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X54
<br />REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 12, 1991
<br />Be it remembered that the Common Council of the City of South Bend met in the
<br />Council Chambers of the County -City Building on Tuesday, November 12, 1991, at 4:00
<br />p.m. The meeting was called to order and the Pledge to the Flag was given.
<br />ROLL CALL Present: Council Members Luecke, Niezgodski, Soderberg,
<br />Puzzello, Slavinskas, Zakrzewski, Duda, Coleman
<br />and Ladewski
<br />Absent: None
<br />REPORT FROM THE SUB- COMMITTEE ON MINUTES
<br />To the Common Council of the City of South Bend:
<br />The sub - committee has inspected the minutes of the October 28, 1991 meetings of the
<br />Council and found them correct.
<br />Therefore, we recommend the same be approved.
<br />/s/ Tom Zakrzewski
<br />/s /Don Niezgodski
<br />Council Member Puzzello made a motion that the minutes of the October 28, 1991
<br />meetings of the Council be accepted and placed on file, seconded by Council Member
<br />Duda. The motion carried.
<br />SPECIAL BUSINESS
<br />Council Member Coleman made a motion to suspend the rules and have public hearing on
<br />Resolution 91 -69, seconded by Council Member Zakrzewski The motion carried on a
<br />roll call vote of nine ayes.
<br />RESOLUTION NO. 1893 -91
<br />A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
<br />BEND, INDIANA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE U. S. SENATE APPROVE
<br />THE PENSION RESTORATION ACT AMENDMENT TO THE OLDER AMERICANS
<br />ACT.
<br />WHEREAS, on December 9, 1963, over 8,000 Studebaker workers lost their jobs, and
<br />for many, they simultaneously lost their pension benefits; and
<br />WHEREAS, in 1974, after hearing hours of testimony from workers, many of whom
<br />were former Studebaker employees, Congress passed the Employees Retirement Income
<br />Security Act (ERISA) which became the first comprehensive pension protection act in
<br />the United States; and
<br />WHEREAS, ERISA protected only pension plans which were in effect in 1974,
<br />resulting in former Studebaker workers, and 244,000 other workers, not being
<br />protected or covered; and
<br />WHEREAS, the Pension Restoration Act, which is being heard today before the U.S.
<br />Senate, would provide retirees who lost their pensions before 1974, an annual amount
<br />of $75.00 per year of service, or $1,500.00 annually for a 20 -year employee, with a
<br />surviving spouse of a deceased employee receiving one -half that amount; and
<br />WHEREAS, if the Pension Restoration Act Amendment to the Older Americans Act is
<br />passed 40,000 Americans nationally who lost their pensions would receive such
<br />benefits, of which 2,000 would be former Studebaker employees.
<br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
<br />INDIANA, as follows:
<br />SECTION I. The Common Council and the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana,
<br />on behalf of the thousands of hard - working former employees who lost their pensions,
<br />urge the U.S. Senate to pass the pension Restoration Act Amendment to the Older
<br />Americans Act.
<br />SECTION II. The Council notes that approximately 2,000 former Studebaker
<br />employees or their spouses would benefit from such a new law.
<br />SECTION III. The City of South Bend, Indiana, believes that by providing these
<br />modest financial benefits, that our government would be helping to "right the
<br />wrong ", by assisting these former workers and their families.
<br />SECTION IV. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after
<br />its adoption and approval by the Mayor.
<br />/s/ Eugene Ladewski
<br />Member of the Common Council
<br />A public hearing was held on the resolution at this time. Council Member Ladewski
<br />read the resolution. Mayor Kernan spoke in favor of the resolution. Council Member
<br />Puzzello made a motion to adopt the resolution, seconded by Council Member Coleman.
<br />The resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of nine ayes.
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