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REGULAR MEETING JULY 23, 2001 <br />regarding the annual pay for police officers indicates a percentage or if it was open ended. Council <br />President Pfeifer stated that this bill does not contain any figures because they are hoping to continue <br />negotiations. Mr. Wolff inquired if the wages would be set at the August 13, 2001 meeting if <br />negotiations do not continue. Councilmember Ujdak stated that the Council is following the state <br />law deadline. In order for the bill to be heard prior to August 20, 2001, the bill had to be filed for <br />first reading at this time. Councilmember Ujdak stated that the reason there are no figures on this <br />bill is because it is the City's hope that they can continue the negotiating process and come to a <br />conclusion that is agreeable to both sides with those numbers being arrived at through the <br />negotiating process. Mr. Wolff stated that it is his understanding that the City is still in a negotiating <br />stance but the FOP has to step forward and lower their rate in order for the City to come back to the <br />table. Councilmember Ujdak stated that both parties need to sit down at the table. Mr. Wolff stated <br />that the City needs to call the FOP and they will be back into the negotiating room and bargain in <br />good faith. They have given the City their final offer and now it is time for the City to come back <br />and give their final offer. <br />Ms. Nancy Demler, 224 Tuxedo Drive, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that she has lived <br />in this community for sixty -nine (69) years and has respect for the police and fire departments and <br />City government. She stated that she has seen examples of what the different ranks of officers have <br />made over the years and noted that the high salaried officers have a lot of overtime hours which can <br />cause burnout. Ms. Demler further informed the Council that her son is on the Police Department <br />K -9 detail. She further stated that she knows that the retirees in her neighborhood would be glad <br />to pay more taxes in order to give police officers a decent salary. <br />Mr. Frank Mattei, 227 West Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that <br />he retired from the South Bend Police Department after thirty -one (31) years of service and <br />currently works for the St. Joseph County Prosecutors's office as chief investigator. He stated that <br />he thinks it is great that Crowe Chizek desires to expand and asked if anyone has asked to look at <br />their profit and loss statement. He noted that for eight (8) years, former Mayor Keman said police <br />salaries are too low and they were told year after year that they were going to go up and yet nothing <br />has happened. He suspects that they now are hearing that it can't happen overnight. Mr. Mattei <br />stated that the South Bend Police Department is the highest trained police department in the state <br />and that the Council should give them a raise because their pay is embarrassing. <br />Mr. Robert Culp, 701 West Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana, asked if the Council has a proposed <br />budget to cover the next four (4) years. President Pfeifer advised that the Council begins budget <br />hearings in about three (3) weeks and Councilmember Aranowski advised that the City Clerk's <br />office has that schedule. He noted that the budget hearings will be for the year 2002. Mr. Culp <br />asked if he could get a copy of the budget. Councilmember Aranowski advised that as soon as it is <br />presented to the Council it will be available and he suggested that Mr. Culp work through the City <br />Clerk's office for that information. Mr. Culp asked whether the budget would cover the four (4) <br />years for which they are negotiating a contract. Councilmember Aranowski advised that the budget <br />is only for calendar year 2002. Mr. Culp stated that the City continues to tell the FOP that there is <br />no money available for the requested police raise but they grant a large tax abatement to Crowe <br />Chizek. He inquired whether or not the City could use this money to go toward the police pay. <br />Council President Pfeifer advised that personal and property taxes that the City collects goes into <br />the running of the whole City. Mr. Culp stated that it would be nice to have the $2 million dollars <br />that the City is granting in tax abatements to be applied to the police salaries. Councilmember Varner <br />advised Mr. Culp that there is a misunderstanding about tax abatements and he would be happy to <br />explain the procedure to him, in writing, after the meeting. <br />Ms. Kelley Lawall advised that she is an employee of the City, no address given, and that when she <br />became a policewoman she had a purpose, ethics and believed in her integrity. She stated that she <br />wonders if members of the Council believe in their ethics, integrity and in doing what is right or if <br />they just want to agree with the person next to them or because the Mayor would like them to do <br />something. She stated that sometimes we need to step out from the norm and not follow the path <br />of least resistence and do what is right. <br />Ms. Denise Mann, 1624 East Wayne Street, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she does not understand <br />why the City does not pay police enough to live on. They are expected to protect citizens and they <br />