04-23-01 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING Attest: s /Loretta J. Duda, City Clerk s /Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor APRIL 23, 2001 Councilmember Kelly made motion to hear the substitute version of this bill. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember Ujdak reported that there was a joint meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee and the Personnel and Finance Committee and this Resolution is being sent to the full Council with a favorable recommendation, as substituted. Mr. Thomas Bodnar, Deputy City Attorney, 1400 County -City Building, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this Resolution. Mr. Bodnar informed the Council that this is the final year of a four (4) year wage ordinance and Working Agreement with the Police Department. As in the past, both the Council and the administration, working through the Board of Public Safety, have worked together to adopt joint Resolutions appointing individuals to represent them in the negotiations. Mr. Bodnar noted that the substitute Resolution submitted this evening reflects changes in Section I and in the title which were recommended in the committee meeting and it makes the appropriate appointments so that talks can proceed. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. There was no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this Resolution. Councilmember Kirsits asked Mr. Bodnar why the bill considered at the committee meeting this afternoon that created a City negotiating team in Section I with members listed and with Mr. Neighbors also listed has now changed in the version presented this evening in which Mr. Neighbors is now the lead negotiator with the title of agent. Councilmember Kirsits asked if this new version takes away the Council's responsibility and asked why this language was changed. Mr. Bodnar responded that the difference between the two (2) versions are the result of discussions at the committee meeting and are the changes that were recommended by Council President Pfeifer. He noted that the language in the title and in Section I was discussed during that committee meeting. Councilmember Kirsits clarified that he was talking about the original bill filed with the Clerk and how it changed to create a new section with a new lead person and the language changed from a team to an individual that is not a member of the Common Council, the administration or the City Attorney's office staff as the lead agent. He noted that he had no objections to the original bill but the substitute version gives him concern. Mr. Bodnar stated that the Council is not abrogating any responsibility whether they appoint one (1) person, one (1) person with an advisory committee or a committee without designating who is the lead and letting that committee even select its own leaders. This is just a reflection of who in fact is going to be the leader of the team and sets forth in a little more detail the relationship between that person and the remainder of the team. Councilmember Ujdak offered some friendly amendments. He noted that the Title refers to Police Department Negotiations and in Section I and Section II the word used is "discussions." He is suggesting that those be changed back to "negotiation." Additionally, in Section II between the word "Team" and "represent" insert the word "to ". Also, at the end of the sentence add "with final approval of annual compensation the mandatory duty of the South Bend Common Council pursuant to I.C. 36- 8- 3 -3(d). Finally, Councilmember Ujdak noted that his name is misspelled. Mr. Bodnar stated that he had no problems with these amendments. Therefore, Councilmember Ujdak made a motion to amend the Resolution as outlined above. Councilmember Coleman seconded the motion which carried. Councilmember King made a motion to adopt this Resolution as substituted and amended.