handle that kind of work. She stated that she called Katrina the Code Inspector for her area, and Katrina called the City Forrester. She stated that he did come by; he marked two trees, the dead one that is projecting about twenty feet over her fence and another one that has fallen on top of the dead one. The Forrester stated that he would have to send out letters to the property owner and then wait thirty days and if nothing is done, it would go on the list to be removed. Ms. Barton stated that he was very honest and said that he doubts that he would ever get to it. She asked if he could bump it up on the list because she has been calling Code Enforcement for over a year to no avail. She stated that the Forrester stated that with budget cuts expected for the next year, that he doubts very much that he would ever be able to get to it. Ms. Barton stated that everyone has been very helpful. Katrina has been very helpful and the Forrester has been very helpful, and she understands that they are doing everything they possibly can. Ms. Barton asked the Council for suggestions on what to do next. 26