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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2012 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Councilmember Dr. Fred Ferlic stated that he would like for the City to find a different location <br />to name Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr., stated that he would like to help Councilmember Karen White <br />re-establish the South Bend Youth Advisory Council for 2013. Councilmember Davis advised <br />that he traveled to Los Angeles to meet with education policy experts and young elected officials <br />from around the country to discuss ways to improve public education for South Bend’s families. <br />He stated that at the Young Elected Officials Network’s Education Policy Academy he met with <br />officials from the U.S. Department of Education, school district leaders, and education policy <br />groups, and developed policy actions plans to implement in South Bend. <br /> <br /> <br />NEW BUSINESS <br />There was no new business to come before the Council at this time. <br /> <br /> <br />PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS BY MR. SAM BROWN CONCERNING THE SEARCH FOR A NEW POLICE <br />CHIEF <br />Mr. Sam Brown, 415 LaSalle, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he sat in on the Board of Public <br />Safety hearings regarding SBPD Officer’s Stilp and Bortone. He urged the Council to ask the <br />Mayor to get a new police chief in place. <br /> <br />COMMENTS FROM MR. ANDREW STRAW REGARDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT <br />THE SOUTH BEND HOUSING AUTHORITY <br />Mr. Andrew Straw, 4009 Glen Ellen Ct., Apt 1C, Mishawaka, Indiana, advised that he had <br />drafted an ordinance and e-mailed to the Council regarding the sexual harassment at the South <br />Bend Housing Authority. Mr. Straw filed with the City Clerk one of the police reports. He stated <br />that he is representing his clients Ms. Riley and Ms. Burnley. He stated that they are asking the <br />Common Council to get some measure of justice and recognition. Mr. Straw advised that they <br />were forced out and never compensated. He asked the Council for a statement of sympathy of <br />what happened to them and a payment to compensate them. They are asking for $15,000.00 <br />each. He stated that this would not be in satisfaction of claims that they have against the <br />Housing Authority. It would only represent how the Council feels. He stated that his clients are <br />here tonight to tell their stories in hopes that things can be better under the new leadership and <br />for future employees. He stated that Marva Leonard- Dent who is the Executive Director, her <br />attorney sent him a cease and desist order this week to silence him. However, I discovered in six <br />annual reports of the Housing Authority’s insurance company that she was both the executive <br />director of the Housing Authority and on the claims committee of the insurance company <br />representing the Housing Authority. The claims committee as you probably know for an <br />insurance company sets negotiation and legal strategy for the insurance company. He stated that <br />he will not be silent. The conflict of interest is great and it affects his clients, he will not be <br />silent. He reported this to the FBI, the District Attorney, HUD and a number of other agencies. <br />This story has gone on for a year and is sure that the Council has seen it in the newspaper and on <br />the news. He stated that ABC 57 stated that they would like to do another story next week. He <br />stated that would be great because it is time to get this resolved. He stated that there is a new <br />Executive Director at the Housing Authority who seems to be interested and needs a little <br />direction. He stated that he thinks that the Council could give him that direction with a statement <br />tonight. <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS FROM MS. DEBORAH RILEY REGARDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT <br />THE SOUTH BEND HOUSING AUTHORITY <br />Ms. Deborah Riley, 3223 Black Maple Ct, South Bend, Indiana, advised that she was assaulted <br />by another employee at the South Bend Housing Authority. Ms. Riley advised that she worked <br />for the Housing Authority for a year. The entire time from day number one when she started <br />there she was actually pretty much forced out. She was harassed constantly by the maintenance <br />department. She stated a total of six people; five were actually maintenance personnel who <br />worked with her on a daily basis. She was touched while she was urinating in the bathroom. <br />19 <br /> <br /> <br />