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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 22,2004 <br /> for favorable recommendation to full council concerning this bill as substituted. <br /> Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) <br /> ayes. <br /> BILL NO. 70-04 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON <br /> COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, <br /> AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 5 OF THE SOUTH <br /> BEND MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE INCLUSION OF <br /> REVISED SECTION 2-50 ENTITLED BOARD OF <br /> PUBLIC SAFETY AND A NEW SECTION 2-50A <br /> ENTITLED BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS <br /> Council President White made a motion to hear the substitute version of this bill. <br /> Councilmember Kuspa seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) <br /> ayes. <br /> Councilmember Puzzello, Chairperson, Health and Public Safety Committee reported <br /> that this committee met on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council <br /> with a favorable recommendation. <br /> Councilmember Puzzello, 1247 E. LaSalle Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, made the <br /> presentation for this bill. <br /> Councilmember Puzzello advised that this bill addresses the Board of Public Safety and <br /> the Board of Public Works. She stated that at the November 8th Health and Public Safety <br /> Committee, there was a good exchange of ideas on this bill. The substitute version of this <br /> bill addresses each of the major concerns raised and the major changes have been <br /> addressed such as it incorporates new paragraph c. addressing"Quorum". It <br /> incorporates a revised paragraph d. addressing "Board Composition". It broadens this <br /> area to include a person with "comparable public safety experience". It also incorporates <br /> a revised paragraph f. addressing "Term of Appointments" and eliminates the previously <br /> suggested term language and includes instead that such Board appointments "shall serve <br /> at the will of the Mayor". Councilmember Puzzello stated that she believe that this bill is <br /> a good bill and requests' support for the bill. <br /> This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents <br /> and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. <br /> Mr. Ken Marks, President, International Association of Firefighters,Local 362, 1122 <br /> South Main Street, P. O. Box 3581, South Bend, Indiana 46619 spoke in favor of this bill. <br /> Mr. Marks stated that the Common Council of the City of South Bend has before it a bill <br /> (No. 70-04) that seeks to add structure to the appointment procedures and parameters <br /> governing candidates for the Board of Public Safety. As this board is charged with <br /> negotiating work rules for South Bend's firefighters and police officers—as well as <br /> matters of hiring, promotion and discipline—the nature and composition of this body is <br /> of great interest and importance to those employees under the Board's jurisdiction. As <br /> firefighters, represented by the International Association of Firefighters, Local 362, we <br /> support the Council's efforts to ensure equitable representation among board appointees <br /> and join with you in that endeavor. We ask that you recognize the benefits of appointing <br /> at least one member with a public safety background, and encourage you to act on this <br /> singular opportunity to add something that has been lacking in recent board <br /> compositions; namely members with first-hand knowledge garnered from distinguished <br /> public safety careers. We are, like you, cognizant of the board's role in disciplining <br /> police officers and firefighters and are not seeking lopsided representation in an effort to <br /> affect hose matters. Rather, we feel that appointing one member with a public safety <br /> background would bring tremendous insight to the Board's deliberations. Fears of undue <br /> unilateral influence are mitigated by majority rule in those occasional instances involving <br /> 7 <br />